Scientific exploration and hypotheses concerning the meridian system in traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

The meridian theory is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine, playing a crucial role in disease diagnosis, treatment, and health preservation. Serving as the media for the effects of acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and acupressure massage, meridians exert undeniable impact on the human body. However, the essence of meridians remains a topic of debate. Recent research has primarily focused on their anatomical structures, leading to numerous hypotheses. Simultaneously, other researchers have approached this subject from an energetic perspective, discovering information interactions within the meridian system. These findings suggest that meridians possess both physical and information dimensions, indicating that a singular approach to their study is insufficient. To bridge this gap, a shift from purely structural research toward an exploration of the information aspects of meridians is necessary. By integrating this information approach with traditional meridian theory, it may be possible to develop a new, modernized meridian theory that is aligned with contemporary concepts, making it more accessible and applicable in clinical settings.

Full text

Perspectives
283
Scientific exploration and hypotheses concerning
the meridian system in traditional Chinese medicine
Wenchuan Qi1,2, Bin He1, Qingxin Gu1, Yongming Li3, Fanrong Liang1,2,4,*
1School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China; 2Key Laboratory of
Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of TCM), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China; 3American Traditional Chinese Medicine
Society, New York, NY, USA; 4Sichuan Clinical Medicine Research Center of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Chengdu, China
Abstract
The meridian theory is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine, playing a crucial role in disease diagnosis,
treatment, and health preservation. Serving as the media for the effects of acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and
acupressure massage, meridians exert undeniable impact on the human body. However, the essence of meridians remains a topic
of debate. Recent research has primarily focused on their anatomical structures, leading to numerous hypotheses. Simultaneously,
other researchers have approached this subject from an energetic perspective, discovering information interactions within the
meridian system. These findings suggest that meridians possess both physical and information dimensions, indicating that a
singular approach to their study is insufficient. To bridge this gap, a shift from purely structural research toward an exploration of
the information aspects of meridians is necessary. By integrating this information approach with traditional meridian theory, it may
be possible to develop a new, modernized meridian theory that is aligned with contemporary concepts, making it more accessible
and applicable in clinical settings.
Keywords: Communication, Information state, Meridian essence, Physical state
Graphical abstract: http://links.lww.com/AHM/A133.
Introduction
On April 10, 2021, Science published a list of the 125
most concerning scientic questions in the world. In the
eld of medicine and health, the sole question related to
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was whether there
is a scientic basis for the meridian system. According
to the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine,
“Meridians are prone to various diseases, running
qi and blood, and cannot be blocked.” However, the
ancient depiction of meridians as “running qi and
blood” is somewhat vague, making it challenging for
us to fully comprehend their nature. Do meridians pos-
sess a tangible structure? If not, why can acupuncture
at specic acupoints effectively treat corresponding
illnesses, with some individuals even exhibiting nota-
ble phenomena such as propagated sensations along
the channel (PSC)? Although recent research has illu-
minated the potential underlying mechanisms of acu-
puncture and moxibustion from neuroanatomical and
biomolecular perspectives, the true essence of meridians
remains unclear, awaiting further elucidation. In clinical
practice, we frequently extol the outstanding efcacy
of acupuncture and moxibustion, yet we remain per-
plexed by the underlying mechanisms that drive their
therapeutic benets. Only by thoroughly understand-
ing what meridians truly are can we utilize acupuncture
and moxibustion techniques more effectively in clinical
settings.
The hypothesis of meridian essence
In ancient Chinese medicine, meridians were initially
referred to as “pulses” and later subdivided into Jingmai
(main meridians) and Luomai (collateral meridians), col-
lectively known as meridians. The development of the
meridian theory has undergone continuous renement,
evolving from observation to summarization, and from
practice to theory. By observing pulses, inquiring about
patients’ sensations, and incorporating insights from
ancient anatomical observations, early practitioners
synthesized various factors to create the ancient “sci-
ence of meridians.” This process was largely completed
during the early Western Han Dynasty, laying the foun-
dation for the meridian theory in TCM[1,2]. Yin and yang
meridians hold particular signicance within the TCM
meridian system. Yin meridians are internally oriented,
associated with internal organs, and are responsible for
transporting nutrients and energy. They reect the health
of internal organs and help regulate the balance of qi and
*Corresponding author. Fanrong Liang, E-mail: acuresearch@126.com.
