The meridian system (simplified Chinese: 经络; traditional Chinese: 經絡; pinyin: jīngluò, also called channel network) is a concept in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path through which the life-energy known as “qi” flows.1 The twelve standard meridians, also called principal meridians, are divided into Yin and Yang groups. The Yin meridians of the arm are Lung, Heart, and Pericardium. The Yang meridians of the arm are Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Triple Burner. The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen, Kidney, and Liver. The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach, Bladder, and Gall Bladder.2 The Lung Meridian or Lung Channel is one of the 12 principal meridians in TCM. It corresponds with the Yangming Large Intestine Meridian of the Hand. The Flow Hours of this meridian are 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM.3
CONTENTS
ORGAN AND FUNCTION
ACUPOINTS
FLOWING ROUTES
ORGAN AND FUNCTION
The Lung (肺,Fei) is one of the zang organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name. The Lung is a zang organ meaning it is a yin organ. Situated in the thorax, it communicates with the throat and opens into the nose. It occupies the uppermost position among the zang-fu organs, and is known as the “canopy” of the zang-fu organs. Its meridian connects with the large intestine, with which it is internally-externally related. The Lung and its paired organ are associated with the element of metal and the emotion of grief. The peak time for the Lungs is from 3-5 am.4 The Lung has five principal functions:
-Governing qi and controlling respiration. They take in clear and expel turbid Natural Air Qi (Kong Qi).
-Controlling disseminating and descending.
-Regulating the water passages.
-Controlling the skin and body hair.
-Opening into the nose.
-Housing the Po.
Dominating qi has two aspects: dominating the qi of respiration and dominating the qi of the entire body. Dominating the qi of respiration means the lung is a respiratory organ through which the qi of the exterior and the qi from the interior are able to mingle. Via the lung, the body inhales clear qi from the natural environment and exhales waste qi from the interior of the body. Dominating qi of the entire body means that the function of the lung in respiration greatly influences the functional activities of the body, and is closely related to the formation of pectoral qi, which is formed from the combination of the essential qi of water and food, and the clear qi inhaled by the lung. When the lung’s function of dominating qi is normal, the passage of qi will be unobstructed and respiration will be normal and smooth. Deficiency of lung qi may lead to general fatigue, feeble speech, weak respiration, shortness of breath and excessive perspiration.5
As a general rule, the upper zang-fu organs have the function of descending, and the lower zang-fu organs the function of ascending. Since the lung is the uppermost zang organ, its qi descends to promote the circulation of qi and body fluid through the body and to conduct them downwards. Dysfunction of the lung in descending may lead to upward perversion of lung qi with symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Moreover, regulating the water passages means to regulate the pathways for the circulation and excretion of water. Circulation of body fluids is a function of many organs working together as a team, including the lungs. The role of the lung in promoting and maintaining water metabolism depends on the descending function of lung qi. Under normal circumstances, the lungs are capable of sending fluids downwards to the kidneys, which pass the fluids to the bladder for excretion.6
ACUPOINTS
This meridian contains 11 acupoints in one side, that is 22 acupoints in total.
LU-1 / Zhongfu / 中府
Location: Laterosuperior to the sternum, 1 cun below Yunmen (LU-2), at the level of the first intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Indications: Cough, asthma, pain in the chest, shoulder and back; fullness of the chest.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture obliquely 0.5-0.8 cun towards the lateral aspect of the chest. To avoid injuring the lung, never puncture deeply towards the medial aspect. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Superolaterally, the axillary artery and vein, the thoracoacromial artery and vein.
Innervation: The intermediate supraclavicular nerve, the branches of the anterior thoracic nerve, and the lateral cutaneous branch of the first intercostal nerve.
LU-2 / Yunmen / 云门
Location: In the superior lateral part of the anterior thoracic wall, superior to the coracoid process of scapula, in the depression of the infraclavicular fossa, 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Indications: Cough, asthma, pain in the chest, shoulder and arm, fullness in the chest.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture obliquely 0.5-0.8 inch towards the lateral aspect of the chest. To avoid injuring the lung, never puncture deeply towards the medial aspect. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The cephalic vein, the thoracoacromial artery and vein; inferiorly, the axillary artery.
Innervation: The intermediate and lateral supraclavicular nerve, the branches of the anterior thoracic nerve, and the lateral cord of the brachial plexus.
LU-3 / Tianfu / 天府
Location: On the medial aspect of the upper arm, 3 cun below the end of axillary fold, on the radial side of m. biceps brachii.
Indications: Asthma, epistaxis, pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1 inch.
Vasculature: The cephalic vein and muscular branches of the brachial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral brachial cutaneous nerve at the place where the musculocutaneous nerve passes through.
LU-4 / Xiabai / 侠白
Location: On the medial aspect of the upper arm, 4 cun below the anterior end of the axillary fold, or 5 cun above the cubital crease, on the radial side of m. biceps brachii.
