The Meridians
Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that everything influences everything else. This holistic approach to health recognizes both intrinsic and extrinsic interactions. Intrinsic interaction is how the organs and systems function inside the body. The extrinsic interaction is how the environment affects the body. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine recognize the natural forces of energy, which regulate life. They called this chi. Chi is the breath of life. It is what creates and nourishes the human spirit to give us energy. Chi is the force of nature that moves energy through all matter.
The Traditional Chinese Meridian Theory recognizes two types of chi or energy sources for the body. The first energy source comes from our food, the nourishment that we take into the body, which eventually flows through the blood stream. The second energy source is the life force that flows through the meridians.
Meridians are energy pathways that interface the outside of the body to the inside of the body. The meridians are the most physical level of the three energy system levels, which consist of meridians, chakras and auras. Meridians affect both the physical body and the energy body. The meridians are closely linked to the nervous system and the nerve pathways that feed every organ and part of the body, yet they also control the flow of chi in the etheric body. Balancing the meridians, balances the whole body both the physical and the etheric body. We can balance the physical component of the meridian chi with food and herbs and etheric component of the meridian chi with vibration such as sound.
The meridian system is a closed system so if the energy ever gets blocked, one meridian will be under energy and another will be over energy. This energy blockage is expressed as imbalance such as pain, discomfort and disease in the body. A healthy body depends on maintaining all of these free-flowing energy pathways.
Restoring balance and homeostasis is the concept supported by the Meridian Sound Essences. The Meridian Sound Essences support the physical aspect of the meridian with the vibration of herbs and supports the etheric aspect of the meridian with the vibration of sound. The magical effects of the Meridian Sound Essences come from tapping into the dualistic nature of the meridians. The formulas for theses essences balance the meridians with the homeopathic signature of the herb that resonates with the intrinsic component of the chi and blend it with the sound vibration related to the specific meridian that resonates with the extrinsic component of chi. The meridian is getting a complete harmony of balanced vibration that promotes it in health and stability.
Yin / Yang Meridian - Success / Support
"I love myself exactly as I am"
Associated Meridians - Central and Governing
Emotional Component - Support
Metaphysical Component
Central Meridian - Proper creative expression in all avenuesGoverning Meridian - Ability to govern life
Associated Physical Component - Brain and Spine
Central Meridian Issues
- Physically
- Central Nervous system
- Brain
- Eyes
- Hormonal system
- Mentally
- Memory
- Consciousness
- Ability to think
- Emotionally
- Self-respect
- Success
- Spiritually
- Connected with nature
- Grounded
Governing Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Skeletal system
- Spine
- Brain
- Face
- Ears
- Anus
Mentally
- Memory
- Clear thinking
Emotionally
- Feeling supported
- Trusting
- Unbalanced
Spiritually
- Connected with self and higher self
Herbs
- Catnip
- Chamomile
- Feverfew
- Ginko Biloba
- Gota Kola
- Ginger
- Hops
- Lemon Balm
- Oatstraw
- Scullcap
- St John’s wort
- Valerian
- Wood Betany
Fire Element - Sovereign - Love / Hate
"I am filled with joy and gratitude as I am learning from my experience"
Color - Red
Season - Summer
Sound - Laughing/Giggling
Note - Note ‘G’
Taste - Bitter
Odor- Scorched
Conditions- Heat
Associated Meridians - Heart & Small Intestine
Emotional Component - Love
Metaphysical Component - Inner joy
Sense - Taste
Action - Sight
Tissues - Blood Vessels
Fluid- Sweat
Associated Physical Component - Heart and Small Intestine
Fire Element Issues:
Physical
- Heart and Circulation
Emotional
- Excess
Mental
- Idealism
Spiritual
- Expression
Heart Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Circulation of blood
- Cold hands and feet
- Speech and tongue
- Shoulder pain and tension
- Sleep disorders
- Nervous disorders due to anxiety and or agitation
Mentally
- Memory
- Consciousness
- Ability to think
- Intuition
Emotionally
- Enthusiasm, passion, spontaneity
- Apathy
- Exhaustion
- Depression and mood swings
Spiritually
- Seeks expansion of consciousness
- Seeks heartfelt connection with others or God
Herbs
- Cayene
- Hawthorn
- Motherwort
Small Intestine Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Throat
- Speech
- Earaches
- Ulcers
- Bowel disorders
Mentally
- Power of discernment
- Ability to make choices
- Sort things out - can be obsessive
Emotionally
- Transformer of emotions
- Receive new feelings with ease
- Forgives and forgets
Spiritually
- Devotion to spiritual truth
Herbs
- Aloe Vera
- Buckthorn
- Cascara Sagrada
- Flaxseed
- Slippery Elm
- Strawberry
Fire Element - Ministerial - Love / Hate
"I am in the rhythm of life, getting better
every day"
Color - Red
Season - Summer
Sound - Laughing/Giggling
Note - Note ‘G’
Taste - Bitter
Odor- Scorched
Conditions- Heat
Associated Meridians - Circulation / Sex & Triple Warmer
Emotional Component - Love
Metaphysical Component - Communication and growth in relationships
Sense - Taste
Action - Sight
Tissues - Blood Vessels
Fluid- Sweat
Associated Physical Component - Circulation, lymphatic system and hormonal function
Fire Element Issues:
Physical
- Heart and Circulation
Emotional
- Excess
Mental
- Idealism
Spiritual
- Expression
Circulation / Sex Issues:
Physically
- Circulation of blood
- Cold hands and feet
- Nervous disorders
- Drowsiness
Mentally
- Memory
- Ability to think
- Intuition
- Communication
Emotionally
- Enthusiasm
- Exhaustion
- Depression and mood swings
Spiritually
- Relationships
- Sexuality
Herbs
- Angelica
- Blessed Thistle
- Ginger
- Licorice
- Motherwort
- Mugwort
- Red Raspberry
- Sarsaparilla
- Sassafras
Triple Warmer Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Disturbances related to respiration and circulation - upper burner
- Disturbances related to digestion and absorption - middle burner
- Disturbances related to elimination and reproduction - lower burner
Mentally
- Unclear thinking
- Anxiety
Emotionally
- Depression
- Low self esteem
- unbalanced
Spiritually
- Not feeling balanced on all four levels
Herbs
- Alfalfa
- Blessed Thistle
- Comfrey
- Dulse
- Irish Moss
- Kelp
- Licorice
- Marshmallow
- Parsley
- Sassafras
- Siberian
- Ginseng
Earth Element - Sympathy / Empathy
"I am content and blessed and have confidence in all that I do"
Color - Yellow
Season - Late Summer
Sound - Singing/ Humming
Note - Note ‘C’
Taste - Sweet
Odor - Fragrant
Conditions - Wind
Associated Meridians - Stomach & Spleen
Emotional Component - Sympathy
Metaphysical Component - Refection
Sense - Touch
Action - Thought
Tissues - Flesh / Fat
Fluid - Saliva
Associated Physical Component - Stomach and Spleen functions
Spleen Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Adrenal function
- Generally run down
- Lymphatic system
- Menstrual cycle
- Immune system
Emotionally
- Sympathy - feels all the pain of the earth
- Needy
Mentally
- Foggy thinking
- Lack of mental clarity
Spiritually
- Seeks nourishment
- Seeks harmony with others
Herbs
- Buchu
- Calendula
- Chapparal
- Cleavers
- Dandelion
- Devil's Club
- Echinacea
- Juniper Berries
- Licorice
- Mullein
- Parsley
- Stevia
- Usnea
- Uva-Ursi
Stomach Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Vision
- Knee pain
- Indigenstion, gas, bloating, nausea and vomiting
Mentally
- Disconnected thoughts
- Repetitive thoughts leading nowhere, inability to focus
Emotionally
- Worry
- Discontent
Spiritually
- Doubt and uncertainty
Herbs
- Alfalfa
- Aloe Vera
- Cayenne
- Comfrey
- Fennel
- Fenugreek
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Meadowsweet
- Peppermint
- Slippery Elm
- Strawberry
Metal Element - Guilt / Grief / Regret
"I release all that no longer serves me to embrace positive change in my life"
Color - White
Season - Autumn
Sound - Weeping/Sobbing
Note - Note ‘D’
Taste - Pungent
Odor- Rotten
Conditions- Clear
Associated Meridians - Lung & Large Intestine
Emotional Component - Grief
Sense - Smell
Action - Speech
Tissues - Skin/Hair
Fluid- Mucuos
Associated Physical Component - Lung and Large Intestine functions
Metal Element Issues:
Physical
- Breathing
Emotional
- Control
Mental
- Flexibility
Spiritual
- Worth
Lung Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Breathing disorders
- Asthma, bronchitis, coughing, emphysema
- Sinusitis
- Sore throat
Mentally
- Unreceptive to new ideas
- Lack of inspiration
Emotionally
- Sadness and worry
- Inability to receive
Spiritually
- Inability to live life with exuberance
- Learning difficulties
- Feeling separated from abundance and wholeness
Herbs
- Colt's Foot
- Comfrey
- Elderberry
- Elecampagne
- Ephedra
- Flaxseed
- Horehound
- Licorice
- Lobelia
- Marshmallow
- Mullein
- Slippery Elm
Large Intestine Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Bowels and elimination
- Face and mouth
- Frontal headaches
- Sore Throat
Mentally
- Rigid, black and white thinking
- Controlled and controlling
- Analytical
Emotionally
- Lack of spontaneity
- Needs to be right
- Inability to let go
Spiritually
- Seeks the absolute
- Seeks perfect authority outside of self
Herbs
- Buckthorn
- Cascara Sagrada
- Chaparral
- Fennel
- Flaxseed
- Goldenseal
- Marshmallow
- Oregon Grape
- Psyllium
- Slippery Elm
Water Element - Fear / Anxiety
"I love to be alive and in charge of my own destiny"
Color - Blue
Season - Winter
Sound - Groaning/ Moaning
Note - Note ‘A’
Taste - Salty
Odor- Putrid
Conditions- Cold
Associated Meridians - Kidney & Bladder
Emotional Component - Fear
Metaphysical Component - Overcoming fear and anger
Sense - Hearing
Action - Listening
Tissues - Bones/Teeth
Fluid- Urine
Associated Physical Component - Kidney and Bladder functions
Water Element Issues:
Physical
- Fluid, Electrolyte Balance
Emotional
- Timidity
Mental
- Covertness
Spiritual
- Trust
Kidney Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Hormones
- Growth and development
- Stamina
- Formation of urine
Mentally
- Alertness
- Ability to perceive
Emotionally
- Fear
- Phobias
- Secretiveness
Spiritually
- Gravitates towards symbols
- Will to persevere on chosen path
Herbs
- Cleavers
- Cornsilk
- Juniper Berries
- Marshmallow
- Parsley
- Pippsisewa
- Uva-Ursi
Bladder Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Urination
- The back, spinal column and neck
- Vision and hearing
- Occipital headaches
Mentally
- Lack of fluidity
- Hindsight
- Living in the past
Emotionally
- Jealousy
- Holding on to grudges
- Phobias
Spiritually
- Aspiration to lofty heights
- Will
- Resoluteness
Herbs
- Buchu
- Cornsilk
- Dandelion
- Parsley
- Plantain
- Uva-Ursi
Wood Element - Anger / Rage
"The choices I make support growthful and beneficial change to me and the universe "
Color - Green
Season - Spring
Sound - Shouting/Calling
Note - Note ‘E’
Taste - Sour
Odor- Rancid
Conditions- Rain
Associated Meridians - Liver & Gall Bladder
Emotional Component - Anger
Metaphysical Component - Proper expression of willpower
Sense - Sight
Action - Countenance
Tissues - Muscles/Tendons
Fluid- Tears
Associated Physical Component - Liver and Gall Bladder functions
Wood Element Issues:
Physical
- Flexible
Emotional
- Volatility
Mental
- Judgment
Spiritual
- Purpose
Liver Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Liver imbalances
- Toxicity
- Vision difficulties
- Anemia
Mentally
- Planning
- Seeing paths into the future
- Creativity
Emotionally
- Anger
- Depression
- Volatile
Spiritually
- Pioneers
- Crusaders
- Visionary
Herbs
- Burdock
- Calendula
- Dandelion
- Goldenseal
- Milk Thistle
- Oregon Grape
- Red Clover
- Stinging Nettle
- Wood Betany
- Yellow Dock
Gall Bladder Meridian Issues:
Physically
- Gall bladder
- Muscles and tendons
- One-sided headaches
- Eye problems
- Brain
- Paralysis
Mentally
- Ability to make decisions
- Vacillation
Emotionally
- Judgmental
- Resentment
- Bitterness
- Opinionated
- Controlled
Spiritually
- Seeks life and purpose
- Utilitarian
Herbs
- Blessed Thistle
- Cascara Sagrada
- Dandelion
- St. John's Wort