Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians
Lee Chang-Chih May 10th 2005
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A brief introduction to the Eight Extra Meridians (奇經八脈)
The Eight Extra Meridians have been documented as early as in the scriptures of Lingshu and Suwen (靈樞 and 素問, The Internal Medicine of Emperor Huang). In The Classics of Medical Problems (難經本義, Nan Jing Ben Yi), the Twenty-Seventh Problem asked, “Outside of the twelve meridians, there are eight extra meridians; Why is it so? There are Yangwei, Yinwei, Yangqiao, and Yinqiao; there are also Chong, Du, Ren, and Dai Mais (meridians). These eight meridians are in a system apart from the main twelve meridians; therefore, they are called the Eight Extra Meridians.”[1] The Study of the Eight Extra Meridians (奇經八脈考)[2] by Li Shi-Zhen has more detailed discussions on the Extra Eight Meridian System. In the following table, we will make a brief summary of the Eight Extra Meridians based on The Classics of Medical Problems (難經本義, Nan Jing Ben Yi) and The Methods of Acupuncture (刺灸心法)[3].
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Circulatory Routes
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Symptoms
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Regulated Function
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督 脈
Du
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督脈少腹骨中央，女子入繫溺孔疆，男子之絡循陰器，繞篡之後別臀方，至少陰者循腹裏，會任直上關元行，屬腎會衝接腹氣，入喉上頤環唇當，上繫兩目中央下，始合內眥絡太陽，上額交顛入絡腦，還出下項肩髆場，挟脊抵腰入循膂，絡腎莖篡等同鄉，此是申明督脈路，總為陽脈之督剛。
1. Du mai starts from the kidneys and enters the perineum.
2. passes posterior and goes up to Guanyuan.
3. At the back of the throat, all yang meridians meet.
4. Du mai continues to the nape of the neck and from here enters the brain.
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督 之 為 病 ， 脊 強 而 厥 。
Ailments of the Du Main are resolved by strong spine.
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總督一身陽脈，故稱陽脈之海。
Du Main is a Yang Main regulating the whole body; therefore, it is called the
任 脈
Ren
任脈起於中極下，會陰腹裡上關，循內上行會衝脈，浮外循腹至喉嚥。別絡口唇承漿已，過足陽明上頤間，循面入目至晴明，交督陰脈海名傳。
1. Ren Mai starts from the kidney and moves to the Perineum and forward to the pubic region.
2. It then flows on the surface layer to the throat.
3. At the throat, the Ren mai divides into two branches, which move along the lips and gums, up to Qing Ming (bottom part of the eyes) and then into the eyes.
4. As it passes the upper lips, the two branches converge at the philtrum.
任 之 為 病 ， 其 內 苦 結， 男 子 為 七 疝 ， 女 子 為 瘕 聚 。
Ailments of Ren are mostly internal problems.
統任一身陰脈，故稱陰脈之海。
Ren mai connects the entire Yin mai system in the body; therefore, it is called the
衝 脈
Chong
衝脈起於腹氣街，後天宗氣氣來衝，並於先天之真氣，相並挟臍上胸街，大氣至胸中而散，會合督任衝身懷，分佈臟腑諸經絡，名之曰海不為乖。
1. Chong Mai starts in the kidneys, goes down to the Uterus, where it separates into two branches.
2. One branch goes up fro the back to the center of qi and the other goes up to the naval and up to the chest.
3. The flow disperses in the chest to meet the Du mai.
4. Along the Du mai, Chong mai branches reach all organs; therefore, it is well deserved to call it a sea.
衝 之 為 病 ， 逆氣 而 裏 急 。
Ailments of Chong Mai are sudden thrush of Qi.
統領先天之元氣與後天之穀氣，故稱經脈之海。
Chong main units the innate Qi and the acquired Qi from food; therefore, it is called the
帶 脈
Dai
帶脈足少陰經脈，上膕別走太陽經，合腎十四椎屬帶，起於季脅繞身行。
1. Dai mai is part of the leg Shaoyin point.
2. It goes up along the yang side (outer side) to the 14th spine at the kidney area and up to the Jixie point (on the side of the ribs).
3. It then starts again to circulate the body.
帶 之 為 病 ， 腹 滿 ， 腰 溶 溶， 若 坐 水 中 。
Ailments of the Dai mai are mostly water retention at the abdomen and waist.
主約束諸脈。
Regulates the meridians.
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陽 蹻 脈
Yangqiao
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陽蹻脈起於跟中，上合三陽外踝行，從脅循肩入頸頄，屬目內眥太陽經。
1. Yangqiao starts from the inner side of the heels.
2. It goes out to the heels and up to Sanyang.
3. It then moves up along the thighs, sides of the body, into the sides of the necks, cheeks, and then brains.
4. It travels on the Yang side; therefore, it is a yang meridian.
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