Traditional versus modern Acupuncture

The Channel-Organ Systems (COSs) of AP

 
When the Chinese use the term Hsin (Heart, HT), Pi (Spleen-pancreas, SP), Fei (Lung, LU), Shen (Kidney, KI), Kan (Liver, LV) etc, they imply much more than the physical organs (heart, spleen-pancreas etc). They include the nature, structure and functions of the organs and many other attributes, as well as the superficial, collateral and deep paths of the Channels. Thus, it is better to think of the Twelve COSs (each with many specific attributes) rather than to anatomical pathways or localised physical organs. The extended COS (Channel-Organ System) concept is most important in diagnosis and therapy by TAP.

TAP is a system of Energetics and Correspondences. Classical practitioners are interested in symptomatology, only in so far as it indicates WHICH COS(s) has/have energy (Qi) imbalance. By correcting the Qi imbalances, all amenable symptoms and signs are expected to regress rapidly. For example, Hsin (HT) is of the Fire Phase. It controls the heart, tongue and psyche. Thus, neurasthenia, restlessness, insomnia, excitability, rapid speech, angina pectoris, red complexion, dislike of summer weather or heat etc indicate a disorder in Fire, manifest in a disturbance in Heart function. (In that case, ECG and heart muscle enzymes etc may be normal but treatment of the HT Channel can eliminate most or all of the symptoms).

There are twelve main Channel-Organ Systems, which either begin or end on a finger or toe. The superficial paths of the 12 main Channels have bilateral symmetry: Lung (LU); Large Intestine (LI, colon); Stomach (ST); Spleen-Pancreas (SP); Heart (HT); Small Intestine (SI); Bladder (BL); Kidney (KI); Pericardium (PC, Circulation-Sex, Heart Constrictor); Triple Heater (TH, Endocrine, (Respiration, Digestion, Reproduction)); GallBladder (GB); Liver (LV). The superficial paths of the Channels are longitudinal lines of low electrical resistance (high conductivity) which connect AP points of similar function. The deep paths are planes of low electrical resistance (high conductivity) which connect the superficial path to their related organs.

Each Channel passes through an arm or leg, has a polarity (negative (Yin) or positive (Yang)), belongs to one of the Five Phases and has a specific number of AP points:

The arm Yin Channels (LU, HT, PC) begin in their organs, become superficial on the chest and end at the fingers;
The arm Yang Channels (LI, SI, TH) begin on the fingers and end on the face but send a deep branch to their organs;
The leg Yang Channels (ST, BL, GB) begin near the eye and end on a toe but send a deep branch to their organs;
The leg Yin Channels (SP, KI, LV) begin on a toe and end on the chest but send a deep branch to their organs.

Channel circuits: In TAP, vital energy (Qi) flows in a specific daily circuit through the Channel network and in a fixed time sequence. It circulates throughout the body, reaching all parts and all organs. The Qi peaks in each COS at a fixed time each day. The peak times for the Channels are:

The daily Qi Cycle ends in LV at 0300h, the "dead hour of night". A new cycle begins in LU at 0300h, peaks there at 0400h and passes to the LI at 0500h etc. In the daily Qi Cycle, LU is the Son of LV (LU receives Qi from LV) and LU is the Mother of LI (LU feeds Qi to LI). LI is the Son of LU and the Mother of ST etc.

Within each Phase, the Yin partner is the Wife and the Yang partner the Husband, e.g. in Metal (LU, LI), LU is the Wife of LI; LI is the Husband of LU. This pairing is important in Energetic AP, as Qi can be shunted from Husband to Wife (or vice-versa) via the Luo (Passage) point of the Deficient partner. This shunt (via Luo of Deficient partner) is also used in balancing disturbed Qi in the Five Phase Cycle (see below). Also, the pairings indicate that LU points can be used in LI diseases and vice-versa.

In addition to the 12 main Channels, there are Eight Mai (Vessels or Extra Channels). These intersect with some of the main Channels and act as Qi reservoirs for them. The Eight Mai are: Du Mai (Governing Vessel, (GV), in the dorsal midline, 28 points); Ren Mai (Conception Vessel, (CV), in the ventral midline, 24 points) ; Chong Mai; Dai Mai; Yang Chiao Mai; Yin Chiao Mai; Yang Wei Mai; Yin Wei Mai. There are 361 AP points on the 14 Channels (the 12 main Channels + GV + CV).