תפקידי המרידיאנים- The meridian Functions

תפקידי המרידיאנים בחתך מערכות בגוף.
עפ"י הרפואה הסינית ישנם 12 מרידיאנים עיקריים המחולקים לחמש מערכות (אלמנטים). לכל מערכת יש 2 איברים ומרידיאנים קשורים:
מתכת (ראיות מעי גס) , אדמה(טחול וקיבה), אש ( לב, מעי דק, מגן הלב ומחמם משולש) ועץ (כבד וכיס מרה).
המאמר באנגלית ועברית מתאר את תפקידי 5 האלמנטים והמרידיאנים הקשורים, השפעתם על הגוף והנפש ותזונה מתאימה ותומכת בכל מערכת.

מערכת המתכת ( מרדיאנים ואיברים קשורים ריאות ומעי גס).

עפ"י הרפואה הסינית מערכת המתכת קשורה להכנסה וסילוק. הכנסה של אויר וצ`י וסילוק פסולת. אחד מתפקידי הריאות עפ"י הרפואה הסינית הוא השליטה בנשימה והפצת צ`י (אנרגייה) - הריאות מכניסות אוויר ומפיצות את הצ`י לכל הגוף וכן מחזקות את מערכת החיסון- מספקות הגנה מפני פתוגנים (מחוללי מחלה חיצוניים כגון וירוסים וחיידקים).

סימפטומים של חוסר איזון במרידיאן הריאות/חולשת ריאות: יכול להתבטא במערכת חיסונית חלשה ונטייה למחלות חורף, קשיי נשימה, אסטמה, שיעול, בעיות עור ועוד.

אחד מתפקידי המעי הגס הוא סילוק פסולת פיסית ורגשית.
סימפטומים של חוסר איזון/ חולשת מעי גס- עצירות, -צואה יבשה, תקיעות רגשית.

המלצות תזונה לחיזוק הריאות והמעי הגס: לאכול ירקות בצבע לבן ובעיקר ירקות שורש מעט חריפים כגון צנון וקולורבי שיניעו את הצ`י, דגנים מסלקי לחות כגון שיפון ודגנים מחממים כגון שיבולת שועל. להמעיט באוכל קר ומקרר: פירות וירקות חיים, מים קרים ובייחוד להמנע ממוצרי חלב היוצרים לחות בגוף ומקשים על מערכת הנשימה.

חיזוק אלמנט המתכת והמעי הגס ניתן על ידי ביצוע התרגילים הקשורים כל בוקר ושינוי תזונה.
רצוי לבצע תרגילי מתכת בסיסי ומשלים כולל תרגילי מרידיאן הריאות והמעי הגס בשביל להתעורר, להכניס אוויר, לשפר את מערכת הנשימה ולשחרר פסולת פיסית ורגשית. הזמן הטוב ביותר כאמור לביצוע תרגילים אלו הוא בין 04:00-07:00 בבוקר.
מערכת האדמה ( מרדיאנים ואיברים קשורים הטחול והקיבה)

מערכת האדמה, היא זו שנותנת לנו את השורשים והיציבות בחיים והיא זו שאחראית על יצירת צ`י זמין לגוף, על מערכת העיכול, פוריות, החזקת איברים במקומם ושליטה על השרירים והגפיים התחתונות.

לטחול תפקיד משמעותי ברפואה הסינית בעיבוד המזון- יצירת צ`י (אנרגייה זמינה לגוף) מהמזון והעברתו לדם. הטחול אחראי על שינוע החומרים בגוף לטובת הזנת הרקמות.

הקיבה- אחראית על העיכול. חשוב מאוד לאכול ארוחת בוקר טובה בין השעות 07:00-09:00, שיא פעילות הקיבה עפ"י הרפואה הסינית.
סימפטומים של חולשה וחוסר איזון של מערכת האדמה: חוסר אנרגייה ועייפות, מחשבות טורדניות ובלתי פוסקות, בעיות עיכול למיניהם: גאזים, נפיחויות, כבדות ועייפות אחרי האוכל ( הטחול מלא בלחות). שלשולים, טחורים, צניחת איברים, דימומים מסיבים מהרחם, שטפי דם, סימנים כחולים.

