Human body has twelve meridian energy pathways and two extra meridians. Each meridian has a set number of Acu-points. Restriction, blockage or excess flow of energy in these, causes disease. Applying pressure on specific Acupoints and regulating meridian energy by seeds, fingers or acupressure tools restores health. Its harmless process with no side effects.
Human Body Meridians
The twelve main meridian and two extra meridians has set numbers of Acu points as follows:
Meridian Name | Short Name | Number of Points |
Heart Meridian | H | 9 |
Small Intestine Meridian | SI | 19 |
Pericardium Meridian | P | 9 |
Triple Warmer | Tw | 23 |
Stomach Meridian | St | 45 |
Spleen Meridian | Sp | 21 |
Lung Meridian | Lu | 11 |
Large Intestine Meridian | Li | 20 |
Urinary Bladder Meridian | UB | 67 |
Kidney Meridian | K | 27 |
Gall Bladder Meridian | GB | 44 |
Liver Meridian | Liv | 14 |
Conception vessel | CV | 24 |
Governing vessel | GV | 28 |
Below is a brief overview of the twelve primary and two extra meridians pathways and their associated organs:
- Lung Meridian: Associated with the lungs and respiratory system. Starts in the middle of stomach area, moves to the lung, and comes out at the chest. It travels down the arm, ending at the thumb.
- Large Intestine Meridian: Associated with the large intestine and digestive system. Begins at the index finger, travels up the arm, crosses the shoulder, and ends at the side of the nose.
- Stomach Meridian: Associated with the stomach and digestive functions. Begins just below the eye, travels down the face and chest, along the front of the body, and down the leg, ending at the second toe.
- Spleen Meridian: Associated with the spleen and digestive and immune functions. Starts at the big toe, travels up the inside of the leg, along the abdomen, and ends at the side of the ribcage.
- Heart Meridian: Associated with the heart and circulatory system. Begins in the heart, moves to the small intestine, and comes out at the chest. It travels down the arm, ending at the little finger.
- Small Intestine Meridian: Associated with the small intestine and nutrient absorption. Starts at the little finger, travels up the arm, crosses the shoulder, and ends in front of the ear.
- Bladder Meridian: Associated with the bladder and urinary system. Begins at the inner corner of the eye, travels up over the head, down the back, along the back of the leg, and ends at the little toe.
- Kidney Meridian: Associated with the kidneys and endocrine system. Starts at the bottom of the foot, travels up the inside of the leg, along the abdomen, and ends at the chest.
- Pericardium Meridian: Associated with the protective sac around the heart. Begins in the chest, travels down the arm, and ends at the middle finger.
- Triple Heater Meridian: Associated with the body’s regulatory functions (not a specific organ but a functional system). Starts at the ring finger, travels up the arm, crosses the shoulder, and ends at the side of the eyebrow.
- Gall Bladder Meridian: Associated with the gall bladder and digestive system. Begins at the outer corner of the eye, travels down the side of the head, along the side of the body, and down the leg, ending at the fourth toe.
- Liver Meridian: Associated with the liver and detoxification processes. Starts at the big toe, travels up the inside of the leg, along the abdomen, and ends at the chest. There are two extra meridians:
- Governing Vessel: The Governing Vessel runs along the midline of the back, starting from the perineum, ascending along the spine, over the head, and ending at the upper lip.
- Conception Vessel: The Conception Vessel runs along the midline of the front of the body, starting from the perineum, ascending through the abdomen and chest, and ending at the chin.
In acupressure, activation points are used to stimulate and increase the flow of energy (qi), while sedation points are used to calm and decrease the flow of energy. Here are some key activation and sedation points for each of the twelve primary meridians and the Governing and Conception Vessels:
Lung Meridian (LU)
Activation Point: LU9 - Located at the wrist crease, on the radial side of the radial artery.
Sedation Point: LU5 - Located at the cubital crease, on the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon.
Large Intestine Meridian (LI)
Activation Point: LI11 - Located at the lateral end of the elbow crease. Sedation Point: LI2 - Located on the radial side of the index finger, distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint.
Stomach Meridian (ST)
Activation Point: ST41 - Located on the ankle, in the depression at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint.
Sedation Point: ST45 - Located on the lateral side of the second toe, 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail.
Spleen Meridian (SP)
Activation Point: SP2 - Located on the medial side of the big toe, distal to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
Sedation Point: SP5 - Located on the medial side of the ankle, in the depression anterior and inferior to the medial malleolus.
Heart Meridian (HT)
Activation Point: HT9 - Located on the radial side of the little finger, 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail.
Sedation Point: HT7 - Located at the wrist crease, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
Small Intestine Meridian (SI)
Activation Point: SI3 - Located on the side of the hand, proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint of the little finger.
Sedation Point: SI8 - Located in the depression between the olecranon of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Bladder Meridian (BL)
Activation Point: BL67 - Located on the lateral side of the little toe, 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail.
Sedation Point: BL65 - Located posterior to the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint, at the junction of the red and white skin.
Kidney Meridian (KI)
Activation Point: KI7 - Located on the medial side of the lower leg, 2 cun above KI3, on the anterior border of the Achilles tendon.
Sedation Point: KI1 - Located on the sole of the foot, in the depression formed when the foot is in plantar flexion.
Pericardium Meridian (P)
Activation Point: P9 - Located in the center of the tip of the middle finger.
Sedation Point: P7 - Located at the wrist crease, between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.
Triple Heater Meridian (TW)
Activation Point: TW3 - Located on the dorsum of the hand, in the depression just proximal to the fourth and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints.
Sedation Point: TW10 - Located in the depression 1 cun superior to the olecranon.
Gall Bladder Meridian (GB)
Activation Point: GB43 - Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the fourth and fifth toes, proximal to the margin of the web.
Sedation Point: GB38 - Located 4 cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus, at the anterior border of the fibula.
Liver Meridian (Liv)
Activation Point: Liv8 - Located on the medial side of the knee, in the depression above the medial end of the popliteal crease.
Sedation Point: Liv2 - Located on the dorsum of the foot, between the first and second toes, proximal to the margin of the web.
Governing Vessel (GV)
Activation Point: GV20 - Located on the top of the head, along the midline, 5 cun posterior to the anterior hairline.
Sedation Point: GV2 - Located on the sacrum, in the hiatus of the sacrum.
Conception Vessel (CV)
Activation Point: CV6 - Located on the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below the navel or belly button.
Sedation Point: CV14 - Located on the midline of the abdomen, 6 cun above the navel or belly button.
One of diagnosing is based on how old the disease and meridian manipulation is as follows:
Acute Disease: Sedate effected meridian
Chronic Disease : Activate effected meridian
Sub-Acute : Either activate or sedate as per requirement