The Channels or Meridians

Channels or meridians are the pathways for chi and the connection between the vital organs or zang fu. The Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature published by the World Health Organization lists some 20 meridians.
These 20 meridians are further divided into ‘standard meridians’; one meridian each for the twelve major organs. Each meridian is responsible for nourishing that particular organ. There are also 8 ‘extraordinary’ meridians – only two of which have their own set points, the other six connecting various points on the other meridians.

The twelve main meridians are the pathways that connect our inner world with the outer world.

Chi is always flowing through our bodies. Chi enters our body at specific points in a particular meridian and flows out of the opposite end. This energy then enters the next meridian in the sequence. It continues to flow through the entire body, one meridian after the other. This flow cycle takes 24 hours to complete.
Each of the twelve main meridians is active for two particular hours in the day. The does not mean that for the remaining twenty two hours the meridian is not functioning, but simply that the activity of chi in those meridians is reduced.
The twelve standard meridians follow the arms and legs. They provide and regulate chi for the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, gall bladder, liver and the triple warmer (the torso). It is important to note that these refer to functions of the mentioned organs rather than the structural organ.

The meridians are also divided according to yin and yang. The yin meridians of the arms include the lung, heart and pericardium. The yang meridians of the arms include both the large and small intestine and the triple warmer. The yin meridians of the leg are the liver, kidney and spleen. The yang meridians of the leg include the gall bladder, the urinary bladder and the stomach.