LuckCong's Health Blog

The Eight Extra Meridians are the Governor Vessel, Conception Vessel, Thoroughfare Vessel, Belt Vessel, Yin Link Vessel, Yang Link Vessel, Yin Heel Vessel, Yang Heel Vessel. Unlike the Twelve Regular Meridians, none of them pertain to the Zang-Fu organs. And they are not exteriorly-interiorly related. Their courses are unique, and hence, they are called extra meridians. The Eight Extra Meridians are distributed among the Twelve Regular Meridians. They contain two main functions(1) They can strengthen the relationships among the Twelve Regular Meridians. The Eight Extra Meridians communicate with the other meridians which have the related aspects and the similar functions. They assume the responsibility to control, store the Qi and blood of each meridian and regulate Yin and Yang. (2) The Eight Extra meridians can regulate the Qi and blood of the regular meridians, when the Qi and blood of Zang-Fu organs are vigorous, the Eight Extra Meridian can store them; while the body needs them for its activity, they can be supplied by The Eight Extra Meridians.Acupoints of the Thoroughfare, Belt, Heel and Link Vessels pertain to the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Conception and Governor Vessels. The Conception and the Governor Vessels which have their own acupoints together with the Twelve Regular Meridians are called "the Fourteen Meridians". The Fourteen Meridians contain the regular courses, symptoms and their own acupoints, they are main parts of the system of the meridians. They are basic factors for acupuncture treatment and classification of medicinals according to the meridians on which their therapeutic action is manifested.