Atlas of Acupuncture

1.1 Introduction

First circulation of the Nutritive Qi (ying qi) and the

Organ clock

The Nutritive Qi (ying qi) circulates in the 12 primary channels

in a circadian 24-hour rhythm(➞Fig. 1.7) with each Chinese

hour, named after one of the ‘earthly branches’, corresponding

to two Western hours (➞expanded Organ clock, Fig. 1.8).

Each two-hour slot favours a particular channel, in other words:

for two (Western) hours per day, energy flow peaksin a partic-

ular channel. During this period, the respective channel Qi

increases, falling again during the following two hours. How-

ever, it will never fall below a particular level, so that there is

always a certain portion of energy flowing continuously through

the channels.

Example:The channel Qi of the primary Stomach channel will

begin to appear more ‘powerful’, when the channel Qi of the

Large Intestine is very strong. Therefore the ‘high tide’ of the

Stomach channel takes place between 5–7 a.m., its peak is

between 7–9 a.m. and its ‘low tide’ between 9–11 a.m. During

the peak period of the Stomach channel, the channel on the

opposite side of the Organ clock is at its lowest point (➞8.3.7);

while the Stomach channel is peaking, the Pericardium channel

is at its lowest point.

In figure 1.8 the ‘expanded Organ clock’ with its 24-hour circu-

lation through the 12 primary channels is shown in relation to

the earthly branches and the hexagrams of the Yijing.

Second circulation of the Nutritive Qi (ying qi)

According to chapter 16 of the Ling Shu, the Nutritive Qi (ying

qi), after having circulated through the 12 primary channels,

takes a deep pathway of the primary Liver channel, which origi-

nates at LIV-14(qimen), passes the Lungs, the posterior aspect

of the neck, the inner nasal passages and reaches Du-20(bai-

hui), then follows along the du maion the back and the ren mai

along the midline of the abdomen. At the approximate level of

Ren-22(tiantu) the ying qiagain reaches the Lung channel,

which traverses the supraclavicular fossa (near ST-12). Here, a

new circulation of the ying qithrough the 12 primary channels

starts at the beginning of the primary LU channel.

Yin/Yang

connection

Polarisa-

tion zone

Yin/Yang

connection

300 500700 9001100130015001700190021002300100300

Yin

LU

L.I.

HE

S.I.

ST

SP

P

T.B.

BL

KID

G.B. yang

LIV

Fig. 1.6 Changes in Yin/Yang polarisation, shown as a sinus

curve

Gall

bladder Liver

Lung

Large

Intestine

Stomach

Spleen

Heart

Small

Intestine

Bladder

Kidney

Pericardium

Triple

Burner

1

3

5

7

9

13 11

15

17

19

21

23

Midnight

Noon

Fig 1.7 Organ Clock

5–7 hours

Chen

Time of day

Si

Wu

Wei

Shen

Mao You

Yin Xu

Chou Hai

Earthly branches

17–19 hours.

7–9 hours 15–17 hours

9–11 hours 13–15 hours

11–13 hours

23–1 hours

1–3 hours 21–23 hours

3–5 hours 19–21 hours

Lung Pericar-dium

Kidney

Bladder

Spleen Heart IntestineSmall

machSto-

IntestineLarge

Liver

BladderGall

BurnerTriple

Qian

Guai

Da zhuang

Gou

grammHexa-

Guan

Dun

Lin Fu Kun

Pi

Tai Bo

Zi

Noon

Midnight

Heav

en

Man

Ear

th

Fig. 1.8 Expanded Organ clock

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