This page offers information on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Topics will in most cases be closely related to martial arts.
Wu Xing The five fases.
Wikipedia on TCM.
经络 jīngluò (energy channels in Chinese medicine).
According to TCM, man has a network of channels or passages flowing through the body. These underground streams, in the west (erroneously) called meridians, are linked to organs and are linked to each other. Each has its own time of highest activity.
THE “MERIDIAN” CLOCK:
07:00 to 09:00 Stomach – Foot (足) Earth (土) Yang
09:00 to 11:00 Spleen – Foot (足) Earth (土) Yin
11:00 to 13:00 Heart – Hand (手) Fire (火) Yin
13:00 to 15:00 Small Intestine – Hand (手) Fire (火) Yang
15:00 to 17:00 Bladder – Foot (足) Water (水) Yang
17:00 to 19:00 Kidney – Foot (足) Water (水) Yin
19:00 to 21:00 Pericard – Hand (手) Fire (火) Yin
21:00 to 23:00 Triple Burner (San Jiao) – Hand (手) Fire (火) Yang
23:00 to 01:00 Gallbladder – Foot (足) Wood (木) Yang
01:00 to 03:00 Liver – Foot (足) Wood (木) Yin
03:00 to 05:00 Lung – Hand (手) Metal (金) Yin
05:00 to 07:00 Large Intestine – Hand (手) Metal (金) Yang
If you have problems at certain times of the day this may indicate a disruption of the body.
Waking up unwillingly around 6:00 am, may indicate a disturbance in your colon. When often tired around 14:00 this may indicate a disturbance of the Small Intestine.
Influences of meridians.
1. Ren Mai (Ren Mo) Directing Vessel (Center front of body) 7:00 to 9:00.
Regulates the brains and is influenced by emotional stress, anxiety and concentrationproblems. Governs thinking and perception. – 任脈 [rèn mài]
2. Du Mai (Du Mo) Governor Channel (Center back of body) 11:00 to 1:00.
Regulates the body and is involved in spinal problems and the sugar and metabolism. How are you in the world. – 督脈 [dū mài]
3. Stomach Channel 7:00 to 9:00.
Regulates especially the stomach and digestion. A blockade may cause eructation, flatulence, allergies, asthma, problems with knees, ankles and jaw joint, groin pain and toothache.
Emotionally: nervous tension, anger, irritability, frustration and lack of inner harmony can arise. The starting point lies below the eye and the end point at the feet on the index toe. Yang energy.
4. Spleen Channel 9:00 to 11:00.
Regulates blood vessels, blood and its transport and muscle tone. Blockages may cause problems with blood sugar, diabetes, blood disorders, allergies, lack of appetite, flatulence, diarrhea, pain in the spine and joints, weak or slow moving limbs, connective tissue weakness, hemorrhoids or varicose veins occur.
Emotionally: sadness and lack of appreciation. The starting point lies on the medial left corner of the big toe and the end point lies below the armpit. Yin energy.
5. Heart Channel 11:00 to 1:00.
Regulates blood, blood vessels and circulation. When blockages, problems with heart and blood vessels, irregular pulse and heartbeat, bleeding gums, speech disorders, shoulder pain and problems with bending the forearm and hand created. Emotionally: love problems, stage fright, unreasonable behavior, hysteria, anxiety, insomnia and excessive dreaming. The starting point is located beneath the armpit, and the end point on the top of the little finger on the inside. Yin energy.
6. Small intestine 1:00 to 3:00.
Regulates body fluids. Blockages can lead to a painful and rumbling stomach, digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation), intestinal fungi, allergies, problems with the mouth, teeth and eyes, headache, earache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), tennis elbow, shoulder pain, difficulty straightening the arm and the turning of the neck occur.
Emotionally: lack of self-esteem, lack of joy, sorrow, sadness and hatred. The starting point is at the top of the little finger on the outside and the end point at the meatus (near the ear). Yang energy.
7. Bladder Channel 3:00 to 5:00.
Activates all other meridians, regulates the bladder. Blockages can give urinary retention, incontinence, difficulty in urination, feeling of weakness, problems with the lower body and prostate, spit, complaints of the spine, limited movement of the hips and pain when bending the knees.
Emotionally: restlessness, problems with self-orientation, self-awareness, inner peace and endurance. The starting point is next to the eye, on the inside, and the endpoint is in the small toenail on the outside. Yang energy.
8. Kidney Channel 5:00 to 7:00.
Regulates the water balance in the body. Blockages can lead to kidney infections, edema, sexual problems, problems with the urinary tract, respiratory, skin, heart, nerves and bones, bad teeth, sleep disturbances occur.
Emotionally: sexual insecurity, anxiety and problems with fidelity. The starting point is under the foot and the endpoint is at the cup of the clavicle. Yin energy.
9. Pericardium (Cycle Channel) 7:00 to 9:00.
Regulates the heart and circulatory functions. Blockages can lead to blood pressure problems, chest pain, menstrual problems, fatigue, concentration and memory weakness.
Emotionally: problems with forgiveness, jealousy and remorse. The starting point is located on the nipple and the end point is located at the tip of the middle finger. Yin energy.