פוריות- בין אם זה פיזי או מנטלי- מערכת האדמה קשורה לתפקוד השחלות והשדים לייצור הביצית ליכולת להכנס להריון ולשמור על ההריון. כל השינויים בגיל ההתבגרות והמעבר לגיל פריון- התפתחות המחזור החודשי קשורים לאדמה. מרידיאן הקיבה משפיע על ייצור החלב ועל ההנקה.

פריון מנטלי/ מחשבתי- טחול חזק מעבד נתונים, היכולת ליצור משהו חדש. טחול חלש מעבד רעיונות ולא קורה כלום(טוחן הלוך ושוב רעיונות ושום דבר לא קורה(.
בעיות שינה- קושי להרדם עקב דאגות ומחשבות אובססיביות- חולשה של מערכת האדמה.

יציבות- מנטלית ופיסית- האדמה נותנת לנו ביטחון במקום שלנו ומתוך זה להרגיש בטוח ביכולותנו לייצר שינוי. חולשת אדמה- חוסר יציבות וקרקע, מחשבות בתנועה ממקום למקום או להפך: נוקשות, עקשנות וחוסר רצון ויכולת להתגמש וליצור שינוי בחיים.
שרירים- הטחול שולט בשרירים וגפיים - שרירי הגפיים וטונוס השרירים. חולשה תתבטא בחוסר יכולת להחזיק עצמנו.

כיצד נתמוך במערכת האדמה?
נבצע את כל התרגילים שתומכים בקיבה ובטחול- התרגיל של היום- תרגיל אדמה בסיסי שעובד על הטחול והקיבה.

תזונה תומכת מערכת האדמה: אוכל חמים וניטראלי בדגש על דגנים מבושלים: שיבולת שועל, דוחן, כוסמת, קינואה, גריסי פנינה (יש להתאים את סוג הדגן על פי האנרגייה שלו- מחמם יותר או פחות ועל פי אבחון של מערכת העיכול- יש דגנים שכדאי לצרוך שיעצרו שלשולים ויש דגנים שיש לצרוך שייקלו על עצירות). להמעיט באוכל קר ומקרר- מוצרי חלב (יוצרים לחות בגוף), פירות וירקות חיים, מים קרים. הפחתת סוכרים, בצקים, קמח לבן, מוצרים מעובדים, חומרים מייצבים ומשפרי טעם, צבעי מאכל, מטוגנים. ניתן להשתמש בממתיקים טבעיים כמו מולסה, סטיבייה, אגבה, סילאן חרובים.
ירקות בצבע כתום- בטטה, גזר, דלורית, דלעת תומכים במערכת האדמה. תבלינים מחממים ומחזקי צ`י(טובים גם לתמיכה במערכת המתכת ): בצל, שום, כרישה ג`ינג`ר.



