Remember the great scene in Breaking Bad where Walter White is hasten to hide his money? He takes it from his basement, drives it out into the middle of nowhere, and buries it. Then he checks his GPS for his exact coordinates, and buys a lottery ticket with the numbers so that he knows where to find his stash later on.
In acupuncture, we also have a map to show us areas and special places, but it's all on the human body. Meridians are like the roads that connect different parts of our body together. And those special areas, which can be your favorite ice cream shop, or place where you hid your money, are known as acupuncture points. These are the places on the body that your acupuncturist puts the needles.
An Overview of Your Meridians
The body has 12 common meridians, 6 emerge from your fingers to your head or chest, and 6 head from your toes to your head or chest. There are also 8 extraordinary meridians, 2 of which have their own acupuncture points, and one that actually goes around the middle of your body like a belt.
It's believed that meridians help to circulate Qi or energy throughout the body. I think of them as lines that keep your body connected as a cohesive whole. Your arms, legs and head don't move independently, they are inter-related. So if you sprain your ankle, the stress moves up to your knee. If you start stumble during a walk, your gait is distorted, and that effects your hips and low back. If your hips are crooked, this can lead to shoulders being misaligned.
Meridians help us in understanding these linkages, and find triggers that are causing pain that you didn't even know existed.
Understanding the Acupressure Points on the Body
The Harman body comprises of more than 300 acupuncture points, or "ace-points" in short. Some of these are more important than others. Several points are where your "money" is hidden, and others are at the intersection of many different meridians. We have our own Lotto Ticket GPS system for finding these points, which is a description of where on the body each point is located. When we detect the area, we need to touch and feel around to find just the right place for the needle.
Each point has a specific purpose. Some points circulate Qi and blood, while others help to nourish, or calm the spirit. The points are chosen based on what your body needs in that moment.
This article has been re-published here with the express permission of the author. You can read more of her work on her blog.
Elizabeth Williams, LAc is an acupuncturist in Greenville, South Carolina, specializing in pain management, women’s health, and psycho-emotional issues. She’s passionate about helping people feel their best and sharing her wealth of knowledge with the community. Elizabeth is the owner of Dragonfly Acupuncture & Massage, on Wade Hampton Boulevard. Appointments can be made by calling 864-451-4313, or scheduled online.
