BODY ENERGY FLOW

The Nervous System

The human nervous system is an extensive network of specialized cells that allow us to perceive, understand and act on the world around us. Much of the executive activity occurs in the brain, while the spinal cord mostly acts as an information highway to connect the brain to many cells throughout the body. Electrochemical signals connect the circuitry of the body and the brain, allowing for bidirectional signaling.

The nervous system is separated in two classes: the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord. Both are made of soft delicate tissue protected by the skull and spinal vertebrae. The CNS acts as the control centre, using neurons to send and receive information to and from muscles, glands, organs and others systems in the body primarily through the Peripheral Nervous System.

The Blood Brain Barrier

Between the brain and its blood supply is the blood brain barrier. As its name suggests, the blood brain brain barrier prevents the transfer of non-lipid soluble molecules, which may include toxic molecules. It does however allow the transfer of beneficial molecules such as amino acids and glucose into the CNS. A related example would be the manufacture of L-Dopa, a man-made version of the neurotransmitter dopamine which is used as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The reason why patients are not simply given dopamine is that dopamine itself is not able to cross the blood brain barrier.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The PNS acts as a relay, transmitting information between the CNS and the rest of the body. Unlike the CNS, the PNS is not protected by the vertebral column and skull, or by the blood–brain barrier, which leaves it more exposed to toxins and mechanical injuries. The PNS contains neurons that junction with the CNS and have long axons that extend to all parts of the body. These axons are referred to as nerves. In contrast with CNS neurons, PNS neurons are able to regenerate. Consequently, the properties of the PNS have been studied in regenerative research.

Somatic Nervous System

Sōma means ‘body’ in Greek so somatic means relating to the body. The somatic system relays information about most of the body’s conscious activity to and from the CNS. The somatic sensory receptors receive information from the senses and send it to the CNS while the somatic motor division sends information from the CNS to control the actions of the skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system primarily regulates involuntary or unconscious activity such as heart rate, breathing, pupil dilation, regulating glands and internal organs, blood pressure, digestion, and many other chemical processes that keep our body working. The autonomic sensory receptors receive information from these systems and send it to the CNS while the autonomic motor division sends information from the CNS to these systems. Although the word autonomic (from autonomy) means involuntary or unconscious, some of these activities are perceived and can be controlled consciously.

The autonomic motor division is divided into two complementary subsystems: the sympathetic system, which works to shift the body into more prepared states; and the parasympathetic system, which facilitates more relaxed states. The constant shifting of control between these two occurs in response to demands such as the fight or flight response.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) prepares the body to react and expend energy in times of stress. When a potentially threatening experience occurs, the body reacts with what has been called the “fight-or-flight” phenomenon. The sympathetic system quickens the heart rate and breathing to increase oxygen, dilates pupils for better vision, reduces digestion to conserve energy, and prepares the muscles of the body to either defend or escape. As is often written in neuroscience and psychology textbooks - it controls the four F’s - fleeing, feeding, fighting and mating. This system is not only active for life-threatening situations; a project deadline or an urgent email might be stressful enough to trigger it. Stress often leads to overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the system that controls hormonal contribution to the fight or flight response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS) helps the body “rest-and-digest”, conserving energy and maintaining functions under ordinary conditions. It slows the heart rate, stimulates digestion and other metabolic processes. This system is slow acting, unlike its counterpart, and may take several minutes or even longer to get the body back to a relaxed state after a stressful situation.

Sensory Division

Also known as the afferent (conducting inwards) division, the sensory division receives sensory information from the body and sends it inwards to the CNS. The sensory division uses neuronal cells that have special protein machinery, receptors, that can transduce different kinds of mechanical or electromagnetic energy into a signal. This signal can then be relayed to the cerebral cortex, which has specific areas for processing visual, sensory, auditory, olfactory and taste information. Often times, the signal may travel through the spinal cord along information highways called tracts. Many of these tracts even cross-over, for example the left side of the cortex receives certain sensation from the right side of the body.

Motor Division

Also known as the efferent (conducting outwards) division, the motor division receives information from the CNS and sends it out to the body. Often times, these signals will also travel through tracts in the spinal cord, and will connect at neuromuscular junctions - where the end of a neuron meets a muscle. These signals sent from the brain and through the spinal cord can then diffuse out to control muscle movement for arms, legs or even the muscles surrounding organs. Cells that can produce motor changes that influence the movement of the body are also called effectors.

The sensory and motor divisions each include a part of the somatic system and the autonomic system. There are also CNS-independent reflexes where a short loop of receptors and effectors work to regulate the body. Below is a diagram showing how signals move through the nervous system.

Meridian lines

Our life energy – also known as Chi or Qi – distributed by these channels is not exactly a physical system like the circulatory system, it is better understood as being a process as opposed to a structure. This process is studied by Chinese medicine practitioners as intently as a western doctor would have to study the anatomy of the human body.

Any blockages in this system may be caused by stress, bad diet, drug or alcohol abuse, injury, trauma, etc. and can be related to the cause of all health issues. It is strongly believed that this energy flow conditions our overall existence; how we think, how we feel, how our body moves. Everything.

Throughout the body lies many ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ pairs; each Yin organ is paired with a Yang organ for example.

Primary Yin Channels:

Arm Tai Yin channel corresponds to the Lung

Leg Tai Yin channel corresponds to the Spleen

Arm Shao Yin channel corresponds to the Heart

Leg Shao Yin corresponds to the Kidney

Arm Jue Yin corresponds to the Pericardium

Leg Jue Yin corresponds to the Liver

Primary Yang Channels:

Arm Yang Ming corresponds to the Large Intestine

Leg Yang Ming corresponds to the Stomach

Arm Tai Yang corresponds to the Small Intestine

Leg Tai Yang corresponds to the Bladder

Arm Shao Yang corresponds to the San Jiao

Leg Shao Yang Channel corresponds to the Gall Bladder

The energy flows through these twelve regular meridian channels in the following rhythm:

From the chest area via the three arm Yin channels – lung, pericardium, heart – to the hands.