Indications: Cough, fullness in the chest, pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The cephalic vein and mus, cular branches of the brachial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral brachial cutaneous nerve at the place where the musculo-cutaneous never passes through.
LU-5 / Chize / 尺泽
Location: On the cubital crease, in the depression of the radial side of the tendon of m. biceps brachii. This point is located with the elbow slightly flexed.
Indications: Cough, hemoptysis, afternoon fever, asthma, sore throat, fullness in the chest, infantile convulsions, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm, mastitis.
Acupuncture Method: puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1 inch.
Vasculature: The branches of the radial recurrent artery and vein, the cephalic vein.
Innervation: The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the radial nerve.
LU-6 / Kongzui / 孔最
Location: On the palmar aspect of the forearm, on the line joining Taiyuan (LU-9) and Chize (LU-5), 7 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist.
Indications: Cough, pain in the chest, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The cephalic vein, the radial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.
LU-7 / Lieque / 列缺
Location: Superior to the styloid process of the radius, 1.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist between brachioradial muscle and the tendon of long abductor muscle of the thumb. When the index fingers and thumbs of both hands are crossed with the index finger of one hand placed on the styloid process of the radius of the other, the point is in the depression right under the tip of the index finger.
Indications: Headache, migraine, neck rigidity, cough, asthma, sore throat, facial paralysis, toothache, pain and weakness of the wrist.
Method: Puncture 0.3-0.5 inch obliquely upward. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The cephalic vein, branches of the radial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.
LU-8 / Jingqu / 经渠
Location: 1 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery.
Indications: Cough, asthma, fever, pain in the chest, sore throat, pain in the wrist.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.1-0.3 inch. Avoid puncturing the radial artery.
Vasculature: Laterally, the radial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.
LU-9 / Taiyuan / 太渊
Location: At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist, in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery.
Indications: Cough, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, palpitation, pain in the chest, wrist and arm.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.2-0.3 inch. Avoid puncturing the radial artery. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: The radial artery and vein.
Innervation: The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and superficial ramus of the radial nerve.
LU-10 / Yuji / 鱼际
Location: On the radial aspect of the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone, on the junction of the red and white skin (i.e., the junction of the dorsum and palm of the hand).
Indications: Cough hemoptysis, sore throat, loss of voice, fever, feverish sensation in the palm. .
Acupuncture Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-0.8 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
Vasculature: Venules of the thumb draining to the cephalic vein.
Innervation: The superficial ramus of the radial nerve.
LU-11 / Shaoshang / 少商
Location: On the radial side of the thumb, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail.
Indications: Sore throat, cough, asthma, epistaxis, fever, loss of consciousness, mania, spasmodic pain of the thumb.
Acupuncture Method: Puncture 0.1 inch, or prick the point to cause bleeding.
Vasculature: The arterial and venous network formed by the palmar digital proprial artery and veins.
Innervation: The terminal nerve network formed by the mixed branches of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve as well as the palmar digital proprial nerve of the median nerve.
FLOWING ROUTES
This meridian originates from the middle energizer, running downwards to link with the large intestine. Winding back, it goes along the upper orifice of the stomach and passes through the diaphragm, entering the lung, its pertaining organ. Then it reaches the throat, runs transversely along the superolateral aspect of the chest (Zhongfu, LU-1) and finally emerges from the axilla. Descending along the anterior border of the medial aspect of the upper limb, it passes through the cubital fossa and enters Cunkou. Passing the thenar eminence and going along its redial border, it ends at the medial side of the radial tip of the thumb.
Its branch separating from Lieque (the posterior portion of the wrist, LU-7) runs along the back of the hand reaching the radial end of the index finger (Shangyang, LI-1), where it links with the yangming large intestine meridian of the hand.7
Footnotes
- What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine – sciencebasedmedicine.org – 2012, https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-is-traditional-chinese-medicine/
- Advanced Pressute Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo – A Dillman Karate International Book – 1994, https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Pressure-Point-Fighting-Ryukyu/dp/0963199633/
- Acupuncture points of the lung meridian of the hand – cnacupuncture.com – 2017, http://www.cnacupuncture.com/points-of-the-lung-meridian-of-hand-taiyin.html
- Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion – Foreign Languages Press – 1987, https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Acupuncture-Moxibustion-Seventeenth-Printing/dp/7119059947/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493125663&sr=1-1
- Chinese natural cures – Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing – 1994, https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/1579120563/
- The foundations of chinese medicine: a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists – Black Dog & Elsevier Churchill Livingstone – 2005, https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Chinese-Medicine-Comprehensive-Acupuncturists/dp/0443074895
- Taiyin Lung Meridian of the Hand – tcmwiki.com – 2017, https://tcmwiki.com/wiki/taiyin-lung-meridian-of-hand
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