We mentioned about the meridians while taking a general look at the reflexology in the former article ‘Reflexology: The key of your body is under your feet’. This time, we will go further into the world of meridians and share more detailed information about them. In order to deepen the reflexology applications and to bring about a new and different perspective into our understanding of our own bodies, knowing more about meridians is very crucial.
There are fourteen meridians passing through our bodies. Two of them are basic meridians, passing through the middle of the body dividing it into two equal parts, and the responsibility of all the other meridians belongs to these two meridians called ‘Governing Meridian’ and ‘Conception Meridian’. The six of the meridians are the ‘main’ meridians taking after the names of the organs placed on the lines where these meridians pass through: Liver, Spleen/Pancreas, Stomach, Gall Bladder, Urinary Bladder and Kidney. The rest of the meridians are called as Lung, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Pericardium and Triple Burner; these meridians are stimulated through the stimulation of the main meridians since they don’t pass directly through the lines where the related organs are placed but pass through the arms. Moreover, there are 360 acupuncture points on the meridians.
Chi energy needs to flow proportionally and consistently for the organs in order to function properly and in a healthy manner. The basis to health is the energy that flows unobstructed and that is distributed evenly through the whole the body. Imbalance in a meridian brings imbalance to the organs it passes through as well.
There are particular hours when the meridian is active takes in chi energy. These are periods of 2 hours in a 24-hour-day. Reflexology sessions taken during these time periods are quite effective. When the meridian reaches maximum power if there is a present blockage or disruption, the organs connected to it will signal the problem. Knowing about meridians and organs connected to them is an advantage in detecting and understanding these signals. The time when the organ and the meridian work most heavily is the opposite of its most active period that is 12 hours later.
Meridians pass from bottom to up and up to bottom. Some of the meridians represent Yin* while some of them represents Yang*. The energy of Yin comes from the earth and Yang’s from the sun. The meridians have strong communication and connection with the organs they are bound to. Each meridian has a corresponding partner meridian and every meridian’s end point is the beginning of another. For example, the end point of the spleen meridian is the starting point of heart meridian. The energy flows from one meridian to another. Thus, all meridians are connected to each other. Problems seemingly unrelated may actually be interconnected, and knowing that fact will direct us to take fundamental, encompassing and farsighted steps towards a solution.
Meridian Characteristics:
Lung Meridian: Represents Yin. Partner with large intestine meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 03:00-05:00. It is responsible for the dispersion of Chi energy to the body from the air. Obstruction in this meridian causes asthma, coughs, and mucus in the lungs.
Large Intestine Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with lung meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 05:00-07:00. It is responsible for carrying, transformation and purification. Our position in relation to the outer world, and our self-esteem is directly related to this meridian. Obstruction in this meridian causes stomach pain, constipation and similar problems.
Stomach Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with spleen/pancreas meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 07:00-09:00. The stomach is responsible for digesting physical and spiritual nourishment and when digestion is problematic this will affects other organs. In this light it is a very important organ. Disruption in this meridian causes tiredness, weakness, acne, hernia, colic, appendicitis, painful menstruation, breast cysts, pain on the legs and knees.
Spleen/Pancreas Meridian: Represents Yin. Partner with stomach meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 09:00-10:00. According to Far Eastern philosophy spleen is one of the organs at the basis of our existence after birth. It is responsible for blood formation and flow. Disruption in this meridian causes weak muscles, discolored and dry lips, uterus cysts, swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, leg and knee pains, eczema and fungus.
Small Intestine Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with heart meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 10:00-12:00. Blockages and disruptions in this meridian can cause aching around the inner part of arms; pain, white spots or stiffness in/around the little finger, insomnia, memory impairment.
Urinary Bladder Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with kidney meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 14:00-16:00. Helps with stocking life energy to the kidney. The system gets intoxicated with the poisonous toxins if the bladder doesn’t work properly. Disruptions in this meridian cause headache, hair loss, stiffness in the spine, hemorrhoids, sciatic pain, weak ankles, pain in the lower back and back of the neck.
Kidney Meridian: Represents Yin. Partner with bladder meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is16:00-18:00. Kidneys are where the Chi energy is stocked. When the kidneys don’t perform well enough, it causes toxin accumulation and dysfunction of the blood circulation system. Disruptions in this meridian cause high blood pressure, cyst in the lungs, bladder problems, eczema and fungus in the pubic area, sexual problems, swollen ankles, burning of the sole, and varicose.
Pericardium Meridian: Represents Yin. Partner with triple burner meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 18:00-20:00. It is the shield of heart, prevents it from fatigue. When blocked, weakness, pain and swelling in the armpit, eczema on the elbows, hot palms, eczema, warts, and white spots on the hands’ middle fingers.
Triple Burner Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with pericardium meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 20:00-22:00. This meridian protects every single organ although, as to its location, it doesn’t correspond with any of the organs. The blockage in this meridian cause pain in the backside and the outer side of the eyes, ear problems, shoulder pain, stiffness on the arms, eczema, and white spot or warts on the ring finger.
Gall Bladder Meridian: Represents Yang. Partner with liver meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy is 22:00-24:00. It is the longest meridian and for this reason blockages in this meridian can cause several problems. Weakness in the ears and eyes, pain in the shoulders and pelvic area, neck pain and stiffness, pain in the temples, callus on the forth finger of the foot, rheumatic pain in the hips, asthma and herpes zoster. For this meridian is responsible for decision-making and judgments, the sudden decisions or anger is related to the overmuch Chi energy preserved in this organ whereas indetermination is a sign of lacking of the Chi energy.
Liver Meridian: Represents Yin. Partner with gall bladder meridian. The time when the meridian takes in the most Chi energy 24:00-02:00. It is one of the most important organs of the metabolism. It delivers the blood and Chi energy everywhere in the body, and provides balance in the activity of the inner organs. The interest or lack of interest in life is strictly related to the balance in this meridian. Eczema on the sexual organs, low sperm count, herpes; stomach, spleen and liver problems, decrease in the sexual desire, phlebitis, gout, fungus in the big toe, varicose, knee pain and impotency.
Governing Meridian: Represents Yang. Governs all the Yang meridians. When it is blocked, problems arise in the nerve system and vertebral column.
Conception Meridian: Represents Yin and governs all the other Yin meridians. It comes into existence in the time of insemination or, in other words, at the very point of the beginning of life. Speech disturbances and infertility appears when it’s blocked.
*Yin and Yang are two opposite forces; Yin is feminine and negative while Yang is masculine and positive, and together they consist ‘Chi’.
Emotional, physical and psychological characteristics of the humankind are parallel to the universe that they are living in. In other words, human being is a micro-cosmos. Just as the world has meridians, it is thought that human body has them, too.
