Study Notes on Acupuncture Channel Systems and Terminology

Compiled Sources

  • Giovanni Maciocia: The Channels of Acupuncture (GM)
  • Deadman: The Manual of Acupuncture (D)
  • Wang Ju-Yi: Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine (WJY)
  • Nick Duchnowski: TCM Study.net (N)

Channel Systems Terminology

  • Gao: Refers to fat/adipose tissue.
  • Huang: Refers to membranes and connective tissue.
    • Space between the abdominal cavity and muscles.
    • Wrap and anchor organs to the abdominal cavity.
    • Connects organs between themselves.
  • Cou-Li: Refers to the space between the skin and muscles.
    • Texture (Li): Refers to the crevices in the body, essentially reflective of energetic aspects rather than strict anatomical structures.
    • Cavities (Cou): Large spaces that house organs, involved with the concept of the triple burner (chest, upper abdominal, and lower abdominal cavities).
    • Site of convergence of original qi and true qi.
    • Circulation of wei qi (defensive qi) transpires here.
    • Can also refer to pores, which play a role in regulating sweating.

Types of Qi

  • Wei/Defensive Qi: Cuts across Cutaneous Regions & Sinew Channels.
  • Ying/Nutritive Qi: Pertains to Luo-Connecting and Primary Channels.
  • Yuan/Source Qi: Refers to Divergent and 8 Extraordinary Channels.

General Functions of the Channels

  1. Integration:
    • Connect internal organs with the exterior.
    • Connect internal organs with each other.
    • Connect different parts of the exterior.
    • Connect the upper and lower parts of the body.
    • Connect left and right halves of the body.
    • Connect front and back parts of the body.
    • Link Zang-Fu organs with each other (Zang with their paired Fu, with other Zang).
    • Link Zang-Fu with muscles, tendons, and joints.
    • Link Zang-Fu with five sense organs and nine body orifices.
    • Balance and harmonize yin and yang in various parts of the body.
  2. Circulation:
    • Circulate qi and blood to nourish the body, providing nourishment to all body parts.
  3. Protection:
    • Protect the body by preventing external pathogens from penetrating deeper.
  4. Response to Dysfunction:
    • Transmit pathogenic qi along the course of the channel, leading to symptoms.
    • Show disease of the channel or related organ through tenderness, discoloration, or temperature variations.
  5. Transmission:
    • Transmit qi to diseased areas.

Cutaneous Regions

  • Comprised of 12 Skin Regions that overlay the Primary Channels, not categorized as actual channels.
  • Functions include regulating sweating (wei qi or defensive qi), protecting from pathogenic factors/injuries, and reflecting disorders (e.g., skin discoloration or temperature changes).
  • Treatment methods include massage, gua sha, cupping, etc.

Minute Collaterals

  • Tiny collateral channels not mapped, are analogous to small blood vessels (capillaries/venules), sometimes referred to as blood channels.
  • Function is to enable qi and blood to reach every part of the body.

Sinew Channels (12)

  • Also known as Tendino-Muscular Meridians (TMM).
  • Broadly parallel the paths of the 12 Primary Channels and correlate with major muscle, tendon, and ligament groups.
  • Originate at fingers/toes (extremities), extending upwards to the head/trunk.
  • Characteristics:
    • Do NOT connect directly to organs (Zang-Fu).
    • Provide protection against trauma and help sustain the body’s posture while governing movement.
    • Integrate surface and interior.
    • Facilitate qi and blood movement to the body surface and circulate wei qi.
    • No specific points exist; shallow needling techniques (Ahshi points), moxa, massage, cupping, gua sha are used.
    • Qi binds or knots at joints or large muscles.

