For thousands of years the Chinese and other early cultures realised that there was an energetic component to us and every living thing not just the physical form. The acupuncture system which comprises meridians or channels is the outward representation of this energy system. It is in this system that our emotions and thoughts arise and exist. Our emotions and thoughts affect the energetic which affects our physical function. This is not to say that chemistry and genetics play no part in function. Of course they play a major role but so does the energetic aspect of our being. Our whole flight/fight/freeze physiological response is triggered based on our perception of our environment. The hypothalamic/pituitary/adrenal axis is activated by our perception of the threats or challenges existing in our environment. That is, our mental and emotional patterns trigger a physical response just like when we are sad that feeling can trigger tears (a physiological response).
The energy is said to flow in a cycle through the five elements (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood). I prefer a six element model which comprises a further element called the Air element which sits above the Fire element. Without air fire cannot occur. The cycle of energy flows out of the Air element to the Fire element and then to Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The element and meridian associations are shown in the table below:
| Air | Fire | Earth< | Metal | Water | Wood |
| Central Vessel & Governing Vessel | Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, Triple Heater | Spleen/Pancreas, Stomach | Lung, Large Intestine | Kidney, Bladder | Liver, Gallbladder |
Each meridian has its own psychology and each element is associated with one or more chakras. Each of the 7 chakras has its own psychology which interplays with the meridian psychology. Each chakra affects particular glands, organs and body structures. The emotions and mental patterns associated with each meridian and chakra and the organs, glands and body structures affected are set out below.
Another important thing to understand is that associated with each meridian are particular muscles. Too much energy in a particular meridian can result in over facilitation (muscle working too hard and not talking to other muscles) of the associated muscle(s). This can lead to pain states and can be an indicator that an organ or gland is not functioning at its optimum. Too little energy in a meridian can cause muscle weakness and under-functioning of the associated organ, gland or body structure.
It has to be understood that there must be a balance of energy in all meridians. This is the ideal state but it is never reached. We are always to some extent out of balance energetically..
MERIDIAN/CHAKRA PSYCHOLOGY
KEYWORDS REFERENCE CHART
Meridian | Keywords | Chakra | Keywords | Organs and Glands |
Triple Warmer |
Outer heart protector, difficulties in dealing with people other than family, shyness, lack of confidence in self, adrenal problems, work | Brow | Clear sight, Overthinking, Intellectual Dominance, Perception, Illusion, Intuition, Insight, Vision | Central Nervous System, adrenals Nose, Sinuses, Ears, Left Eye Uterus, Lower Brain Neurotransmitters, |
Pericardium |
Inner heart protector, stress in dealing with intimates, overthinking, over use of the intellect to solve problems, lack of clear | Brow | Clear sight, Overthinking, Intellectual Dominance, Perception, Illusion, Intuition, Insight, Vision. | Central Nervous System, adrenals Nose, Sinuses, Ears, Left Eye Uterus, Lower Brain Neurotransmitters, blood & circulation, thymus, ovaries and sex organs |
Stomach | Boundaries, getting my needs met, understanding what my needs are, expressing or not expressing my needs, feeling nourished. | Throat | Communication, Truth, Lies, Listening, Creativity, Boundaries. | Throat, Larynx, Tonsils Trachea & Oesophagus, Thyroid Lymphatic System, Stomach Spleen, Tonsils |
|
Meridian | Keywords | Chakra | Keywords | Organs and Glands |
Spleen/ Pancreas |
Empathy, compliance strategy, inability to say no, speech, setting boundaries, perfectionism, overwhelmed by others, space invaders, overly | Throat | Communication, Truth, Lies, Listening, Creativity, Boundaries. | Throat, Larynx, Tonsils Trachea & Oesophagus, Thyroid Lymphatic System, Stomach Spleen, Tonsils, pancreatic function, immunity. |
Large Intestine |
Worth, value, ability to perform and deliver, setting boundaries, being responsible, holding on to the past, letting go of the past, | Solar Plexus | Self-Worth, Self-Esteem, Confidence, Personal Power, Criticism, Rejection. | Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder Spleen, Pancreas, Large Intestine Achilles Tendon |