10. Triple Burner channel 9:00 to 11:00.
This meridian has no corresponding organ, but its functions affect all 11 other meridians. It works as a thermostat and adjust our body temperature when the outside temperature changes. Provides a psychological and physical balance. Blockages can give glandular and hormonal disorders, weather sensitivity, tinnitus, and susceptibility to infections and fatigue occur. It is also involved in shoulder problems and tennis elbow.
Emotionally: depression, problems with inner balance and nonchalance. The starting point is the ring finger on the outside and the end point is located at the end of the eyebrow. Yang energy.
11. Gallbladder Channel 11:00 to 1:00.
Regulates the gallbladder (works closely with the liver) and digestive glands. Blockages can lead to gall and digestive disorders, disturbances in liver function, allergies and/or toxins, anemia and headache occur due to improper diet.
Emotionally: anger, problems with decisiveness and purposeful action, aimlessness. The starting point is next to the eye on the outside and the endpoint is on the 4th toe on the outside. Yang energy.
12. Liver Channel 1:00 to 3:00.
Regulates the liver and metabolism. Blockages can give digestive problems, allergies, weakened immune system, menstrual problems, problems with tendons, muscle cramps, facial and nail problems.
Emotionally: irritability, anger, frustration, anger and depression, imbalance and unhappiness. The starting point is the big toe on the outside and the end point lies below the nipple. Yin energy.
13. Lung Channel 3:00 to 5:00.
Regulates the lungs, upper respiratory tract, blood and water. Blockages can lead to influenza, low resistance, fatigue, edema, asthma, respiratory problems, problems with sweating, pain in arms and shoulders.
Emotionally: sadness, worry and intolerance. The starting point is in the hollow of the shoulder and the end point on the inside of the thumb nail. Yin energy.
14. Large intestine 5:00 to 7:00.
Regulates the colon, mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, helps in the secretion of snails. Blockages give indigestion, sore rumbling stomach, diarrhea and constipation, colds, tonsillitis and headache.
Emotionally: problems with letting go of feelings of guilt, no self-esteem. The starting point is located on the outside corner of the nail of the index finger and the end point is located on the corner of the nose wings. Yang energy.
In martial arts, especially Dim Mak (点穴 diǎnxué/点脉 diǎnmài) [Japanese name: Kyusho Jitsu] the knowledge of this can be used to generate a greater effect/impact when hitting certain points according to this schedule.
Wu Xing
The Wu Xing, (五行 wŭ xíng) also known as the Five Phases, showing the interaction between elements and meridians.
Information on 5 fases through Wikipedia: Wu Xing
Wu Xing (Five Elements).
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.
The five elements are usually in a state of flux. They can be arranged in a number of sequences, but the two usually encountered are the productive Sheng sequence and the destructive Mo sequence.
Sheng Cycle: The Productive Sequence:
Wood burns, creating…Fire leaves ashes, creating…Earth contains ore, creating…Metal melts, creating…Water nourishes plant life, creating (back to Wood)…
Ko Cycle: The Controlling Sequence:
Wood draws strength from, (controlling)…Earth pollutes, (controlling)…Water puts out, (controlling)…Fire melts, (controlling)…Metal chops down, (controlling) (back to Wood)…
The five elements are also used to symbolize different things…
Wood
Direction: East – Season: Spring – Color: Green
Fire
Direction: South – Season: Summer – Color: Red
Earth
Direction: Center – Season: None – Color: Yellow
Metal
Direction: West – Season: Autumn – Color: White
Water
Direction: North – Season: Winter – Color: Black
SHENG cycle: The feeding cycle.
[WATER is the mother of WOOD, FIRE is the son of WOOD]
[e.g; Stimulate the bladder to support the gallbladder, Acupuncture a certain kidneypoint to support the liver.]
WATER feeds WOOD, WOOD feeds FIRE, FIRE (ashes) feed EARTH etc.
KO cycle: The controlling cycle.
[FIRE melts METAL, METAL cuts WOOD, WOOD covers EARTH, EARTH controls WATER, WATER extinguishes FIRE]
MO cycle (not shown): The disrespectfull (pathogenic) cycle.
The MO cycle is opposite to the KO cycle.
But allthough it turns the other way around, the MO cycle is not allways sickening. Just as the KO cycle is not allways controlling. As in any case the usefullness depends on the universal principle of moderation and balance. Sometimes it might be necessary to use a MO cycle practise to shake up an allready sickened element in order to start a treatment. It’s like fighting poison with poison.
In the KO cycle for instance a to great a control of WATER (grandparent) over FIRE (grandchild) is not healthy. WATER must not extinguish FIRE because the proper amount of steam (energy) is necessary for energy dependent processes.
METAL needs to control (cut) WOOD but it must not chop down the whole tree!
FIRE is dependent on WATER but if FIRE gets to strong it attacks WATER and evaporates it. This is a MO cycle action. Within the body there needs to be proper interaction between all elements to ensure they all funtion correctly. Any excess and any deficit is harmful and affects all others, either directly or indirectly.
Baduanjin: “Eight pieces of silk”.
Six daoist healing sounds.
Healing Sounds.
For those who want a Four Pillar reading: