Qi Jing Ba Mai is the Chinese name for the eight extraordinary meridians, eight marvelous vessels or extraordinary vessels.

In Ling Shu it is already beginning to be mentioned. The doctor Li Shi Zheng treats it completely and writes the treatise Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao.

These are:

• Du Mai. Governing Vessel.
• Ren Mai. Conception Vessel.
• Chong Mai. Penetrating Vessel.
• Meridiano de Dai Mai. Girdle Vessel.
• Yin Wei Mai. Yin Linking Vessel.
• Yang Wei Mai. Yang Linking Vessel.
• Yin Qiao Mai. Yin Stepping Vessel.
• Yang Qiao Mai. Yang Stepping Vessel.

All these meridians originate in the Kidneys. They have a relationship with the Jing of the Kidneys. The first four arise where the Yuan Qi, the essential, original energy, originates. Some texts place it in the space between the two kidneys. The other four arise indirectly from the kidney: the yin arise from the Kidney channel, the yang arise directly from the Bladder channel (Water element).

Of the eight extraordinary meridians, only Ren Mai and Du Mai have their own points. The others do not have their own points, but they have crossing points shared with the main meridians.

Meeting and Crossing Points

Each of the extraordinary meridians has its opening point. These points belong to main meridians but have an action of opening access to the corresponding extraordinary meridian. Eight meeting and crossing points:

• Du Mai. SI-3.
• Ren Mai. LU-7.
• Chong Mai. SP-4.
• Dae Mai. GB-41.
• Yin Wei Mai. PC-6.
• Yang Wei Mai. TE-5.
• Yin Qiao Mai. KI-6.
• Yang Qiao Mai. BL-62.

These opening points act as keys to the gate so that energy flows go from the reservoir to the ducts, like from a lake to rivers.

See more in Meeting and Crossing Points.

Use of the Extraordinary Meridians

The extraordinary meridians work in pairs. The opening point of one closes the extraordinary meridian of its pair.

1. Du Mai (SI-3) and Yang Qiao Mai (BL-62).
2. Ren Mai (LU-7) and Yin Qiao Mai (KI-6).
3. Chong Mai (SP-4) and Yin Wei Mai (PC-6).
4. Dai Mai (GB-41) and Yang Wei Mai (TE-5).

To treat Du Mai, for example, we open with the meeting and crossing point of Du Mai (SI-3), we treat Du Mai with the corresponding points and to conclude we "close" Du Mai with the opening point of its pair, BL-62, meeting and crossing point of Yang Qiao.

There are different ways to use the extraordinary meridians. We can always use the opening and closing points bilaterally. Maciocia usually uses another form that uses fewer needles: in women he uses the opening point only on the right side of the body and the closing point on the left side. In men it is the reverse, he opens on the left and closes on the right.

Another technique used by other masters is to use the opening and closing points on the Chong Mai, Ren Mai, Du Mai and Dai Mai meridians; but use only the opening points and not closing points on the Yin and Yang Wei Mai, Yin and Yang Qiao Mai meridians.

Global Functions of the Extraordinary Meridians

It is not a universal system but a complementary system to the twelve main meridians.

• They reserve and regulate the energy of the main meridians. The extraordinary meridians can help the main meridians be in a state of equilibrium.

When there is an excess of external energy in a main meridian, this excess may end up in the extraordinary meridian. For example: an excess of the Liver meridian can manifest in Du Mai or in Chong Mai. There may be headache with anger. I treat the Liver and only one symptom goes away, the headache, because Chong Mai is also affected and I did not realize it.

• Another important action is the communication between Post-Heaven and Pre-Heaven. All extraordinary meridians arise from the source, from the Jing of the Kidneys. The extraordinary meridians cross with the main meridians where Yong Qi circulates (Rong Qi or Ying Qi - nutritive energy, post-heaven qi).

• They regulate the growth and development of men and women. Ren Mai and Chong Mai regulate the vital cycles. In women it is every 7 years. At 14 menstruation, at 49 menopause. In men every 8, at 16 puberty.

• The extraordinary meridians relate and regulate the extraordinary organs. Jing nourishes the brain via Du Mai (GV-20, GV-16, ...). Gall Bladder relates to Jing through Dae Mai. The sense organs are nourished by Jing and that is why with age the senses are lost (vision, hearing, smell worsen...).

The extraordinary meridians integrate the 4 Four Seas. See Four Seas Points.

• Sea of Blood. Chong Mai - BL-11,ST-37, ST-29.
• Sea of Marrow (brain). Du Mai - GV-16, GV-20.
• Sea of Qi. Ren Mai - CV-17.
• Sea of Grains (stomach). Chong Mai - ST-30, ST-36.

Treatment

There are two forms of treatment:

• Treat the extraordinary meridian: it means it is sick. In this case the crossing points of this meridian are used, the opening point is not enough. Also the main meridians that are affected must be treated.

• Treat through the extraordinary meridian: rather it is the main meridians that are sick. In this case the extraordinary meridian acts as a regulator of the main meridians. Ex: constant cold is a Metal problem that cannot resist. It is enough to needle only the opening points.

Normal clinical practice treatment must begin with the simple. This means that first and foremost I consider the main meridians. If things become complicated and many organs and meridians are being affected, it may be something related to the extraordinary meridians that have a broader action on the organism. Another classic situation is an organ problem and another meridian problem that are not connected. For example: Liver meridian and back problem.

They are also used when we want to treat energy levels. See diagnosis of the 6 levels.

When we want to treat problems derived from Jing of the Kidneys the extraordinary meridians may be important.