Acupuncture Charts - A Closer Look At The 14 Meridians
Sunday, 07.15.2007, 11:04am (GMT)
Standard acupuncture charts can be purchased that
aid in identifying the name and locations of the meridian and acupoints
on the front and back of the human body. An acupuncture chart will
accurately show the location of the14 primary meridians as well as some
of the extra points. Most acupuncture charts also show the names and
locations of meridian and acupoints on lateral sides of the human body.
Normally, they also have the international standard nomenclature and
alphanumeric codes.
Some acupuncture charts come in sets that may be further divided
into smaller sets that show the acupoints on the whole body surface
(i.e. the back, neck, front, back and lateral sides of the human body,
as well as the trunk of the body and other parts of the anatomy
contained in different layers). There are also charts that show the
upper limbs. Other acupuncture charts will show the entire human
anatomy while others simply show regions of the human anatomy.
The acupuncture chart first became prevalent during the Ming
Dynasty (1368 - 1644) when the Chinese first printed vernacular
literature in great numbers. However, over the ensuing hundreds of
years they have become increasingly well known. Acupuncture charts
appeared in manuals dealing with Chinese medicine and the purpose was
both to instruct and identify the proper location of the acupoints. In
addition to the reasons just given acupuncture charts were maintained
for Chinese medicine which included reflexology, moxibution, massage
and a number of other specialties.
Illustrations Aid in Understanding
Acupuncture charts don't explain how to needle the body but rather
are diagrams that show the path of channels or meridian conduits as
well as the location of acupuncture points. Because there are a great
deal of acupuncture points, the acupuncture charts can only display a
fraction of the channels and acupuncture points which are being
discussed in the text of the chart. As a result, many acupuncture
charts correspond with the specific body part, body function or
disorder that needs to be treated.
A few common acupuncture charts are for the ear, foot, head and
stomach. Other charts also describe healing methods of hot and cold
diseases as well as other ailments.
The bottom line with acupuncture charts is that their primary
function is to serve as a visual enhancement to the text and they are
not intended to stand alone.
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