The meridians and it`s functions
The water phase: kidneys and bladder
The water phase is he basis of yin and yang, it`s full of contradictions: deep, shallow. Gentle, powerful. clear, murky. Still, moving.
The water is essential basis of our physical substance. In the human body the water governs the deepest structures and tissues, the bones and their marrow and the spinal cord.
The water movement and flow give it`s ability to cleanse and in the same way it`s energy purify by supplying energy to prevent stagnation in the mind and body. Qi which flows and does not stagnate is pure qi.the continuous flow of water Also means power, and it gives the human body it`s power and energy.
The kidneys
The kidney sistem encompasses all life functions as for the individual own basic constitution.
The kidneys are the foundation of yin and yang of the body and they contain our ancestral inheritance of both the yang in the form of source qi, the yin in the form of essence.
The kidneys responsible for growth, reproduction, bones and marrow, the hair, ears.
Since they role the bones, lawer back pain and brittle bones is a simptom of kidney or bladder imbalance.
Hormons- Hormons are one of our principle sources of impetus. Not only they provide us with sudden burst of energy when we need, but they provide the stimulus for growth, sexual maturity and reproduction.
Stress- the kidneys help us to adapt to stress
The kidney and bladder phases in the cicLe of meridians related to impetus, the ability to response to a stimulus and summon up energy when we need it. They express the function of purification and impetus.
Fear- our impetus is usually produced by either willpower, the spiritual power of water, or fear, it`s emotion.
Water qualities: The water phase related also to will, determination and intensity.
Water colour is blue/black, it`s sound is groaning, it`s taste is salty and season is winter.
Water climate is cold and time of the day: 3-7 p.m
Meridian significance and function- The kidney and bladder meridians dominate the center of the body, they represent the energetic core of the being(embodies our core or essence), the central channel which embodies the upright qi between heaven and earth.
The wood phase: the liver and gall-bladder
Thw wood phase express the force if nature. The plant world has a group energy. It has the urge to reproduce and establish itself. The liver and Gall blade called in ancient writings `the general`. When many plants are found together, there is a strong sense of community and cooperation. Plans can live harmoniously together back use of their adaptability.
Wood is flexible because it is alive. The ability to plan and make decisions is a facet of the wood element.
Plant life is also organizers, wood energy allows us to attain out maximum potential for self expression if we use it well.
Spiritual capacity of wood- houses the ethereal soul=`hun`.
The liver has vital roles to perform in connection both with blood, which it stores, and qi, which is keep flowing. So it has storing and moving function.
The wood phase controls the eyes, the tendons, the nails.
Stiffness of muscules-:A liver disharmony means a lack of flexibility in the body and mind.
The liver meridian embodies it`s function as the long term planner of our actions
The Gall bladder stores and excrete bile, it controls and regulate and release not only the bile, but of other secretions necessary for digestion.
together with the liver they rule the tendons and elasticity of muscles. The Gall bladder makes a moment to mumente decisions (the lieutenant).
Wood qualities: The movement of wood energy is upward, it`s emotion is anger, it`s colour is green, it`s sound is shouting, it`s taste is sour, it`s season is spring and climate is wind.
Wood time of day: 11pm- 3am.
The fire phase: the heart, small intestine, heart protector and triple heater
Fire is the ultimate yang and it`s domain is heaven, where we can see the sun. Moon and stars and whence lightning comes. The nature of the power of fire is its yang capacity to transform, fire destroy one from in order to create another form.
Fire is a dominant symbol in religious imagery. Light, fire`s accompaniment, is used as a metaphor to divinity. Gazing into a fire is one of the best ways of attuning the conscious mind to unconsciousness.
The central fire function is that of the heart, which houses the `shen`, or awareness. It is equated with light, with the divine spark. The heart holds the place of the emperor, and as the emperor, the heart requires protection. All the other meridians of the fire phase are in different ways protectors of the heart, or messengers which help to extend its influence.
The small intestine protects the heart by assimilating only what is healthy, like the official taster who intercepts poisoned food.
The heart protector protects by meditating between the heart and the surface via the circulation and is linked to an ambassador or deputy for the emperor(represents the will of heart throughout the body or as a Ming men, the fire within the kidneys).
The triple heater conveys the source qi to all the organs of the three burning spaces.
Spiritual capacity of fire called `shen`, the spirit or mind.
Movement of fire energy- outwards. Being yang, have a tendency to go upwards when the element us out if balance. Fire, when it rages out if control, roars upward, and pathogenic fire creates symptoms in the upper part of the body, such as headaches, red or painful eyes. It also create mental restlessness and agitation, often with insomnia, as the fire rises up to disturb the shen.
In a state if balance the fire energy radiates outward, like a light, as it extends its influence through the circulation to all parts of the body.
The heart main function in the tcm, is to provide a home for our shen. And the tranquil place for the shen in the heart is provided by the blood. Blood is made in the heart. When heart blood is deficient, the general simptom if dizziness, insomnia, depression and poor memory are accompanied by anxiety and palpitations. Heart blood can also stagnate as a result of repressed emotion, which causes stagnation of qi and then blood in the chest. This causes stuffiness, constriction or discomfort, or severe fixed pain.
Circulation- the heart is said to `govern` the blood in tcm, apart of transformation of food qi into blood, the heart is responsible for the circulation of the blood and conditions of the blood vessels.
The heart responsible for our speech, it speak through our tounge.
Sweating- any condition involving the heart may be accompanied by sweating.
The small intestine functions: receiving, being filled and transforming.
The small intestine receives food from the stomach and under the direction of the spleen, seperated it into pure. Fluids, similarly are seperated into pure.
Making the blood- together with the heart, it is integrating emotional and sensory input and making the blood. Tension and pain in neck and shoulders are commonly associated with the small intestine meridian.

