What is a Meridian Channel?

The word Meridian originates in Eastern medicine, and has come to us through a French translation of the Chinese term, Jing-luo.  Jing means ‘to go through’, and luo means ‘something that connects or attaches’. 

Meridians are the channels, or pathways, that carry Chi (energy) and blood throughout the body. They are not Blood Vessels, but more like ‘a lattice that links together all the fundamental textures and organs’.  As this Meridian System unifies all aspects of the body, the work carried out through Shiatsu and Acupuncture, of dispersing blockages, and bringing Chi to the areas where there is lack, is crucial to a healthy and balanced physical, emotional and intellectual structure.

There are six pairs of meridians that relate to the individual organs in the body and each individual meridian has its own qualities and functions. (More on the individual pairs of meridians in follow up blogs).

Our bodies are electro-magnetic in nature and, in recent years, scientists have been able to measure electro-magnetic frequencies with EKGs (electrocardiograms) and MRI scanning, which measure the electrical activity of the heartbeat. With each beat, an electrical impulse (or “wave”) travels through the heart and numerous studies demonstrate that the meridian channels (energetic pathways) and the corresponding (Tsubo) points along these pathways, conduct these electric pulses.  Scientists at Seoul University refer to these Meridian Channels as the ‘primo-vascular system’ and a crucial part of the cardiovascular system.

The practice of Shiatsu has been found to stimulate these same energetic electrical effects along these Meridian pathways and the practitioner is able to disperse stagnation whilst bringing in Chi to the areas where there is a lack.

The Shiatsu Practitioner applies steady and firm pressure along the meridian channels that have shown up in diagnosis, and this technique relaxes the sympathetic nervous system and allows the parasympathetic nervous system to calm the functioning of the internal organs, bringing the body into a deep relaxation where the healing process can begin, (see blog ‘Why the practice of Shiatsu has an essential role in today’s society’). The organs are regulated, homeostasis is restored, and there is increased efficiency of nutrients and blood being transported throughout the body ensuring the tendons and bones are moistened, while also benefitting the joints.

Dis-ease is literally an unease in the body’s functioning. Through the expert touch of a Shiatsu practitioner, the body can start to unravel and unwind historic and recent physical and emotional stresses, and it can restore energy, blood and nutrients to areas that have not been able to receive these in order to function efficiently. Working the meridians through Shiatsu palpations means that the Practitioner is able to show the body new ways of performing with more efficacy, and so the body is able to naturally, and in its own time, make the changes itself; meaning that these changes last longer because there has been no forced change.

A brief overview of the meridian channels throughout the body