Acupuncture Channels: What Are They? (Part 2)

The twelve primary channels are the most commonly used in clinical practice. Each primary channel has a direct relationship with a particular organ. The acupuncture points on each the primary channels are predominantly used to treat imbalances relation to that respective organ.

The primary channels are further are further divided to either represent “yin “ or “yang”. The yin channels travel from the either the arms or the legs, towards and onto the body, to finally connect with the organ to which they represent. The yang channels originate from their associated organ, move along the body, then travel along either the arms or the legs. They end on either the fingers or the toes.

The primary channels link end on end to form a closed loop system. The energy (qi) moves thought each of the channels in a set order. This order involves a sequence in which the paired yin and yang channels connect. The order and the location of each of the primary channels are as follows:

Lung (yin)– anterior portion of the inside of the arm;
Large Intestine (yang) – anterior portion of the outside of the arm;

Stomach (yang) – anterior portion of the outside of the leg;
Spleen (yin) – anterior portion of the inside of the leg;

Heart (yin) – posterior portion of the inside of the arm;
Small Intestine (yang) – posterior portion of the outside of the arm;

Bladder (yang) – posterior portion of the outside of the leg;
Kidney (yin) – posterior portion of the inside of the leg;

Pericardium (yin) – middle portion of the inside of the arm;
San Jiao (yang) – middle portion of the outside of the arm;

Gall bladder (yang) – middle portion of the outside of the leg;
Liver (yin) – middle portion of the inside of the leg.