Received 3 February 2024 / Accepted 12 August 2024
How to cite this article: Qi WC, He B, Gu QX, Li YM, Liang FR. Scientific exploration and hypotheses concerning the meridian system in
traditional Chinese medicine. Acupunct Herb Med 2024;4(3):283–289. DOI: 10.1097/HM9.0000000000000128
Copyright © 2024 Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work
provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.

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Qi et al. • Volume 4 • Number 3 • 2024 www.ahmedjournal.com
blood. Yang meridians, on the other hand, run externally,
involving the body surface, muscles, bones, and nerves.
They regulate the functions of the body surface, reect
its health, and guide external treatment methods such
as acupuncture. The interaction between yin and yang
meridians maintains the ow of qi and blood, as well
as physiological functions, which are of great signi-
cance for diagnosis and treatment in TCM. Through a
comparative analysis of Han Dynasty bamboo and silk
manuscripts and modern anatomical research, Li[1] dis-
covered that, among the 74 symptoms studied, 39 were
directly linked to the nervous system (52.7%), 33 were
pain-related (44.6%), and 27 were associated with inter-
nal organs (36.5%). Remarkably, most of the pain symp-
toms and nervous system disorders originate from the
yang meridians, while nearly all visceral diseases occur
within the yin meridians. Nervous system disorders or
pain symptoms originating from yin meridians are rare,
with the exception of ischemic angina. These ndings
suggest that the yang meridians described in the Han
Dynasty silk medical texts likely correspond to the struc-
tures, physiology, and pathology of the modern nervous
system as observed by doctors at that time, while the
yin meridians primarily refer to the structure, physiol-
ogy, and pathology of the large arteries in the upper and
lower extremities [Supplementary Table S1, http://links.
lww.com/AHM/A135][1]. This anatomically based under-
standing offers new perspectives and evidence for under-
standing the essence of meridians.
In recent decades, signicant research on the essence
of meridians has been conducted both domestically and
internationally, leading to the formation of several key
hypotheses. The “vascular hypothesis” suggests that the
foundational structure of meridians may correspond to
blood vessels, particularly the arterial network. Some
perspectives propose a resemblance between the depic-
tion of meridians and the vascular system, especially in
the arrangement of arteries[3]. The observation of sen-
sory conveyance along meridians could be attributed
to the unique conguration of blood vessels, imply-
ing that the abundance of blood vessels within tissues
along the meridians may serve as the material basis for
meridians[4]. The literature has proposed the hypothesis
that “yin meridians correspond to arteries”[5]. Through
a comparative analysis of Han Dynasty bamboo and
silk manuscripts and modern anatomical research, Li[1]
discovered that the original anatomical basis for the
six yin meridians described in the Han Dynasty man-
uscripts likely corresponds to the major arteries of the
four limbs. Notably, the inclusion of the Hand Jueyin
Pericardium Meridian is highly consistent with the mod-
ern anatomical discovery of the persistent median artery,
further supporting the correlation between yin meridi-
ans and arteries. Interestingly, the commonly used pulse
detection points in modern medicine are all located on
the 12 meridians of TCM. These critical pulse points
already have corresponding acupoint names in Chinese
medicine and are categorized as pulse diagnosis acu-
points. This is not a coincidence but rather evidence that
TCM identied these pulse points more than 2,000 years
ago[1]. Through practical experience, the signicance and
meaning of pulse diagnosis were summarized, and these
points were incorporated into the meridian and acupoint
system, further solidifying the meridian theory of TCM
to guide clinical practice (Figure 1)[5]. Nevertheless, fur-
ther scientic investigation is imperative to validate this
hypothesis and to elucidate specic characteristics of
meridian phenomena, such as the rate of sensory trans-
mission along meridians and the complexity of bidirec-
tional transmission.
