Meridian (Chinese medicine)
Meridian name ( Chinese ) Quality of Yin or Yang Extremity Five Elements Organ Time of Day
Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand ( 手太阴肺经 ) or Hand 's Major Yin Lung Meridian Greater Yin ( taiyin , 太阴 ) Hand ( 手 ) Metal ( 金 ) Lung ( 肺 ) 寅 ; yín ; 3 a.m. to 5 a.m
Shaoyin Heart Channel of Hand ( 手少阴心经 ) or Hand 's Minor Yin Heart Meridian Lesser Yin ( shaoyin , 少阴 ) Hand ( 手 ) Fire ( 火 ) Heart ( 心 ) 午 ; wǔ ; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m
Jueyin Pericardium Channel of Hand ( 手厥阴心包经 ) or Hand 's Absolute Yin Heart Protector Meridian Faint Yin ( jueyin - 厥阴 ) Hand ( 手 ) Fire ( 火 ) Pericardium ( 心包 ) 戌 ; xū ; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m
Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand ( 手少阳三焦经 ) or Hand 's Minor Yang Triple Burner Meridian Lesser Yang ( shaoyang , 少阳 ) Hand ( 手 ) Fire ( 火 ) Triple Burner ( 三焦 ) 亥 ; hài ; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m
Taiyang Small Intestine Channel of Hand ( 手太阳小肠经 ) or Hand 's Major Yang Small Intestine Meridian Greater Yang ( taiyang , 太阳 ) Hand ( 手 ) Fire ( 火 ) Small Intestine ( 小肠 ) 未 ; wèi ; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m
Yangming Large Intestine Channel of Hand ( 手阳明大肠经 ) or Hand 's Yang Supreme Large Intestine Meridian Yang Bright ( yangming , 阳明 ) Hand ( 手 ) Metal ( 金 ) Large Intestine ( 大腸 ) 卯 ; mǎo ; 5 a.m. to 7 a.m
Taiyin Spleen Channel of Foot ( 足太阴脾经 ) or Foot 's Major Yin Spleen Meridian Greater Yin ( taiyin , 太阴 ) Foot ( 足 ) Earth ( 土 ) Spleen ( 脾 ) 巳 ; sì ; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m
Shaoyin Kidney Channel of Foot ( 足少阴肾经 ) or Foot 's Minor Yin Kidney Meridian Lesser Yin ( shaoyin , 少阴 ) Foot ( 足 ) Water ( 水 ) Kidney ( 腎 ) 酉 ; yǒu ; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m
Jueyin Liver Channel of Foot ( 足厥阴肝经 ) or Foot 's Absolute Yin Liver Meridian Faint Yin ( jueyin , 厥阴 ) Foot ( 足 ) Wood ( 木 ) Liver ( 肝 ) 丑 ; chǒu ; 1 a.m. to 3 a.m
Shaoyang Gallbladder Channel of Foot ( 足少阳胆经 ) or Foot 's Minor Yang Gallbladder Meridian Lesser Yang ( shaoyang , 少阳 ) Foot ( 足 ) Wood ( 木 ) Gall Bladder ( 膽 ) 子 ; zǐ ; 11 p.m. to 1 a.m
Taiyang Bladder Channel of Foot ( 足太阳膀胱经 ) or Foot 's Major Yang Urinary Bladder Meridian Greater Yang ( taiyang , 太阳 ) Foot ( 足 ) Water ( 水 ) Urinary bladder ( 膀胱 ) 申 ; shēn ; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m
Yangming Stomach Channel of Foot ( 足阳明胃经 ) or Foot 's Yang Supreme Stomach Meridian Yang Bright ( yangming , 阳明 ) Foot ( 足 ) Earth ( 土 ) Stomach ( 胃 ) 辰 ; chén ; 7 a.m. to 9 a.m
Main concepts -- 12 standard meridians
The 12 standard meridians , also called Principal Meridians , are divided into Yin and Yang groups . The Yin meridians of the arm are Lung , Heart , and Pericardium . The Yang meridians of the arm are Large Intestine , Small Intestine , and Triple Burner . The Yin Meridians of the leg are Spleen , Kidney , and Liver . The Yang meridians of the leg are Stomach , Bladder , and Gall Bladder . [ 5 ] The table below gives a more systematic list of the 12 standard meridians : [ 6 ]
The meridian system (, also called channel network) is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) about a path through which the life-energy known as qi flows. Despite ongoing research into the existence of meridians, no convincing scientific evidence has been put forward for their existence. Major proponents of their existence have also not come to any consensus as to how they might work or be tested in a scientific context.