Meridians of the Body

The Twelve Major Meridians of the Body

• BY KIRSTEN NAGY
• IN MIND/BODY

Meridians of the body affect every organ and physiological system inside of us. They are invisible to the human eye, yet without them we could not sustain life. In the same way that arteries carry blood, meridians carry energy, often referred to as chi, qi or prana. Meridians are our body’s “energy bloodstream”: they bring vitality and balance, remove energy blockages, stagnations an

d imbalances, adjust metabolism and determine the speed and form of cellular change. Their flow is as critical as the flow of blood; your life and health depend on both.

Meridians of the body affect all major systems including: immune, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, skeletal, muscular and the lymphatic system. If a meridian’s energy is obstructed or unregulated, the system it feeds on is jeopardized, and disease results.

There are 12 major meridians in the body:

• Lung meridian
• Large intestine meridian
• Spleen meridian
• Stomach meridian
• Heart meridian
• Small intestine meridian
• Bladder meridian
• Kidney meridian
• Pericardium (Circulation/Sex) meridian
• Triple Warmer meridian
• Liver meridian
• Gallbladder meridian

These major meridians of the body are responsible for nourishing their corresponding organ and the other organs around them, fueling and feeding them with energy. Each meridian plays a specific and integral role in their organs health. Deficient meridian energy and excess meridian energy are both problematic and can cause damage to that meridian’s organ system.

There are certain places along the meridians where energy pools, making the chi, qi or prana more accessible there than elsewhere. These “energy hotspots” are more familiarly referred to as acupuncture points and at these specific points energy can be manipulated – either increasing or decreasing the flow.

When energy flowing through the meridians becomes blocked or stagnant, or, when too much energy is overwhelming a meridian these acupuncture points can be accessed to clear blockages and remove unwanted excess or stagnant energy. Often times acupuncture and acupressure techniques are used to relieve energetic imbalances in the meridians; the ancient Chinese practice of Qi Gong is often employed as well.

Acupuncture and acupressure both use the same meridians and points in their healing, the difference is that acupuncture uses needles while acupressure uses both soft and firm touches on the points to generate the flow of energy. Qi Gong is somewhat different. Similar to acupuncture and acupressure, qi gong is also a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, qi gong uses breathwork, gentle movement and meditation to cleanse and strengthen the meridians and the energy running through them.

All three techniques of cleansing and balancing the energy flow through the meridians are forms of preventative medicine. This does not mean acupuncture, acupressure and qi gong cannot be used as treatments, in fact this is quite the contrary. These are the traditional techniques used in Chinese Medicine to cure people suffering from all types of diseases and many westerners have begun turning to these treatments as well.

This is Eastern medicine. Medicine that has been around for thousands of years. I’m not denying that sometimes it is necessary to go the Western route, and that surgery and antibiotics have saved millions of lives. But, living a joyful, healthy existence is at the core of every human being; it is part of our birthright. Why suffer through emotional and physical pain when a life of joy and health is as easy as balancing your meridians and refocusing your energy?

Kirsten Nagy is the Co-Owner of Prana Energetics, a Denver, CO based holistic healing center. She is a certified Master Holistic Nutrition Therapist and Energy Medicine Practitioner who believes the root of healing lies in empowerment. She teaches her clients how to love, strengthen and heal themselves.

Kirsten Nagy specializes in Holistic Nutrition Therapy, Energy Medicine, Detoxification Protocols, Acupressure, Kinesthetic Testing and EFT.

For more information please visit her website, http://www.pranaenergetics.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_L_Nagy

CHART OF ACUPUNCTURE MERIDIANS

Begin tracing at points marked 'start'. Dots indicate acupuncture or pressure points. Apply finger pressure when tender. The Governing Meridian (not shown) starts at the tailbone and follows the spine in a straight line over the top of the head down the nose and ends between nose and upper lip.