Lung | Grief, sadness, frustration, resignation, internal dialogue about one’s ability, feeling appreciated. | Solar Plexus | Self-Worth, Self-Esteem, Confidence, Personal Power, Criticism, Rejection. | Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder Spleen, Pancreas, Large Intestine Achilles Tendon |
Bladder | Control of external environment, vigilance, anxiety, fear, mistrust of others, worry, fear of loss of control. | Sacral | Relationships, Creativity, Procreation, Sexuality, Control, Choice. | Bladder, Kidney, Appendix, Large Intestine, Lumbar Spine Hips, Electrolyte Balance The Ear (Balance & Hearing) Endometrium |
Meridian | Keywords | Chakra | Keywords | Organs and Glands |
Kidney |
Control of self, anxiety, fear, worry, making oneself a small target, being afraid of life, submission to others will, lacking will and | Sacral | Relationships, Creativity, Procreation, Sexuality, Control, Choice. | Bladder, Kidney, Appendix, Large Intestine, Lumbar Spine Hips, Electrolyte Balance The Ear (Balance & Hearing) Endometrium |
Gallbladder |
Discernment, decision making, what course is right for me, stuckness, lack of direction in life, indecision, procrastination, direction | Heart | Compassion, Love, Self-Respect, Self-Love, Judgment, Righteousness. | Lungs & Heart, Gallbladder, Thymus |
Liver |
Flexibility, being or feeling stuck, frustration, anger at self, complaint against others, not taking responsibility for our circumstances, | Heart | Compassion, Love, Self-Respect, Self-Love, Judgment, Righteousness. | Lungs & Heart, Gallbladder, Thymus |
Small Intestine | Expression of self, feeling safe to expression one’s essence, vulnerability or fear of vulnerability, feeling safe within the “tribe”. | Base | Survival, Tribe, Work, Money, Family, Fear, Anxiety, Trust and Mistrust, Fear of Rejection, Alienation. | Lower part of the Large Intestine – Anus & Rectum, Bladder, Kidney, Legs & Hips, Knees Base of Spine, Parasympathetic Nervous System, Appendix, Small Intestine & Cecum, Uterus |
Meridian | Keywords | Chakra | Keywords | Organs and Glands |
Heart | Joy, happiness, connection with my spirit, connection with self, authenticity, courage, passion, being oneself within the “tribe”. | Base | Survival, Tribe, Work, Money, Family, Fear, Anxiety, Trust and Mistrust Fear of Rejection, Alienation. | Lower part of the Large Intestine – Anus & Rectum, Bladder, Kidney, Legs & Hips, Knees Base of Spine, Parasympathetic Nervous System, Appendix, Small Intestine & Cecum, Uterus |
Central Vessel |
Over thinking, vigilance, hypothalamic/pituitary/adrenal axis, hypothalamic function, connection with higher self, connection with | Crown | Connection with the Higher Self, Higher Consciousness, Self – Awareness | The whole body Upper Brain Right Eye Central Nervous System, adrenals Cerebral Cortex Autonomic Nervous System Corpus Callosum, Hippocampus, Lungs |
Governing Vessel |
Over thinking, vigilance, hypothalamic/pituitary/adrenal axis, hypothalamic function, connection with higher self, ability to support | Crown | Connection with the Higher Self, Higher Consciousness, Self – Awareness | The whole body Upper Brain Right Eye Central Nervous System, adrenals Cerebral Cortex Autonomic Nervous System Corpus Callosum, Hippocampus, Lungs |
Physical malfunction of an organ or gland can cause a change in the energy flow in the associated meridian either increasing it or decreasing it. For example if your liver has functional problems then the energy in the associated liver meridian is likely to be excessive. It can also be excessive for emotional reasons as well. If there is too much energy in the liver meridian it must come from another meridian or meridians and will lessen the amount of energy in those meridians. This will affect the function of the organs, glands and body structures associated with the other meridian or meridians. They may be under functioning.
Through kinesiology muscle testing techniques your pattern of stress or what is called the pattern of imbalance is ascertained. The stress can be a physical one. Lack of vitamin(s) or mineral(s) can cause physical stress as can the existence of toxicity which blocks cellular function. Your responses to stress (your mental and emotional stress patterns) can be identified and discussed. Why do I see particular circumstances or people as causing me a stress? How can I better cope with these stressors without always going into flight/fight mode? If I cannot avoid the stress how do I support myself physically so as to minimise the impact of the stress on my health? These are all questions posed in a kinesiology session and often solutions are found some of which you may have been unaware.