Qi/Meridian/Health

How My Stunning and Accidental Encounter With Qi Made Me a Complete Believer in the Existence of TCM Meridian for Health and Wellbeing

The most unforgettable aha moment that enlightened me about the natural medicine in our body

The meridian system established more than two thousand years ago is one of the most critical and fascinating frameworks in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It serves as a guiding principle for diagnosis, treatment and healing, not only for acupuncture but also for Moxibustion, Cupping, Gua Sha, Tu Na, and even herbal medicine as one of the ways to categorize herbs is associated with the herbal effect on certain meridian(s) aka 归经.

Meridian is also the most controversial and polarized TCM subject under never-ending debate in modern days. Some people in the scientific community believe the meridian system is imaginary, something being made up. According to Wikipedia, meridians are not real anatomical structures, and scientists have found no evidence that supports the existence of the meridian system.

Since reconnecting with TCM some years ago, I have become fascinated by meridian along with other key pillars of the ancient TCM system i.e. Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Four Examinations, and various approaches for self-care and treatment.

While I was amazed when an acupoint on the Lung Meridian swiftly reversed my cold symptom, it’s my accidental encounter with Qi truly stunned me and made me a complete believer in the existence of TCM meridian.

My one-of-a-lifetime encounter with Qi

One day at home a few years ago, I felt a lump on the left side of my chest. I tried to rub it, but it remained still. I gave it a hard push on a whim (please do not imitate!). Instantly I sensed a warm stream shooting down to my foot. That’s probably the best I could describe, something I never experienced before.

And the lump was gone!

I was stunned for a moment. Then a light bulb went off: I just experienced Qi!

Upon verifying the position of the lump and the flow, I noticed the path was along the Gallbladder Meridian. The lump was roughly at GB23 on the side of the chest while the stop was around GB41 and GB42 on the foot.

I realized the magic I experienced can be related to what was described in Neijing more than two thousand years ago: 气聚成形，形散成气- Qi condenses into form/substance, form/substrate disperses into Qi. In my case, the form/substance was the lump, and the sensation of the hot stream I felt was the dispersed “toxic” Qi ( the so-called 浊气). BTW Qi is a multifaceted word, but let’s get to that another time.

Gallbladder Meridian

Gallbladder Meridian is one of the longest meridians starting from the outer corner of the eye and terminating at the tip of the fourth toe. Inside the body, it is associated with the gallbladder and connected with the liver. It’s the Yang meridian paired (表里) with Liver Yin meridian.

It is often applied to help treat various symptoms and discomforts along its pathway such as migraine, tinnitus, gallstones, and pain in the eye, neck and shoulder, etc.

Gallbladder Meridian is also a powerful path to relieve emotional stress together with Liver Meridian. This is based on the TCM concept that organ function and mental/emotional health are interrelated. Neijing tells us “肝主谋虑，胆主决断”, meaning the Liver governs strategic planning while the Gallbladder controls decision-making associated with courage and action.

These two meridians are sensitive to emotions especially suppressed anger, irritability, and bitterness. Overthink without action also adversely impacts the functioning of the Gallbladder and Liver. All these can impair the movement of Qi and lead to its stagnation and blockage which becomes 浊气. In fact, GB23 is one of the acupoints that often trap negative Qi.

The criticality of meridian according to Neijing

Neijing highlights the criticality of meridian: “经脉者, 所以能决死生, 处百病, 调虚实, 不可不通.” In short, the meridian is essential for healthy living, capable of treating many diseases and regulating body functions for balance, and the path must be clear of obstruction and not blocked.

The meridian system is a very sophisticated network all over the body, composed of 12 principal meridians and 8 extraordinary meridians. According to TCM, the meridian is practically the information highway of the human body and the path of Qi, connecting the whole body from head to toe, exterior to internal organs and physical structures.

It has its own rhythm, helping guide activities from the best time for eating to sleeping among other things. Based on TCM theory, every 2 hours corresponds to one of the 12 principal meridians, during which period the associated organ is functioning optimally.

The meridian framework is also applied in TCM examinations. When certain ailment or diseases is time-sensitive during the 24-hour cycle, it provides a hint for TCM diagnostics as associated organ abnormality would be most noticeable in its clock slot.

It plays an important role in TCM physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, as meridian and acupoints can manifest sub-health and the pathological signal. In my view, the meridian is a natural fault isolation system in our body to detect and isolate anomalies to benefit our health and well-being.

Founded on Taoism and documented in medical classics Neijing more than 2000 years ago, TCM is not just surviving but thriving in the 21st century. As someone trained in STEM, I have been blown away by the ancient wisdom since reconnecting with it. Maybe my ingrained DNA has a thing to do with it, but it’s the personal experience that has enlightened me the most.

While meridian-based acupuncture gains popularity across continents, modern research continues the attempt to uncover the true nature of the mysterious meridian system. Its power is far beyond pain management. And getting poked is not the only way to benefit from it, as acupressure could be just as effective in the early stage of discomfort.

I recently shared LU 6 on the Lung Meridian, which quickly healed my cold, and the powerful P6 Nei-Kuan on the Pericardium Meridian, which has been used in acupressure wristbands to relieve nausea and vomiting. You may find out more below if interested. Whether meridian is associated with any physical structure, I will come back to that discussion in future posts.

Meridian is the natural medicine existing in our body. It is an invaluable treasure passed down by our ancestors and one of nature’s greatest gifts.

This post is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered health advice. Please consult health professionals for medical questions and advice.

Thank you for reading. I write about culture, work-life learning, and the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine for better living. Click here if you would like to be notified when I publish.