The “neural hypothesis” regarding the essence of
meridians primarily suggests that the phenomenon
of meridians is intricately linked with the functional-
ity of the nervous system[6–7]. This theory underscores
a notable alignment between the pathways of meridi-
ans and the distribution of nerves, proposing that the
manifestation of meridians may be a functional expres-
sion of the nervous system. Essentially, the neurological
perspective maintains that sensory transmission along
meridians is a consequence of excitation propagation
between neurons[8]. When exploring the essence of yang
meridians, Li[1] suggested that they may correspond to
certain structures and pathological phenomena of the
nervous system as observed by medical practitioners of
the time. For instance, many diseases associated with
yang meridians are linked to nervous system disorders
in modern medicine, and yang meridians are primar-
ily distributed along the outer side of the human body,
which is consistent with the distribution patterns of
nerves[1]. This nding offers a new perspective on the
nature of yang meridians. While the neural hypothesis
provides an explanation for certain meridian phenom-
ena, it does not fully account for all the attributes and
functions of meridians. For instance, the TCM theory
includes concepts such as the circulation of qi and
blood and the interconnection between organs, which
are complexities that neuroscience alone nds challeng-
ing to elucidate.
The “myofascial hypothesis” has gained prominence
in recent years as a theory exploring the fundamen-
tal nature of meridians. It proposes that the essence of
meridians may be intricately linked to the structure of the
human myofascial membrane. This theory aligns closely
with the concept of myofascial chains in terms of mate-
rial composition, holistic nature, and pathological man-
ifestations, thus offering modern anatomical support for
the theory of meridians and tendons[9]. The fascia system,
primarily composed of connective tissue, forms a com-
prehensive tension network that interconnects the entire
body, echoing the concept of meridians as channels for
the circulation of qi and blood, extending throughout
the body. The myofascial hypothesis offers a plausible
explanation for the essence of meridians, particularly
given the fascia’s uidity, its clinical applications, and its
association with acupuncture points.
The “humoral channel” hypothesis offers an interpre-
tation of the essence of TCM meridians, positing that
meridians may potentially serve as conduits for tissue
uids, particularly those involved in uid dynamics. This
hypothesis aligns with the TCM concept of qi and blood
ow within the meridian theory. Researchers have iden-
tied the anatomical structure of the “human tissue uid
circulation network” using magnetic resonance tracing
imaging and high-resolution biological imaging tech-
niques, suggesting that this network may represent one
of the physical foundations of meridians[10].

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In the eld of TCM meridian research, the “functional
complex hypothesis” offers a theory that seeks to explain
meridian phenomena by integrating multiple systems and
functions. According to this hypothesis, the essence of
meridians may be a three-dimensional structure that inte-
grates multiple systems and functions, rather than being
limited to a single structure or function[11]. The hypoth-
esis suggests that the meridians could represent a tangi-
ble three-dimensional network involving nerves, bodily
uids, energy transmission, and other systems. In TCM,
meridians are believed to play an important role in pro-
moting blood and qi circulation, balancing yin and yang,
inuencing life and death, and treating various diseases.
The functional complex hypothesis aims to capture the
regulatory role of meridians in both physiological and
pathological processes of the human body. While this
hypothesis provides a comprehensive theoretical frame-
work for understanding the diverse roles and forms of
meridians, it remains in the exploratory stage and requires
further scientic evidence for validation and renement.
Figure 1. Comparison of the arterial pulse points to pulse diagnosis acupoints[5]. The commonly used human arterial pulse detection points on the
body surface are recommended by medical institutions such as the AHA. The pulse diagnosis acupoints are derived from the Nine Pulses in Three
Parts theory in the Inner Canon of Huangdi and other literature from the same period, where the arteries are merely illustrative. AHA: American Heart
Association; EX-HN5: Taiyang acupoint; KI3: Taixi acupoint; KI10: Yingu acupoint; LR3: Taichong acupoint; LR10: Zuwuli acupoint; LU9: Taiyuan
acupoint; PC3: Quze acupoint; SP11: Jimen acupoint; ST5: Daying acupoint.

