Meridians were founded by the Chinese and are used in acupuncture. Meridians are the pathways of the positive and negative energy power, which carries on some of the communication between various parts of human beings.
 
Meridians connect specific teeth, organs, tissues, in fact, everything in the body. With practice and awareness they can be felt. Through these meridians passes an invisible nutritive energy known to the Chinese as Chi. The Chi energy enters the body through specific acupuncture points and flows to deeper organ structures, bringing life-giving nourishment of a subtle energetic nature.
Acupuncture points have unique electrical characteristics, which distinguish them from surrounding skin. These acupuncture points exist along the meridians.
 
 
THE MERIDIAN CYCLE:
Meridians are classified as yin or yang on the basis of the direction in which they flow on the surface of the body. Meridians interconnect deep within the torso, but we will work with the part that is on the surface and is accessible to touch techniques. Yang energy flows from the sun, and yang meridians run from the fingers to the face or from the face to the feet.
Yin energy, from the earth, flows from the feet to the torso, and from the torso along the inside (yin side) of the arms to the fingertips. Since the meridian flow is actually one continuous, unbroken flow the energy flows in one definite direction and from one meridian to another in a well-determined order. Since there is no beginning or end to this flow, the order can be represented as a wheel. The flow around the wheel follows the meridian lines on the body in this order:

Three times through this four-step process covers the twelve major meridians.


Every organ and every part of your body is directly linked to a specific tooth or area of the mouth via these meridians, or energy highways. This connection is so strong that a biological dentist can often accurately "guess" your dental history simply by reviewing your physical symptoms. Root canals create disturbing energetic roadblocks in the body which short-circuit essential pathways leading to the breakdown of proper organ function. If a person has a weak organ, a root canal performed on the associated meridian tooth will make it more problematic. Balancing and strengthening the organ can allow a person to handle it temporarily.

Because the meridians serve the whole body from outside in and inside out, they have a dual role. They prevent harmful energies from entering (in the form of bacteria and viruses) the body. They also indicate the presence of harmful energy already inside the body in the form of symptoms on the outside.
These may be felt as aches, pains, heat or cold, and in Shiatsu may be located as areas of particular sensitivity or tenderness.

Any type of "disease" is a sign that the energy within the meridian system is out of balance. When a meridian is blocked, one part of the body is getting too much qi and enters a state of excess, while another part is getting too little and becomes deficient in qi. This will result in one organ becoming over-active while another organ will become under active and may be fatigued. If you do not correct this problem when initially manifested, it can lead to the symptoms getting progressively worse and your disease gets more serious.
 
 
Along the meridians you will find more highly charged energy points, which are called pressure points in English or tsubo in Japanese. This is where the qi is most easily affected. Stimulating different tsubo will correct the energy imbalance. In the case of Shiatsu, the affected meridian or points are worked on directly until proper energy flow is restored. By using different shiatsu techniques, such as pressure, stretching, rubbing and corrective exercises, you will be able to release the blockages, "open" the meridian and recharge yourself.
 
Tracy.