01/09/2021
Jing Jin
Muscle Channels
Dr. Emiel Van den Bosch
After Giovanni Maciocia Channels of Acupuncture
[Link]
Morphology of Jing Jin
• Running on the surface of the body
• Not connected directly to the Zang Fu
• Start at the ting points of the extremities
• Follow mainly the course of the Twelve Main Channels
• Follow the form of the major muscles
• Fall in four groups of three channels
• Same polarity: yin or yang
• Starting at leg or arm
[Link]
Muscle channels are on the surface of the
body
• Are different to the luo channels who connect Main Channels
• They serve the muscles of the body, between the skin and the bones
• They can easily be invaded by pathogenic factors, resulting in muscle
pain or stiffness without the symptoms o f aversion to wind cold or
fever
• Muscle channels are skeletal muscles
• Lateral posterior surface of the arms
• Lateral posterior surface of the legs
• Medial surface of the legs
• Medial surface of the arms
[Link]
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Muscle channels are not connected to the
internal organs
• They represent broad areas and groups of muscles that cover the
bones and lie under the skin
• They are areas where Blood and Qi circulate
• Internal organs influence the muscle channels, through their
connection with the main channels
• Main Channels nourish, warm and irrigate the muscles
• One way direction internal organs influence the muscle channels, but
these can not influence the internal organs
[Link]
Muscle channels originate at the ting points
• All muscle channels flow from the extremities to the top of the body
• Qi and Blood flow in both directions
[Link]
Muscle channels follow the course of the
Main Channels
• As the muscle channels are wider than the main channels, they can
combine more main channels: look at the three yang of the arm
[Link]
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Muscle channels follow the contours of the
major muscles
• Muscle chain theory see lectures of Dr. Michele Thilghman
• Some muscles overly more then one muscle channel
• Deltoid and Trapezius have Small Intestine and Large Intestine muscle channel
[Link]
Muscle Channels are grouped
Tai Yang Shao Yang Yang Ming
Tai Yin Yue Yin Shao Yin
3 Yang of leg SPRING BL GB ST
3 Yin of leg AUTUMN SP LIV KI
3 Yang of arm SUMMER SI TH LI
3 Yin of arm WINTER LU PC HT
Exterior Interior Hinge
Yang Tai Yang SI BL Yang Ming LI ST Shao Yang TH GB
Yin Tai Yin LU SP Shao Yin HT KI Yue Yin PC LIV
[Link]
Bladder
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
LI
SI
GB
ST
KI
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Bladder
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
LI
SI
GB
ST
KI
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Bladder Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts at the fifth toe, caudo lateral of the hoof
• Ascends the lateral side of the leg to converge at the knee
• A branch starts under the lateral malleolus to converge at the heel and ascend to the
popliteal fossa
• A branch ascends the medial side of the gastrocnemius towards the medial side of the
popliteal fossa, these two branches join in the gluteal region to converge at the buttock
• The main branch continues upwards to converge at the occiput, where a branch
converges at the base of the tongue
• The main branch continues upward to the top of the head and continues over the side
of the nose, making a circle around the eye and converges at the cheekbone
• A side branch splits of on the back to run to the axilla and the acromion LI 15
• An other branch turns under the axilla towards the supraclavicular fossa ST 12 to end at
the mastoid GB 12 behind the ear
• From the supra clavicular fossa a branch runs up to the cheekbone and to join the cercle
around the eye
[Link]
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Gall Bladder
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
ST
BL
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Gall Bladder
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
ST
BL
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Gall Bladder Muscle Channel
• Begins at the fourth toe, lateral of the hoof
• Connects with the anterior part of the malleolus, runs up along the
lateral side of the leg to converge at the lateral side of the knee
• The main branch continues on the lateral side of the thigh
• One branch splits of anteriorly to converge above ST 32
• A second branch splits up towards the sacrum, where it spreads
• The main branch continues towards the axilla, first towards the chest
ST 14 up to the supraclavicular fossa, side of the neck, behind the
ear, cheekbone and outer cantus of the eye
• From behind the ear a branch goes to the top of the head GV 20
[Link]
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Stomach
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
GB
LI
BL
Muscle Channel
[Link]
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Stomach
Muscle
Channel
• Connects with
• GB
• LI
• BL
• Muscle Channel
[Link]
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Stomach Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts dorsal on the coronary border, the three middle toes
• Converges at the dorsum of the foot
• Ascends the lateral side of the tibia and converges at the knee,
connecting with the GB Muscle Channel
• Ascends the leg and converges at the hip joint
• Passes through the lower ribs and reaches the spine
• Main branch runs along the tibia and the thigh past T 32 to converge
in the genitalia
• Runs up the chest and neck, to the corner of the mouth and under
the eye
• An other branch runs up in front of the ear
[Link]
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Spleen
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
LIV
KI
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Spleen
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
LIV
KI
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Spleen Muscle Channel pathway
• Begins on the medial side of the hoof
• Converges at the medial malleolus
• Runs up the medial aspect of the knee to converge at the knee
• Follows the medial side of the thigh to converge at the genitalia
• Ascends the abdomen to converge at the umbilicus
• Enters the abdomen and converges at the ribs, spreads in the chest
• In the chest, a branch adheres to the spine
[Link]
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Liver
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
SP
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Liver
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
SP
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Liver Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts at the dorso medial side of the hoof
• Ascends to converge at the anterior side of the medial malleolus
• Runs up the medial side of the tibia to converge with the medial
condyle
• Continues up the medial thigh to connect with the genitalia where it
connects with the SP muscle channel
[Link]
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Kidney
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
SP
BL
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Kidney
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
SP
BL
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Kidney Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts under the foot, in the plantar midline of the hoof
• Joins the SP Muscle Channel at the medial malleolus
• Converges in the heel and joins the Bladder Muscle Channel
• Ascends the leg with the SP Muscle Channel to converge at the
genitals
• A branch runs along the inner aspect of the vertebrae to the nape of
the neck where it joins the BL Muscle Channel
[Link]
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Small
Intestine
Muscle
Channel
Connects with
BL
LI
TH
ST
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Small Intestine
Muscle channel
Connects with
BL
LI
TH
ST
Muscle Channels
[Link]
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Small Intestine Muscle Channel Pathway
• Originates at the first finger, lateral on the hoof
• Converges at the wrist
• Ascends the ulna to the medial side of the elbow SI 8
• Ascends the arm and surrounds the scapula, spreads over trapezius
and most shoulder muscles
• Ascends the neck in front of BL to turn down above the ear (branch in
ear) to converge with the mandible
• Ascends to converge at the outer canthus of the eye
[Link]
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Triple Heater
Muscle Channel
Connects to
SI
[Link]
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Triple Heater
Muscle channel
Connects with
SI
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Triple Heater Muscle Channel pathway
• Start at the second finger, dorsal on the coronary border
• Converges at the dorsal side of the carpus, runs on the lateral side of
the arm to the tip of the olecranon TH 10
• Runs on the lateral side of the arm to the shoulder TH 14 and the
neck where it joins the SI Muscle Channel
• A side branch runs from the angle of the mandibula to the root of the
tongue
• The main branch ascends to the lateral corner of the eye to converge
on the lateral side of the forehead
[Link]
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Large Intestine
Muscle Channel
Connects with
SI
BL
ST
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Large Intestine
Muscle
channel
Connects with
SI
BL
ST
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Large Intestine Muscle Channel pathway
• Begins at the second finger, medial side of coronary border to
converge at the dorsal carpus
• Ascends the radius to connect at the lateral elbow
• Ascends the upper arm to converge at the shoulder LI 15
• A branch goes over the scapula to attach to the upper thoracic spine
Trapezius muscle
• From the shoulder to the neck and face, converges at the cheek
bone
• Runs in front of SI to the corner of the forehead
• Crosses over the head to connect with the mandible on the opposite
side like headphones
[Link]
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Lung Muscle
Channel
Connects with
HT
PC
Muscle channels
[Link]
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Lung Muscle
channel
Connects with
HT
PC
Muscle
channels
[Link]
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Lung Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts at the caudo medial side of the hoof, first finger, to converge at
the thenar eminence
• Follows the radial pulse to the medial side of the elbow LU 5 where it
converges
• climbs the front leg on the dorso lateral side to enter the chest
below the axilla and emerge at ST 12
• Runs medial to the shoulder joint where it converges
• Descends to the clavicular fossa ST 12 and enters the chest to scatter
through the cardia and converge with the lowest ribs
[Link]
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Pericardium
Muscle Channel
pathway
Connects with
LU
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Pericardium
Muscle channel
Connects with
LU
Muscle channel
[Link]
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Pericardium Muscle Channel pathway
• Starts at the tip of the third toe, on the plantar side of the hoof,
between the bulbs of the heel
• Runs together with the LU Muscle Channel to converge at the elbow
• Runs up on the medial side of the upper arm to converge at the axilla
• Descends to scatter over the anterior and dorsal side of the ribs
• A branch enters the axilla, disperses in the chest and converges at the
diaphragm
[Link]
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Heart Muscle
Channel
Connects with
LU
Muscle Channel
[Link]
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Heart
Muscle
channel
Connects with
LU
Muscle
channel
[Link]
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Heart Muscle Channel pathway
• Originates at the lateral finger, caudolateral side of the hoof
• Converges at the carpus
• Ascends to converge at the medial side of the elbow and the axilla
• Enters the axilla and joins the LU Muscle Channel and travels up the
center of the chest
• Descends across the diaphragm to end at the navel
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Connections
BL GB ST SP LIV KI SI TH LI LU PC HT
LI ST GB LIV SP SP BL SI SI HT LU LU
SI BL LI KI BL LI BL PC
GB BL TH ST
ST ST
KI
Interrelationship between Yang channels is clearly much more intense then between the Yin channels
Yang Muscle channels promote the movement of Qi between Tai Yang, Shao Yang and Yang Ming
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Meeting Points
• Used when pathology in one muscle channel disturbs a neighboring
muscle channel
• Three Yang of the leg: SI 18 or ST 7
• Three Yin of the leg: CV 3
• Three Yang of the arm: GB 13
• Three Yin of the leg: GB 22
[Link]
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Functions of the Muscle channels
• Protect the body from trauma
• Sustain the body in his erect position
• Connect the 100 bones mechanical and energetic
• Govern the movement of joints and of the body
• Integrate the surface of the body with the interior
• Help to balance the three Yang and three Yin channels
• They are nourished by the main channels
[Link]
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Aetiology of the Muscle channels
• External pathogenic factors
• Wind, Cold or Dampness do not show external symptoms like aversion to .. Or
superficial pulse or sore throat
• Local or generalized muscle pain, feeling of heavyness
• Trauma
• Overuse
• Internal organ problems
[Link]
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Treatment of Muscle channels
• Clinical significance:
• Part of the entering and exiting of Qi (exterior – interior)
• horizontal connection between
• Three Yang
• Tai Yang
• Shao Yang
• Yang Ming
• Three Yin
• Tai Yin
• Shao Yin
• Jue Yin
[Link]
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Treatment of Muscle channels
• Treating Bi syndromes
• Needling a distal point, local point, important point on the blocked meridian
stimulates the vertical flow of Qi in the meridian
• Combining with adjacent points on meridians with the same polarity but with
different Qi levels (dept) stimulates the horizontal flow of Qi in that area
• Use the upper meeting points for chronic pathology in more then one channel
• Three Yang of the leg: SI 18 or ST 7
• Three Yin of the leg: CV 3
• Three Yang of the arm: GB 13
• Three Yin of the leg: GB 22
[Link]
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Treatment of Muscle channels
• Choose distant point depending on the causal external pathogen
• Wind: Ting point
• Cold: Sea point (elbow or knee)
• Dampness: Stream, Source point
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Treatment of Muscle channels
• Example Shoulder pain
• Meridian most blocked LI
• Needle LI 1 distal point
• LI 15 local point (yang ming)
• TH 14 adjacent point (shao yang)
• SI 11 adjacent point (tai yang)
• GB 13 meeting point of the three yang of the arm
[Link]
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