2 Specific discussions of the meridians and acupoints 2.1 The twelve meridians

Lung meridian of hand-taiyin 1.the course of the meridian the lung meridian of hand-taiyin (1)originates from the middle energizer, running downward to connect with the large intestine. (2)Winding back, it goes along the upper orifice of the stomach, (3)passes through the diaphragm, (4)and enters the lung, its pertaining organ..(5) From the lung system, which refers to the portion of the lung communicating with the throat, it comes out transversely.(6)Descending along the radial border of the medial aspect of the upper arm, 7)it reaches the cubital fossa..(8)Then goes continuously downward along the anterior border of the radial side in the medial aspect of the forearm.

(9)and enters cunkou.(10)Passing the thenar eminence, (11)and going along its radial border, it ends at the medial side of the tip of the thumb.. The branch proximal to the wrist (LU7)emerges and runs directly to the radial side of the tip of the index finger and ends at the medial side of the tip of the index finger where it links with the large intestine meridian. 2.Associated viscera.. Lung, large intestine, stomach and middle energizer. 3.Associated organs: Trachea and throat. 4.Principal indications:Disorders of the chest,lung, throat and the regions the meridian running by.

Pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin 1.the course of the meridian (1)The pericardium meridian originates from the chest.Emerging,it enters its pertaining organ the pericardium.(2)Then it descends through the diaphragm)to the abdomen, (4) connecting successively with the upper, middle and lower energizers. (4)A branch arising from the chest runs inside the chest, (5)emerges from the costal region at a point 3 cun below the anterior axillary fold (PC1 tianchi) (6) and ascends to the axilla. (7)Following the medial aspect of the upper arm, it runs between the Lung meridian of Hand- Taiyin and the Heart meridianof Hand-Shaoyin (8)to the cubital fossa, (9)further downwards to the forearm between the tendons of m. palmaris longus and m. flexor carpi radialis, (10) entering the palm.(11)From there it passes along the middle finger right down to its tip. (12)Another branch arises from the palm and runs along the ring finger to its tip and links with the triple energizer meridian.

2.Associated viscera: Pericardium and triple energizer. 3.principal indications: Diseases of the heart,chest and the stomach,mental diseases as well as diseases involving the regions the meridian running by.

Heart meridian of hand-shaoyin 1. The course of the meridian (1)The heart meridian orginates from the heart. It emerges and spreads over the heart system( (2)It passes through the diaphragm to connect with the small intestine. (3)The branch from the heart system (4)) runs alongside the esophagus (5 )to connect with the “ eye system”(the tissues connecting the eyes with the brain). (6) The straight portion of the meridian from the heart system goes upwards to the lung. Then it turns downward and emerges from the axilla. (7) From there it goes along the posterior border of the medial aspect of the upper arm (8) and down to the cubital fossa. Then it descends along the posterior border of the medial aspect of the forearm. (9) to the pisiform region proximal to the palm (10) and enters the palm (11) Then it follows the medial aspect of the little finger to its tip and links with the small intestine meridian.

2.Associated viscera: Heart, small intestine and lung. 3.Associated organs : Eye system, tongue,throat and larynx. 4.principal indications:Diseases of the heart,chest and the mental diseases as well as diseases involving the regions the meridian running by.

Large intestine meridian of hand-yangming 1. The course of the meridian: (1)The large intestine meridian starts from the tip of the index finger(LI1 shangyang). (2)It rums upward along the radial side of the index finger and passes through the interspace of the first and second metacarpal bones(LI4hegu), in enters into the depression between the tendons of m.extensor pollicies longus and brevis.(3)Following the lateral anterior aspect of the forearm, (4)it reaches the lateral side of the elbow (5)where it ascends along the lateral anterior aspect of the upper arm (6)to the highest point of the shoulder(LI15jianyu). (7)Along the anterior border of the acromion, (8)it goes up to the seventh cervical vertebral(the confluence of the three yang meridians of the hand and foot) (9)and descends to the supraclavicular fossa (10)to connect withits corresponding zang-fu_ the lung. (11)It then passes through the diaphragm (12)and enters the large intestine,its pertaining organ. (13)The branch from the supraclavicular fossa runs upward to the neck,(14) passes through the cheek (15)and enters the lower gums. (16)Then it turns back to the upper lip and crosses the opposite meridian at philtrum.from there,the left meridian goes to the right and the right meridian to the left,to the contralateral sides of the nose(yingxiang LI20), where the large intestine meridian connect with the stomach meridian.

2.Associated viscera: large intestine and lung 3.Associated organs : mouth,lower teeth and nose. 4.principal indications:disorders of the mouth,teeth,nose and throatas well as diseases involving the lateral border off the upper limbs, anterior part of the shoulder and neck.

Triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang (1)The triple energizer meridian originates from the tip of the ring finger (2)and runs upward between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones(3) along the dorsal aspect of the wrist (4)to the lateral aspect of the forearm between the radius and ulna. (5)Then it passes through the olecranon (6)along the lateral aspect of the upper arm (7)and reaches the shoulder region. (8)It moves forward into the supraclavicular fossa (9)and spreads in the chest to connect with the pericardium. (10)Then it descends through the diaphragm down to the abdomen to join the upper, middle and lower energizers. (11)A branch originates from the chest (12)and emerges from the supraclavicular fossa.(13) From there it ascends to the neck (14)and runs along the posterior border of the ear (15)and to the corner of the anterior hairline. (16)Then it turns down-ward to join the other branch at the cheek and terminates in the infraorbital region. (17)The other branch arises from the retroauricular region and enters the ear. Then it emerges in front of the ear, crosses the previous branch at the cheek (18)and reaches the outer canthus to link with the gallbladder meridian.

2.Associated viscera : Triple energizer and pericardium. 3.Associated organs : Eyes and ears. 4.principal indications:disorders of the sidea of the head,ears,eyes and throat as well as diseases involving the regions through which the meridian runs.

Small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang (1)The small intestine meridian starts from the ulnar side of the tip of the little finger. (2)Following the ulnar side of the dorsum of the hand, it reaches the wrist where it emerges from the styloid process of the ulna. (3)From there it ascends along the posterior aspect of the forearm, passes between the olecranon of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the humerus, (4)and runs along the posterior border of the lateral aspect of the upper arm (5)to the shoulder joint. (6)Circling around the scapular region, (7)it converges over the shoulder (8)and then turns downward to the supra-clavicular fossa(9) to connect with the heart. (10)From there it descends along the esophagus,(11) passes through the diaphragm, (12)reaches the stomach, (13)and finally enters the small intestine. (14)The branch from the supraclavicular fossa (15)ascends to the neck, (16)and further to the cheek. (17)Then it reaches the outer canthus (18)and enters the ear. (19)The other branch from the cheeks runs upward to the infraorbital region and further to the lateral side of the nose and inner canthus to connect with the bladder meridian.

2.Associated viscera : small intestine and stomach 3.Associated : throat,ears,nose and eyes. 4.principal indications:disorders of the organs on the face and throat,febrile diseases and pathological changes of the lateral side of the upper limbs, scapula and neck..