From here we connect with the three paired arm Yang channels – large intestine, San Jiao, small intestine – and flow up to the head.

From the head we connect to three corresponding leg Yang channels – stomach, gall bladder, bladder – and flow to the feet.

From the feet we connect with the corresponding leg Yin channels – spleen, liver, kidney – and flow back to the chest to complete the energy circle.

The arm and leg channels of the same name communicate with one another within Chinese medicine. Therefore if there is an issue with a particular channel or organ, these problems can be addressed by treating various points on the corresponding partner.

As well as the twelve primary channels there are also the ‘Extraordinary Meridians’. These have specific functions yet are not linked directly to the organ channels, though they do provide further connections between them. They act as reservoirs for energy and blood regulated as and when required by the primary channels.

They circulate jing or ‘essence’ around the body because they have a strong connection with the kidneys

They help circulate the defensive Wei Qi over the trunk of the body and, as such, play an important role in maintaining good health

The meridian system of the human body is a delicate, yet intricate web of interconnecting energy lines. If a person masters an understanding of this meridian system they will know the secrets of the flow of Qi energy in the body.

Our body needs to be at peace, if you like, to be in a state of harmonious balance within its Yin and Yang forces. If balance is disrupted and becomes off kilter then illness can manifest. In order to utilise acupuncture for healing a doctor must know exactly where to access the energy points and release any blockages or surplus energy which may be causing an imbalance. Meridian massage therapy and Acupressure are also methods in which to restore this essential equilibrium and therefore aid good health.

As well as physical health there is a demonstrable link between the Meridians and our emotional well being. There are psychotherapeutic treatments, psychotherapies and counselling techniques whereby repressed emotional trauma can be alleviated by tapping into the Meridian flow of the body.

General Concept of Meridians and Acupressure Points

• The body consists of 12 main meridian pathways repeated on each side of the body and 2 central control meridian pathways down the middle of the body. Each meridian contains from 25 to 150 acupressure points.

• Each of the meridian pathways is associated with a specific organ and terminates at the tip of a finger or toe. These provide an easy access points for application to the organs.

• This meridian network connects all of the organs and other parts of the body. This system allows energy (called Chee Energy) to flow in a standard, one-way pattern throughout the body on a regular and predictable schedule.

• Two-hour energy peaks occur within each meridian at different times during a 24- hour cycle. The peaks are the best times for working on specific organ problems.

• Combinations of acupressure points, including those from different meridians, can be activated (stimulated or sedated). This affects the Chee Energy flowing to a specific organ or area of the body.

• Chinese acupuncture doctors have, for thousands of years, activated these points with needles to manipulate the Chee Energy and improve the health of their patients. In the United States, acupuncture has been accepted and integrated into many medical practices.

• The hundreds of acupressure points are like little cities located on each meridian highway. They act as control stations that can stimulate or sedate the energy flow at specific points. This control activity is required when the Chee Energy is blocked or overloaded at certain organs or areas of the body. This can result in pain, tissue deterioration or disease.

• Because many people do not like needles, a variety of acupuncture called acupressure has been developed, which manipulates the points with finger pressure instead of needles. Many acupressure practitioners in the United States are using the LED light units as an alternative to finger pressure, needles, electro-stimulation and moxibustion (heat).

• When the energy unit is pressed physically against an acupressure point, it is accomplishing two modalities of treatment. The pressure activates the Chee Energy and the Energy travels through the meridian, like a fiber optic. Both energies activate the targeted area at the same time. This increases their effectiveness.

• To identify the meridians, acupressure/acupuncture points, and which acupressure points to treat for specific problems, you should definitely acquire one or more acupressure reference books.

Reflexology Concept

Another very effective method to allow energy to penetrate into the body is to apply the energy source to and through the reflexology points located on the bottom of the feet and on the hands. The reflexology points are actually various sized small areas. The theory of reflexology has been around for a long time. Essentially, the concept is that all the major organs and areas of the body have a reflection or reflex point located on the feet and hands. These reflex points follow the body’s contour. That is, in the feet, the areas at the top of the body are shown starting at the toes. As you move down the body, you move correspondingly down the foot, towards the heel. The left and right foot corresponds to the left and right side of the body. An identical set of points is located in the hands. This same correlation of top to bottom and fingertip to wrist holds true for the reflex points on the left and right hands. When a reflexology practitioner massages these points and a painful area is encountered, it means that there is an energy blockage in that particular body area. Continuing to massage these painful areas will clear the energy blockages. To obtain reflexology diagrams and charts, purchase any good reflexology book.

Reflexology Application Technique

• The normal standard reflexology technique is to massage a reflex point with your fingers. This releases the blocked energy in the corresponding organ or area.

• You can accomplish a similar result by applying a energy source to the reflex points. In addition, the energy will travel through the reflex channels directly to the body areas and act on the painful locations.

• Larger energy units are big enough to cover both feet entirely and will activate all the reflex points. Apply for 15-20 minutes.

• If your energy unit is small you can also apply gentle pressure to the reflex point to further activate the energy. Press each reflex point for 15-30 seconds. On painful locations additional treatment time is suggested.

• If possible, have another person do the treatment. This contributes to a more relaxed treatment.

• Wait at least an hour to evaluate the results. You will feel the change in the corresponding organ or area of your body.

Small Foot Reflexology Chart