The heart protector (pericardium)- call also the heart constrictor, because it helps the heart with its pumping action. It`s phisical structure is to protect the heart organ, and is to shield the heart from injury. It does it by permeating and surrounding the heart with its qi. It is also protects the blood of the heart. And also the shen. It is related to the circulation of the blood in the great vessels, and thus influencing the conditions of the blood.
The triple heater- like the heart protector represent a function rather than an organ.
Avenue for the source of qi- it works with Ming men to distribute the source qi, fire and water as the representatives of yang and yin in the body. As the avenue for the source of qi, is the feed system wick carries the ignition created from the pilot light to each organ in the body.
The three burning spaces- the t.h functions as a warming force. The three burning spaces are the areas of the body within which the t.h exercises the transformation power of fire and metabolic activity thus takes place.
The meridian function is to clear heat, wind and obstruction, circulation and protection..
Fire qualities: emotion - joy, color - red, sound- laughing, sense organ- tongue, taste- bitter, season- summer, climate- hot. Time of the day: 11am- 3pm.
The earth phase- the spleen and stomach
The earth phase is the foundation of our existence. It is the earth that gives us the sense of a stable, dependable reality. Earth itself is solid, supportive and immovable, and provide us security. A healthy earth energy in the human character gives the capacity to support, comfort and nourish like mother supports and feeds her child. The earth is fertile, a matrix from which come the plants which nourish us. It is the earth phase in the Human body which support a tiny cluster of cells as it grows into a baby. Fertility, both of body and mind is the gift of earth. Through receiving(it absorbs lightning and ground electricity and soaks the rain and whatever liquid), the earth nourishes itself. It then become fertile and produces new growth to nourish all the life forms which inhabit it. The theme of nourishment is central to the interpetation of the earth phase and yhe stomach and spleen meridians; it embodies our ability to receive, process and give, not only physical. But also imotional and intellectual nourishment.
The spleen in tcm- the entire digestive process from appetite to elimination, is under control of the spleen. The spleen is the source of our qi derived from food. It`s main main function is in processing food and fluids and in distributing the products around the body. It transforms the purest part of food which it receives from the stomach into food qi which is sent up to the chest to combine with the qi of air to make use able body qi. At the same time the spleen helps the stomach to extract the pure essence from the food, which is processed in the heart to form blood. It also extracting pure fluids from the food which sent to moisten the lungs (which distribute them to the skin). The spleen is thus responsible for the transformation of food into qi, blood and pure fluids, and also with the stomach responsible for transporting these substances throughout the body. It is call: the root of post natal qi.
Digestion- inability of the spleen to transform food results in tiredness after eating, a feeling of fullness or discomfort after meal, abdominal pain or distension or variable bowl habits. Loose stools with undigested food show that the spleen doesn`t have the energy to process the food properly and remove the fluids from it, but constipation is also a common sign of spleen deficiency.
Fluids, damp and phlegm- failure of spleen to transform fluids efficiently will manifest in symptoms such as thrust, water retention and urinary problems. When fluids are not processed properly they can remain in the body tissues in the form of internal dampness. Overweight is dampness under the skin, Stiffness and swelling in the joints is dampness, vaginally discharge, difficulty in urination, diarrhea are all cases relate to dampness. When dampness has been present for a considerable time, it may become phlegm ( in the lungs, fatty lumps or swelling).
Physical energy- when the spleen doesn`t transform the food we eat into qi, we feel fatigue. A malfunction in any of the meridians can result in tiredness and weakness.
