Many secrets and mysteries of living nature, in particular those related to human anatomy and physiology, have been deciphered by scientists for many hundreds of years. However, one unique feature in the structure of the human body, which has been used by oriental healers for more than one and a half thousand years, has not been fully studied to this day.
In this case, we are talking about the so-called vital channels, or meridians in human skin, of which, according to the eastern sages, there are 14. However, to be very precise, there are 26 such channels: twelve paired, located on the left and right sides of the body, on limbs, on the head and face, and two unpaired, located in the middle of the front and back of the body.
By themselves, these channels cannot be seen, but nevertheless they are, and there is a constant two-way communication between them and the internal organs.
The presence of channels was determined by the following fact: it turns out that with the pathology of one or another internal organ, pain sensations correspond to certain lines located on the body. For example, when the liver hurts, these lines have one shape, when the lungs - another, the stomach - a third, etc. These invisible skin channels contain special zones called acupuncture points. Each channel can have from 9 to 68 points.
It is now known that life channels, like meridians and parallels on a globe, cross the entire human body. They connect different areas of the central nervous system with internal organs and the surface of the skin.
Qi energy circulates along these meridians, rising a small distance to the surface of the skin - to acupuncture points, or in translation from Chinese - "holes". And if the qi energy moves freely through the network of channels, the person is healthy. But if, for some reason, it stagnates or weakens, then this can lead to the occurrence of painful conditions.
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The Chinese physician Huo Jin, summarizing numerous works on acupuncture, came to the conclusion that meridians and points are structures in which nerves and blood vessels function together.
Therefore, acupuncture points correspond to the location of nerve nodes in the body. First of all, they are associated with the two abdominal nerve trunks, as well as with the nerve chains of the outer and inner surfaces of the upper and lower extremities.
It should be noted that, despite the fact that thousands of monographs have been written about acupuncture methods, nevertheless, the phenomenon of channels is almost not studied. Apparently, to a certain extent for this reason, many scientists regard the existence of meridians with a fair amount of skepticism. At the same time, many practitioners admit their presence and try to find a "rational grain" in the works of ancient researchers.
According to the canons of ancient Chinese medicine, everyday life, including the functioning of the human body, is based on two principles: male - yin and female - yang. The hieroglyph "yang" corresponds to the sun, sky, day and man. In turn, the hieroglyph "yin" means moon, night, earth and woman.
Followers of the yin-yang doctrine believe that every material object or phenomenon consists of two opposites that complement one another. For example, heat is cold, movement is calm, full is empty, etc.
Opposites are also characteristic of the human body. So, the yang of our body includes its upper part, the surface of the skin, back and hollow organs in contact with the external environment: the stomach, large and small intestines, gall and bladder, as well as blood.
Yin, in turn, includes the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs and pericardium, that is, internal organs that have no connection with the external environment.
The male yang channels are located on the outside of the body and rush to the head. Since the "yang" system includes such positive qualities as activity, warmth, light, then irritation of the points of this system raises the tone, activates the activity of the heart, increases the pulse rate and blood pressure. It is easy to see that in this case there is a clear analogy with the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the work of internal organs.
In contrast to "yang", the "yin" system is characterized by negative qualities: coldness, passivity, darkness. Stimulation of the points associated with this system leads to calming, slowing of breathing, a drop in blood pressure, etc. That is, it largely resembles the effect of the parasympathetic nervous system.
It is also easy to notice that the hollow organs of the "yang" system - the stomach, intestines or bladder - differ significantly from those of the "yin" system - the heart, spleen, and lungs.
The first group of organs, in contrast to those belonging to the "yin" system, is characterized by an earlier development, a simplified structure, direct contact with the external environment, ontogenetic relationship with the sense organs and the nervous system, a significant number of nerve elements - yang channels contain 2.4 times more points than yin channels.
Many Chinese physicians are convinced that the functioning of the human body is associated with the unity and opposition in the work of the "yin" and "yang" systems. So, on the one hand, there is a high activity of the male organs and channels, on the other hand - passivity and coldness inherent in the female organs and channels.
In view of their opposite, yang and yin constantly limit their influence on each other. That is, when there is an excess of yang, there is a lack of yin. Conversely, when yang is weakened, yin is strengthened.
Modern scientists, who recognize the presence of energy channels in the human body, are looking not only for evidence of their presence, but also for the rationale for this phenomenon. So, back in the 50s of the last century, it was found that the electrical resistance of the skin in the zone of the channels is almost two times lower than in the areas of the body surface surrounding the acupuncture points.
