Eight Extraordinary Channels - Qi Jing Ba Mai

A Handbook for Clinical Practice and Nei Dan Inner Meditation

David Twicken

• Publisher: Singing Dragon
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9781848191488
• eBook ISBN: 9780857011374
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Acupuncture

The Eight Extraordinary channels are amongst the most interesting and clinically important aspects of Chinese medicine and Qigong. This book introduces the theory behind the channels, explains their clinical applications, and explores their psycho-emotional and spiritual qualities. The author also describes how to cultivate the channels through Nei Dan Inner Meditation.

As a practitioner of Chinese medicine or acupuncture, the key to creating effective individual treatment plans is having a wide understanding of channel theory, and a comprehensive knowledge of the pathways and the points on the channels. David Twicken provides treatment strategies, methods and case studies, offering a variety of approaches so as to give the reader a solid foundation from which to confidently create customized treatment plans for each patient.

Offering a historical perspective as well as modern insights, this book will be essential reading for novice as well as experienced practitioners.

PART I

THE EIGHT EXTRAORDINARY
CHANNELS IN
CLINICAL PRACTICE

Chapter 1

THE ACUPUNCTURE CHANNEL SYSTEM

The acupuncture channel system contains a sequence of levels that can be easily visualized from an anatomical layer perspective. Each layer or channel system corresponds to specific aspects of the body and their corresponding Chinese medical substances and related pathologies. The pathways of the channel system provide pointers to the “sequencing” of the channels. For example, superficial channel layers deal with the exterior and the pathology related to it, and the deep channels influence interior conditions and chronic constitutional conditions. The following shows the acupuncture layering system. Each layer will treat pathologies at its corresponding level more effectively than one channel system treating all layers.

Wei level—superficial

sinew channels

connecting (luo) channels

primary channels

divergent channels

Eight Extraordinary Channels

Yuan level—deep

The insight of the layering or sequencing of the channel system is clearly presented in the Nei Jing. The following Nei Jing references express this layering system. The Eight Extraordinary Channels are at the deep layers of the body.

“In general, when a pathogen invades the body, it first enters the skin level. If it lingers or is not expelled it will travel into the micro luo. If not expelled it travels to the regular luo channels, if not expelled it then moves to the main channels and then the internal organs.”

“This is the progression of the pathogen from the skin level into the organs.”

Nei Jing Su Wen, Chapter 63

“It is said the illness may be on the hair level, the skin level, the muscle level, the level of channels, tendon level, bone and marrow level. When treating the hair level do not damage the skin level. If the illness is at the skin level do not damage the muscle level, if the illness is at the muscle level needling too deeply will damage the channel level. In illness of the tendons needling too deeply will damage the bone level, in illness of the bones needling too deeply will damage the marrow.”

Nei Jing Su Wen, Chapter 50

“When needling the bone level, take care not to needle the tendon level. When needling the tendon level do not injure the muscles. When needling the muscles, do not injure the channels and vessels. When needling the skin, do not injure the flesh or muscles.”

Nei Jing Su Wen, Chapter 51

The Eight Extraordinary Channels are the domain of Jing and Yuan qi. These channels and substances influence and reflect the deepest aspects of our life, including our constitution and chronic patterns. This book presents how to use these channels to treat Jing and Yuan level conditions.

Chapter 2

THREE-LAYER THEORY

An important energetic model in Chinese philosophy and medicine is San Qing, which means “the three pure ones.” From an energetic viewpoint, it reflects the interaction of three forces. From a macro viewpoint, it is a way to view universal interactions—for example, the interactions in the celestial realm. Tai Chi terminology and theory brings this macro theory to practical applications in medicine. The Tai Chi circle contains the Yang force (white color), the Yin force (black color), and the centerline or Yuan force (center curving line), and represents a three-force energy field. Heaven–Human–Earth and shen–qi–Jing are examples of this trinity model. In Chinese medicine, an important medical model of this theory is the three-layer theory. The three layers are Wei, Ying, and Yuan.

Superficial layer

Wei

Ying

Yuan

Deep layer

In the three-layer model, conditions can be viewed based on these layers or levels. When making a diagnosis, consider where the pathogen is located. From an Eight Extraordinary Channels viewpoint, pathogens and conditions at the Yuan level would be treated with these channels (see Tables 2.1 and 2.2). For example, a person who has chronic asthma would be diagnosed with Lung and Kidney qi deficiency. This is a chronic condition that is at the deep level, the Yuan level. This level corresponds to the Eight Extraordinary Channels, and source qi. The treatment therefore includes the Eight Extraordinary Channels

TABLE 2.1 THREE COMMON ENERGETIC LAYERS

Yang force	Heaven	Yu Ching	third ancestry	Wei layer	upper Dan Tian	shen	superficial
Yuan force	Human	Shan Ching	second ancestry	Ying layer	middle Da...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsement
• By the Same Author
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Disclaimer
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Qi Jing Ba Mai: Eight Extraordinary Channels
• The Classics and the Eight Extraordinary Channels
• Chinese Dynasties
• Introduction
• Part I The Eight Extraordinary Channels in Clinical Practice
• Part II The Eight Extraordinary Channels in Nei Dan Meditation
• Afterword
• Bibliography