TCM: Passage Without Points — Kenton Sefcik, R.Ac

I really appreciate the requests people ask of me. It creates a dialogue between us, builds rapport and we become acquainted through the healing art of Chinese medicine. Recently, I had someone request I review channels without acupoints - where channels originate and how they connect to internal organs, sensory organs and other structures. I figured it a good topic for a blog post because it helps make sense of how the channels work in clinic - so here it is! Following the diurnal flow of Qi, starting with the Lungs, I will review the Passage Without Points, emphasizing key body parts in italics.

LUNG

The channel originates from the Middle Warmer, runs downward to connect with the Large Intestine channel, winds back to go through the upper orifice (cardia) of the Stomach, passes through the diaphragm, enters its pertaining organ Lungs, and from there runs upward to communicate with the throat, then comes out transversely.

LARGE INTESTINE

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa goes down to connect with the Lungs, passes through the diaphragm, enters its pertaining organ Large Intestine.

STOMACH

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa goes downward, passes through the diaphragm, enters its pertaining organ Stomach, and also connects with the Spleen.
The branch emerges from ST36, runs downward to enter the lateral side of the middle toe.
The branch from the dorsum of the foot arises from ST42, goes downward to terminate at the medial side of the tip of the great toe, where it links with the Spleen channel.

SPLEEN

The branch from the Stomach ascends to pass through the diaphragm, runs alongside the esophagus, reaches the root of the tongue, spreads over its lower orifice.
The branch from the Stomach also traverses the diaphragm, flows into the Heart, where it links with the Heart channel.

HEART

The channel originates from its pertaining organ Heart, passes through the diaphragm, and connects with the Small Intestine.
The branch from the Heart runs alongside the esophagus, reaches the face to connect with the eye.

SMALL INTESTINE

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa enters the chest to connect with the Heart, from there descends along the esophagus, passes through the diaphragm, reaches the Stomach, and finally enters its pertaining organ Small Intestine.

URINARY BLADDER

The branch arises from the vertex, runs to the temporal region (GB channel) of the head.
The branch from the lumbar region (UB23) enters the body cavity via the paravertebral muscle, connects with the Kidney, enters its pertaining organ Urinary Bladder.

KIDNEY

The branch from the Kidney ascends and passes through the Liver and diaphragm, enters the Lung, runs along the throat, and terminates at the root of the tongue.
The branch springs from the Lung, joins the Heart, runs into the chest to link with the Pericardium channel.

PERICARDIUM

The channel originates from the chest, emerges and enters its pertaining organ Pericardium, then descends through the diaphragm to the abdomen, connects successively with the Upper, Middle and Lower Warmers known together as the Triple Warmer.
The branch from PC8 in the palm runs along the ring finger, and reaches its tip where it links with the Triple Warmer channel.

TRIPLE WARMER

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa spreads in the chest, connects with the Pericardium, then descends through the diaphragm to the abdomen, and joins its pertaining structure Triple Warmer.

GALLBLADDER

The branch arising from the outer canthus runs downward to ST5, meets the Triple Warmer channel in the infraorbital region, passes through ST6, descends down the neck, enters the supraclavicular fossa, where it meets the main channel.
The branch from the supraclavicular fossa descends to the chest, passes through the diaphragm, connects with the Liver, and enters its pertaining organ Gallbladder.
The branch from the dorsum of foot springs from GB41, runs between the first and second metatarsal bones to the distal portion of the great toe, and terminates at its hairy region where it links with the Liver channel.

LIVER

The branch from the Liver ascends and passes through the diaphragm, branches out in the costal and hypochondriac regions, ascends along the posterior aspect of the throat to the nasopharynx, connects with the eye, runs further upward, emerges from the forehead, meets the Du channel at the vertex.
The branch arising from the eye runs downward to the cheek, curves around the inner surface of the lips.
The branch arising from the Liver passes through the diaphragm, runs into the chest where it links with the Lung channel.