Moreover, in women it is lower than in men. It is also smaller on the hands than on the legs. In addition, it was found that these points are distinguished by a higher biopotential and increased electrical capacity. It has also been shown that in response to changes in the internal organs, these biophysical parameters change.
At the end of the last century, it was also found that at the point of acupuncture in response to a traumatic factor, there is a decrease in its skin resistance. However, if the damaging factor is quickly removed, then the point returns to its original state.
In addition, it was found that the acupuncture point is characterized by the presence of an electric current of 5.5-11 μA. If a person develops painful symptoms, the strength of this current increases.
Since then, these observations have been confirmed in many scientific studies carried out using the most advanced methods. In connection with this fact, a quotation from the book "Ling Shu", written no later than 2000 years ago, should be cited: "What we call acupuncture points refers to places where skin, muscles, and bones do not interfere with its qi. movement in and out ".
In other words, points are places with reduced resistance to energy movement!
Subsequently, it was also found that acupuncture points are, to a certain extent, a multifunctional tissue structure, in which the APUD-system cells containing biologically active compounds are located. This system includes about 40 types of cells. They are found in the hypothalamus, cerebellum, endocrine glands, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys and urinary tract, etc.
It was also found that embryonic cells are present in acupuncture points, which carry information about those tissues with which these acupuncture points were in contact during embryogenesis.
Supporters of the theory of meridians believe that these "channels" are in the subcutaneous tissue, stretch along the lymphatic and blood vessels and muscles, then pass into the nerve plexuses and nerves going to the internal organs.
But this is just a hypothesis, since the channels themselves under the skin and inside the body have not yet been found. Although the "Medical Newspaper" on April 22, 1990 reported that the circulation of energy through a complex system of meridians was proved by a group of Chinese biophysicists.
In conclusion, it should apparently be said that regardless of whether scientists recognize or do not recognize the presence of energy channels in the human body, acupuncture methods are increasingly being used in human treatment, and not only in the countries of the East, but also in the United States and in Europe.
Of particular interest to many acupuncturists is the Tszu-san-li point, which in China is known as the “longevity” point, and in Japan - the “from a hundred diseases” point. It is located 9 cm from the bottom of the kneecap. There is an interesting legend about her on the Japanese islands.
“Once the emperor wished to meet the oldest people of the Land of the Rising Sun. A peasant named Mampe, who at that time turned 194, was brought to him. Together with the old man came a 173-year-old wife, a son at the age of 153, and a daughter-in-law at the age of 145.
Almost half a century later, when another emperor ruled the country, centenarians were again invited to the court. Among the guests of honor again was, now 242-year-old, old man Mampe and his entire family. When the elder of the family was asked what helped them to live to such an old age, he replied: "Every four days we burned the point" from a hundred diseases."
It is difficult to judge how much this legend corresponds to the truth. Another thing is important: irritation of the Tzu-san-li point can be used for acute and chronic gastritis, poor appetite, general exhaustion, constipation, urinary retention, atherosclerosis, sexual weakness, headache, etc. It is also used to treat hypertension and its complications.
How do you explain this versatility of the amazing point? It turns out that according to modern reflexological schemes, the human nervous system consists of several dozen segments. They are found in the most ancient parts of the central nervous system: the spinal cord, divided into 31 segments, the brain stem, which consists of several more segments, the sphincter of the pupil and some others.
With the help of numerous nerves, brain segments are connected to the corresponding skin segments, or dermatomes. They interact with each other like the poles of a large magnet, into the lines of force of which bone, muscle and organ segments are inserted. Thus, each area of the skin is associated with a specific area of the brain, a specific internal organ and a site of the musculoskeletal system.
And the Tzu-san-li point is just connected with the III and IV lumbar segments, through which a single chain is formed, consisting of the following elements: the point itself, lumbar thickenings of the spinal cord, lower sympathetic ganglia and the stomach, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands innervated by them and some of the pelvic organs.
Therefore, if you influence the Tszu-san-li point in a certain way, then the work of the digestive and excretory systems, as well as sexual functions, can improve.
And since the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline, hydrocortisone and many other hormones and their derivatives very important for the body into the bloodstream, stimulating the point of "longevity" leads to their active synthesis, which means to the normal course of physiological processes.