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There are signicant differences between the meridian
theory of TCM and the theoretical framework of mod-
ern medicine. TCM emphasizes holistic concepts, includ-
ing the theories of yin-yang and the ve elements, as well
as the theory of qi and blood. In contrast, modern medi-
cine places more emphasis on research within the realms
of anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology. These
differing theoretical frameworks make it challenging to
fully explain and verify the essence of meridians using
contemporary medical approaches. To better align with
current medical practices, we propose, based on existing
research, two common states of meridians: physical form
and information form.
The physical form of meridians
A wealth of interdisciplinary research has been con-
ducted to investigate meridians, leading to several sig-
nicant ndings. In addition to examining the vascular
and nervous systems, studies have explored the struc-
ture of meridians from various perspectives, including
the microcirculation system, lymphatic system, immune
system, and connective tissue structures. Research has
focused on elements such as blood vessels, neurotrans-
mitters, cells, inammatory factors, and proteins[12,13].
Theories, such as the “neural-endocrine-immune” and
“cell-vascular-neuronal” network structures have been
proposed[14–17], highlighting the role of neural excitatory
reexes in PSCs[18]. This phenomenon originates from the
central nervous system when acupuncture is applied at
distal acupoints in the limbs[19]. Furthermore, research-
ers have demonstrated that stimulating meridians with
sound waves can enhance recovery from peripheral
nerve damage[20]. Despite these advancements, the pre-
cise physical form of meridians has not been fully eluci-
dated and remains to be widely accepted.
The information state of meridians
Information within the body serves as a crucial connec-
tion that integrates various parts of the organism, reect-
ing and regulating the functional status of the organs and
body systems. This implies that meridians are capable of
collecting and transmitting information from different
body regions, facilitating coordinated bodily functions.
Through their roles in communication, transportation
of qi and blood, and the perception, loading, and trans-
mission of information, the meridian system helps regu-
late the functional activities of the organs, enabling the
complex physiological functions of the body to work in
harmony and maintain the dynamic balance of yin and
yang. The meridian system can be viewed as a synthesis of
biological, physical, and chemical systems. Meridians and
acupoints exist objectively and possess diverse structures,
which can generate various biological signals through
acupuncture and moxibustion. These signals can prop-
agate from localized areas to the entire body. The ow
of biological information in meridians is associated with
the phenomenon of sensation along these pathways. The
human body, a material system composed of numerous
molecules and ions, is fundamentally an intricate physical
and chemical system. Acupuncture and moxibustion act
on meridians to generate physical and chemical signals.
Therefore, the information essence of meridians encom-
passes biological signals generated by physical and chem-
ical reactions, including molecules, ions, electron ow,
heat, electricity, magnetism, light, and pressure[21].
Several researchers[1,5,22] believe that meridians are a
conceptual combination of anatomical structure and
physiological function. They serve as vital executors
in controlling, operating, and regulating qi, blood, and
body uids, while aiding in the conversion of material
energy within the body. They do not refer to a single
anatomical structure but rather “to an overview and
summary of the entire physiological function.” Nerves
serve as important carriers for information transmission
in the body. The neural hypothesis, when explaining the
essence of meridians, tends to focus excessively on local
neural structures and functions, and cannot fully encom-
pass all the characteristics and functions of meridians.
For instance, in the TCM theory, meridians involve the
circulation of qi and blood as well as the connections
between organs and meridians. Brizhik et al.[23] propose
that even if meridians do not have specic anatomical
structures, they are part of the dynamic when local and
global systems interact. Kong et al.[24] introduced the
quantum principal theory of the meridian system, which
postulates that the inuence of different parts of the
human body on each other arises from the macroscopic
quantum coherent state of the meridians. By adminis-
tering tuina, acupuncture, moxibustion, and other tra-
ditional Chinese therapies to acupoints, the symptoms
in the corresponding organ can be effectively adjusted
with the aid of the quantum meridian state. The holistic
view of yin and yang complementarity is the intersection
of quantum physics and TCM[25]. This holistic approach
suggests that meridians primarily serve as carriers of
biological information. From an information theory per-
spective, this suggests that there exist various channels
and circuits within the human body for transmitting
information, and corresponding circuits must be estab-
lished to exchange information between cells, tissues,
and organs—the fundamental units that maintain life.
