Atlas of Acupuncture

1 Jing luo(Channel and Network Vessel System)

● The Pand SP channelscompare to the anterior and posterior

dividing lines at the lateral edges of the Yin portion of the body.

The opening points of the extraordinary vessels, with the excep-

tion of SP-4(a point on the LIV channel would be more appro-

priate), represent this division:

● P-6and T.B.-5are the opening points of the yin wei maiand

yang wei mairespectively

● SP-4and G.B.-41are the opening points of the chong mai

and dai mairespectively.

These four channels divide the anteriorand the lateralaspects

of the body and connect the upperand lowerparts, the four

associated extraordinary vessels functioning accordingly. The

yin qiao maiand the yang qiao mai, due to their connection to

the KID and BL channels (opening points KID-6and BL-62)

have a close relationship to the ren maiand du mai. Furthermore,

the pathway of the KID channel is located close to the ren mai

while the BL channel is close to the du mai.

1.7.2 Principles and Functions

‘The primary channels are the rivers, the extraordinary vessels

are the lakes.’

In some of the classics, the extraordinary vessels are compared

to reservoirs, which store excess Yang, Yin, Qi or Blood, releas-

ing it into the primary channel system in times of need. With the

exception of the ren maiand du maithey do not have their own

points, but they can be accessed through and are connected by

points on the primary channels (see pathways of the primary

channels ➞Chapter 5). All extraordinary vessels (with the

exception of the dai maiwith its horizontal trajectory) begin at

the lower extremities or in the lower part of the torso and travel

to the head. They can be activated by needling their opening and

coupled points (differential therapy ➞8.1.8).

Reservoir and compensation function

‘...when the network vessels (the primary channels) are filled to

overflowing, none of the... conduits could seize any of their con-

tents, and it is only then that the surplus contents of these vessels

flow into the single conduit vessels (the extraordinary vessels)’

(Nanjing, translation by Unschuld 1986).

The Nanjingcompares the extraordinary vessels to reservoirs,

which are able to absorb a surplus of Qi and Blood in the primary

channels, releasing them again during periods of deficiency. For

example, if pathogenic factors penetrate the primary channel

system, this excess can be absorbed by the extraordinary vessels.

This will ensure that the zangfu-Organs remain unaffected. In that

sense, the extraordinary vessels have a regulating compensation

function.

Reproduction and fertility

The chong maiand the ren maiin particular, but also the du mai,

play an important role in reproduction and fertility.

Connecting the primary channels

● The chong mai, also known as the ‘sea of the 12 primary

channels’, connects the primary ST and KID channels. It also

strengthens the connection between the ren maiand the du mai.

● The ren maias the sea of Yinconnects all Yin channels

● The du maias the sea of Yangconnects all Yang channels at

Du-14(dazhui).

● The dai maicircles the body at the waist and binds the verti-

cal trajectories of all 12 primary channels in general, but

especially the chong mai, the ren maiand the KID, LIV and

SP channels.

● The yin wei maidominates the Interiorof the body and con-

nects the KID, SP and LIV channels and the ren mai.

● The yang wei maicontrols the Exteriorof the body and con-

nects the BL, G.B., T.B., S.I. and ST channels and the du mai.

● The yin qiao maiconnects the KID and BL channels and con-

trols balance.

● The yang qiao maiconnects the BL, G.B., S.I., L.I. and ST

channels and controls activity.

dai mai

ren mai

du mai

du mai

dai mai ren mai dai mai du mai

ren mai san jiao, G.B.

P, SP

Yin

Yang

ab

T.B.

P

G.B.

SP

c

nn

Fig. 1.30 Development of the octahedral structure based on

body symmetry

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