According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), our body has 12 meridians that run throughout it. These meridians carry the life energy known as Qi. They come in pairs and are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the body.
If the flow of life energy—which includes blood and bodily fluids—can no longer circulate freely through this system, it causes discomfort and eventually illness. To keep the system functioning well, we need to nurture and support it.
In the video below, our friend, naturopath and homeopath Josef-Karl Graspeuntner, shares a series of 12 Chi exercises that have been passed down for hundreds of years by a prominent Chinese family. These exercises help strengthen the 12 meridians and the whole body. We recommend practicing them daily—they take just about 5 minutes to complete.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the meridians serve several important functions:
- Qi, the life energy, flows through the meridians, delivering energy to all organs, sensory organs, and tissues.
- Meridians connect the organs with each other and link the body's interior with the exterior, the upper body with the lower, and the left side with the right.
- They help protect the body against external factors that cause illness.
- Meridians can also indicate symptoms and signs of diseases.
- Problems within the internal organs often present as disruptions in the flow of Qi.
- TCM uses the meridians as pathways to harmonize energy flow through various therapies, aiming to maintain an unobstructed and balanced flow of Qi throughout the body.