Luo-Connecting Channels (15)

  • These originate at the Luo-Connecting point on the Primary/Main channel, spreading superficially across the body.
  • Functions of Luo-Connecting Channels include:
    • Connecting internally-externally paired channels (yin/yang).
    • Balancing the yin and yang pairs (change in polarity).
    • Nourishing and supplying superficial main channels and deeper body areas.
    • Protecting surface and Luo areas from pathogenic factors and circulating wei qi.
    • Warming muscles.
    • Bridging left and right body sides.
    • Strong regulation of qi and blood, potentially halting bleeding, managing blood stasis, and treating mental-emotional issues.
  • 15 Luo-Connecting Channels include:
    • One for each of the 12 Primary Channels.
    • Plus one each for the Ren, Du Channels and the Great Luo of the Spleen.

Primary Channels (12)

  • These channels are paired by Yin/Yang (interior/exterior relationships) and in terms of their Six Division (Level) association.
  • Functions include:
    • Circulating qi and blood, allowing for transmission to diseased areas.
    • Connecting internal organs; demonstrating disorder locations; connecting the exterior and superficial regions of the body.
    • Facilitating connections between upper and lower body, as well as left and right sides.
    • Nourishing the entire body while defending against pathogenic factors.

Divergent Channels (12)

  • These channels do NOT have their own points but run deeper than Primary Channels.
  • Functions include:
    • Strengthening the corresponding internal/external channel and Zang-Fu.
    • Balancing yin and yang at the organ level.
    • Distributing qi and blood to the head, face, and interior body.
    • Integrating areas not served by Primary Channels (e.g., heart and kidneys).
  • General functioning involves diverging from limbs, entering related organs, emerging near the neck, and converging with the related yang Primary Channel.

Eight Extraordinary Vessels/Channels (8)

  • Considered "extraordinary" as they exist outside the typical flow of the 12 Primary Channels.
  • They branch from the Primary Channels, interlinking them.
  • Only the Ren and Du possess unique points; the other six share points with Primary Channels.
  • Functions encompass:
    • Acting as reservoirs for qi and blood.
    • Linking Primary Channels through deeper connections (similar to underground tunnels).
    • Protecting body while circulating wei qi (primarily through Ren, Du, and Chong Channels).
    • Balancing all bodily directions/sides (left/right, above/below, internal/external, front/back).
    • Regulating 7- & 8-year cycles of human life, interlinked with kidneys and essence.
    • Connecting towards Extraordinary Organs (brain, marrow, bones, uterus, blood vessels, and gallbladder).

Point Categories in Acupuncture

Five Shu-Transport Points

  • Points affected by the energetic movement of qi in a Primary Channel. The order is:
    • Jing-Well: where qi is superficial.
    • Ying-Spring: where qi quickens.
    • Shu-Stream: where channel broadens.
    • Jing-River: where qi deepens.
    • He-Sea: where qi plunges deep.
Specific Characteristics of Each Point

  • Jing-Well:

    • Associated with Wood (Yin) and Metal (Yang).
    • 1st or last point on channel, located on tips of fingers or toes.
    • Qi emerges and can be dramatically affected by needling.
    • Functions include clearing heat, restoring consciousness, and treating psychological disorders (mania, sleep issues).

  • Ying-Spring:

    • Associated with Fire (Yin) and Water (Yang).
    • 2nd point on channel, located distal to joints of fingers/toes or on palms.
    • Qi flows quickly to enhance clearing of heat.
    • Functions include treating febrile diseases, excess pathogenic factors, and changes in color/complexion.

  • Shu-Stream:

    • Associated with Earth (Yin) and Wood (Yang).
    • 3rd point on channel, except for GB Channel where it deviates.
    • Qi pours and gathers the wei qi.
    • Functions encompass treating pain in joints (Bi Syndrome), intermittent diseases, and treating yang organ diseases (with Ying-Spring points).

  • Jing-River:

    • Associated with Metal (Yin) and Fire (Yang).
    • Located between wrist-elbow, ankle-knee.
    • Qi flows wider/deeper.
    • Functions include treating cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), and diseases manifesting in patient’s voice.

