DIVERGENT MERIDIANS

The Divergent Meridians and Collaterals branch out from the twelve regular meridians. The divergent meridians mainly are deeper in the body, with the collaterals being mostly distributed on the body surface. They both strengthen and connect the internally - externally related meridians. The divergent meridians govern the inside the body, so they do not have points of their pertaining organs, while the collaterals control the body surface, each of them has a Luo ( Connecting ) point, effective to certain diseases. The distribution of the twelve divergent meridians and fifteen collaterals are described as follows :

The Twelve Divergent Meridians : The twelve divergent meridians, which branch out from the twelve regular meridians, are mainly distributed on the chest, abdomen and head. Their function is to connect internally - externally - related meridians, strengthen their relation with the zang - fu organs and serve as the extension of regular meridians. The distribution of the Divergent Meridians is summarized as follows : Most of them derive from the regular meridians at the regions of four limbs and then enter the thoraic and abdominal cavities. The Yin and Yang Divergent Meridians run parallelly inside the body and emerge from the neck. In the head region, the Yin Divergent Meridians connect the Yang Divergent Meridians and then join the regular meridians. Thus the twelve Divergent Meridians can be paired into six confluences according to their internal and external relationship. The Divergent Meridians mainly run deeper in the body, supplementing the pathway that the regular meridians do not reach. There are no points located on the Divergent Meridians.

• Divergent Meridian of the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. After deriving from the Bladder Meridian in the popliteal fossa, it proceeds to a point five cun below the sacrum. Winding round to the anal region, it connects with the bladder and disperses in the kidneys. Then it follows the spine and disperses in the cardiac region and finally emerges at the neck and converges with the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang.

• Divergent Meridian of the Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin. After deriving from the Kidney Meridian in the popliteal fossa, it intersects the Divergent Meridian of the Bladder Meridian on the thigh. It then runs upward, connecting with the kidney and crossing the Dai Meridian at about the level of the 7th thoracic vertebra. Further it ascends to the root of the tongue and finally, emerges at the ¯à¥ to join the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang.

The Second Confluence

• Divergent Meridian of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming After deriving from the Stomach Meridian on the thigh, it enters the abdomen, connects with the stomach and disperses in the spleen. It then ascends through the heart and alongside the esophagus to reach the mouth. It then runs upward beside the nose and connects with the eye before finally joining the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming.
• Divergent Meridian of the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin After deriving from the Spleen Meridian on the thigh, it converges with the Divergent Meridian of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming and runs upward to the throat, and finally enters the tongue.

The Third Confluence

• Divergent Meridian of the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang After deriving from the Gallbladder Meridian on the thigh, it crosses over the hip joint and enters the lower abdomen in the pelvic region and converges with the Divergent Meridian of the Liver Meridian. Then, it crosses between the lower ribs, connects with the gallbladder and spreads through the liver. Proceeding further upward, it crosses the heart and esophagus and disperses in the face. It then connects with the eye and rejoins the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang at the outer canthus.
• Divergent Meridian of the Liver Meridian of Foot Jueyin After deriving from the Liver Channel on the instep, it runs upward to the pubic region, and converges with the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang.

The Fourth Confluence

• Divergent Meridian of the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang After deriving from the Small Intestine Meridian at the shoulder joint, it enters the axilla, crosses the heart and runs downward to the abdomen to link up with the Small Intestine Meridian.
• Divergent Meridian of the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin After deriving from the Heart Meridian in the axillary fossa, it enters the chest and connects with the heart. Then it runs upward across the throat and emerges on the face, and joins the Small Intestine Meridian at the inner canthus.

The Fifth Confluence

• Divergent Meridian of the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Vangming after deriving from the Large Intestine Meridian on the hand, it continues upward, crossing the arm and shoulder to reach the breast. A branch separates at the top of the shoulder and enters the spine at the nape. It runs downward to connect with the large intestine and lung. Another branch runs upward from the shoulder along the throat and emerges at the supraclavicular fossa ; there it rejoins the Large Intestine Meridian.
• Divergent Meridian of the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin after deriving from the Lung Meridian at the axilla, it runs anterior to the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Taiyin into the chest, and there it connects with the lung and then disperses in the large intestine. A branch extends upward from the lung and emerges at the clavicle, it ascends across the throat and converges with the Large Intestine Meridian.

The Sixth Confluence

• Divergent Meridian of the Sanjiao ( Triple Energizer ) Meridian of Hand Shaoyang After deriving from the Sanjiao Meridian at the vertex, it descends into the supraclavicular fossa crosses the upper jao, middle jao and lower jao and finally disperses in the chest.
• Divergent Meridian of the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin After deriving from the Pericardium Channel at a point three cun below the axilla, it enters the chest and communicates with the Sanjiao. A branch ascends across the throat and emerges behind the ear and then converges with the Sanjiao Meridian.