What are Channels/Meridians?

Unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine is the concept of channels or meridians. These are pathways where blood and qi flow. They are precise in location but they do not have a structural analogue.


Along the channels/meridians are specific points that have specific properties. Acupuncture points have individual properties that can effect particular changes in the physiology. And there are about 365 acupuncture points. Interestingly, electronmicroscope study of these points revealed no significant structure save for the fact that there is a small condensation of tissue in the area and that most of them are near peripheral nerve endings. This condensed tissue appears to have no western medicine function.