  • He-Sea:

    • Associated with Water (Yin) and Earth (Yang).
    • Located near elbow or knee, qi sinks and enters deep circulation.
    • Functions include counterflow qi, stomach issues due to irregular eating, and conditions manifesting in Fu organs skin diseases (yang He-Sea points).

Other Point Categories

  • Yuan-Source Points (12):

    • Surface points where original qi surfaces, moving qi strongly.
    • Provides tonification and regulation for Yin organs; dispels pathogenic influences for Yang channels.
    • Directly related to prenatal qi.

  • Xi-Cleft Points (12 + 4):

    • Locations where qi and blood gather, generally treating acute conditions & pain, with a focus on Yin channels for blood disorders.

  • Luo-Connecting Points (12 + 2):

    • Points where Luo channels branch from Primary channels, moving qi in multiple directions contributing significantly in tonifying yin and sedating yang organs, stopping bleeding etc.

  • Host & Guest Method: Combines the yuan-source (Host) point on the affected channel with the Luo-Connecting (Guest) point of interior-exterior pairs, e.g., treating LU Qi Deficiency with LU-9 (Yuan-Source) and LI-6 (Luo-Connecting).

Back-Shu Points (12)

  • Positioned on back via UB channel, roughly correlating to Zang-Fu organs.
  • Accessible for chronic conditions and provide access to treat sense organs associated with the internal organs.

Front-Mu Points (12)

  • Located adjacent to organs (primarily on chest/abdomen), aiding in diagnosis (tender if organ is diseased).
  • More applicable for acute conditions than chronic.

Group-Luo Points (4)

  • Utilize combinations of three channels of either arm or leg to address conditions affecting them collectively.

Horary Points (12)

  • Points optimized for treatment aligning with elemental correspondences (metal, earth, fire, wood, water), being particularly effective in specific time cycles (midday-midnight).

Lower He-Sea Points (6)

  • Focus on treating disorders of six yang Fu organs with supplementary additional points (LI ST-37; SI ST-39; SJ UB-39, and more) to connect with their respective organs.

Command Points (4 or 6)

  • Distal points most influential over certain specific body areas, used for a wide range of disorders. Notable points include ST-36 for abdomen, UB-40 for back, LU-7 for neck, LI-4 for facial issues, etc.

Influential Points/Gathering Points (8)

  • Accumulative points where qi of body systems congregate:
    • LV-13 (Zang); Ren-12 (Fu); Ren-17 (Qi); UB-17 (Blood); GB-34 (Sinews); LU-9 (Vessels); UB-11 (Bone); GB-39 (Marrow).

Four Seas Points

  • Associated with four areas in body, each having specific symptoms:
    • Sea of Qi (ST-9, Ren-17, Du-15, Du-14): Fullness vs. Shortness of breath responses.
    • Sea of Blood (UB-11, ST-37, ST-39): Variations in size feeling of body.
    • Sea of Food, Water, & Grain (ST-30, ST-36): Appetite effects.
    • Sea of Marrow (Du-16, Du-20): Physical agility effects.

Window of Heaven/Sky Points (10)

  • Traditionally located around the neck, balancing qi and treating psycho-emotional disorders; healing for scrofula/goiter.

Ma Dan Yang Heavenly Star Points (12)

  • Notable points considered essential for broadly applicable treatment of various conditions, including LI-4, ST-36.

Sun Si-Miao Ghost Points (13)

  • Used for severe emotional disturbances, aiding in heat clearance.

Points of the Eye System (14)

  • Associated with neurological and mental conditions, located in proximity of the eyes.

Sinew (TMM) Channel Meeting Points

  • Correspondence to three major groups for arms and legs with representative points indicating interconnections.

Entry & Exit Points

  • Entry point designates the start on the Primary Channel, while exit point indicates where qi departs to transition to the next channel.

Summary

The intricacies of the acupuncture channel systems demonstrate a comprehensive network that integrates the body, facilitating both distribution of qi and blood and serving as a protection mechanism against pathogens while providing a medium for therapeutic intervention.