The stomach in tcm- together with the spleen , it forms the basis of our `post natal qi`, the qi wick derives from beating and eating. The stomach is also an important source of yin, as the gate at of fluids for the rest of the body.
Descending of food and food qi- the stomach is the principle force behind the downward movements of food and food qi through the digestive system. If the qi of the stomach is weak, food may tend to remain in the stomach, leading to a sensation of fullness or bloating after eating, or the qi may raise upward in the form of belching, hiccup in, nausea or vomiting.
The stomach meridian responsible for keeping us upright, and supports the entire front of the body, neck and head. Problems in the face, jaw, throat, breaststroke, abdomen, groin, thighs, knees and feet can all be treated via the stomach meridian.
Earth qualities: spiritual capacity- intellect, movement of energy- stillness, emotion- reflective though, color- yellow, brown, sound - singing, sense organ- mouth, taste- sweet, season- the last days of each season. Earth time- 7-11 am.
The metal phase: the lungs and large intestine
The metal meridians are associated with the meaning of value and with a quality of essential purity. Since the lungs act to take the purest, the qi of the universe, and the large intestine expels from the body and mind all that is no longer of any value to the individual`s life process. In this way both metal meridians work together for exchange.
Rhythms- The metal phase responsible for rhythms: breathing, sleeping...
The lungs in the tcm- the lungs include the entire respiratory system, the nasal passages and the throat. Along with the spleen, they are our primary sources of post natal qi, since they take in the qi of heaven, which requires no processing. Together with the heart they form a part of `ZONG qi`, or big qi of the chest, which governs circulation of both qi and blood throughout the body.
Respiration- the primary process for which the lungs are responsible is the intake of qi through respiration.
Governing qi- the lungs are responsible for the intake of qi through breath, and for dispersing qi downwards and outwards. They therefore govern the qi of the whole body. Fatigue or lack of vitality can be related to lung imbalance. Poor circulation is a common simptom if there is not sufficient qi to bring warmth or blood to the extremities. Deficiency if lung qi often leads to pallor, weakness and shortness of breath.
Protective shield- the lungs generate our defensive qi, which protects us from injurious external influences such as weather. Weak lungs and defensive qi will result in lowered resistance to infection.
Regulating water- the lungs receive fluid from the spleen, and disperse them throughout the body. The lungs regulate the water passages, which means that often the pattern of urination or sweating is disturbed when the lung qi is weak. When the lungs are blocked and not dispersing fluids to the skin, there is no sweating. A chronicall deficiency of the lungs over time can lead to dry skin, hair, lips...
The skin- the lungs rules the skin, which, because of its similar function of gas exchange. Chronic skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis are often part of lung disharmony.
The nose- the lungs opens into the nose. A blocked or runny nose, sinus problems, sneezing usually related to the lungs.
The throat- affected by lung disorders, giving rise to sore or to clubs throat and cough, is dignified by the title `gateway to the lungs`. It is also the source of the voice, whose strength is determined by the strength of lung qi. loss of voice, quiet and weak voice may be a sign of chronic lung imbalance.
The large intestine in the tcm-
Intestinal function & elimination- The large intestine absorbs excess fluid from the fecal mass and propelling it towards the rectum for elimination. Elimination in all its aspects, through the skin, the bowl, the breath and the mind, and large intestine points are used to help to disperse external pathogenic influences at the beginning of an illness.
The nose and face- the large intestine meridian ends next to the nose and it is useful to treat it in cases of sinusitis and sinus headaches, fever or common cold.
Metal qualities: emotion- fried, sense organ- nose, color- white, sound- weeping, taste- pungent, season- autumn, climate- dryness, time of the day- 3-7 am.