You may wonder, 'what does neck ache have to do with my gallbladder? In fact, all our body parts and functions are intricately interrelated. Also, their points go far beyond the organs which they are named after.
Imbalances in one area may give rise to symptoms in another. These can manifest on a physical or emotional level, or both. As part of TCM, acupressure seeks to treat the energy blocks and imbalances. Those that underlie the symptoms regarding the body and mind as one interconnected whole. Each meridian is associated with certain types of vital energy or qi, qualities such as cooling or warming , sense organs, emotions, and elements.
They are also classified as yin or yang. Depending on the direction of energy flow and their location on the inner or outer regions of the limbs and torso. From the point of view of modern western medicine, which tends to focus more on identifying pathogens and treating diseases and their symptoms in isolation, it may all sound very complex and mystical.
Briefly, there are twelve major meridians that run on both sides of the body, each side mirroring the other. These channels are named after the organs that they relate to, as we will see below, with the exception of the Triple Burner Meridian which primarily regulates temperature in the body.
In addition, two other important meridians, belonging to a category called extraordinary vessels, are commonly used in acupressure and acupuncture: the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel. These primary meridians are interwoven by a network of minor meridians.