The root of meridians lies in communication
As carriers of information, meridians not only reect the
physiological and pathological states of the human body
but also serve as links between humans and the natural
world. The concept of correspondence between heaven
and humanity has always been a core tenet of TCM.
The author posits that meridians establish the connec-
tion between heaven, earth, nature, and the human body.
The celestial system and the human body’s qi and blood
both follow their own patterns of movement—a function
enabled by the meridian system in the latter. The prin-
ciples of treatment—“treating the excess with purging,
treating the deciency with supplementing, treating sub-
sidence with moxibustion, and treating neither an excess
nor a deciency with acupuncture”—are used to stimu-
late the meridians and bring them back to a neutral phys-
iological state. In their exploration of the human body,
ancient Chinese people discovered and summarized these
natural laws, aligning them with philosophical ideas of
their time and expressing them through concepts such as
yin and yang, the ve elements, qi, blood, ying, and wei,

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which together form the meridian system that we know
today. Therefore, meridians provide us with information
about life and the key to maintaining our health.
Under the inuence of the emphasis of the Western
scientic model on empirical evidence, modern indi-
viduals seek to comprehend the nature, structure, and
underlying mechanisms of the meridian system. It is
undeniable that modern thinking methods, when used
to analyze the essence of the meridians, will facilitate the
ongoing development of the theoretical framework of
TCM and contribute to effective clinical practice. This
line of research holds signicant value. However, there is
not necessarily one form of truth, and meridians do not
necessarily have only one specic form. The meridians
may be in a state that is visible or invisible. Of course,
the essence of meridians cannot be explained by a sin-
gle organ or tissue, but rather involves a complex net-
work of multiple systems and structures. In particular,
the correlation between yin meridians and arteries, and
the similarity between yang meridians and nerves, also
provide new perspectives for understanding the essence
of meridians[1]. Our analytical paradigm should not be
limited. Momentary changes in the human body include
changes in information, and different manifestations of
changes indicate different states of life.
Prospects for the study of meridians
There have been many studies on the essence of merid-
ians in recent decades, but the specic structure of the
meridian system has not been clearly identied thus far.
Despite numerous attempts to validate the accuracy of
the hypothetical organizational structures of the merid-
ian system, minimal progress has been made. Perhaps it
is time to reassess our research approaches. The descrip-
tion of meridians in the ancient classic of Chinese med-
icine, Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, poses a challenge;
Professor Huang Longxiang once expressed the follow-
ing doubt: the “meridians” or “collateral channels” men-
tioned in the classics clearly refer to blood vessels, but in
some cases, they do not refer to blood vessels. Or they are
like blood vessels, but not like blood vessels[26]. For thou-
sands of years, interpretations of meridians by ancient
people have been subjective and vague. The author
believes that to make meaningful progress in the exper-
imental research on meridians, a comprehensive review
and synthesis of the related existing literature is essential.
By analyzing the intricate descriptions of meridians in
ancient texts from diverse perspectives, we can recon-
struct the theoretical framework behind the meridians.
This theory should subsequently be tested, validated, and
rened through clinical trials and experimental studies.
This process can be approached from two perspectives:
Meridians as carriers of various kinds of information
The meridians serve as vehicles for information, encom-
passing both the physiological and pathological states
of the human body, which are intricately linked to the
natural laws of the universe. The physiological state of
the human body is a product of natural selection and
an embodiment of these natural laws. Aligning the body
with these laws leads to wellness, while deviation results
in disease and pathological states. Therefore, when
studying the human body, it is essential to consider not
only the body itself but also the meridians, which exist
and undergo informational changes extending beyond
material forms, regardless of their state. Current research
often assumes material forms for the meridians and pri-
marily investigates meridians from neuroanatomical and
biomolecular perspectives using advanced technology,
and clinical and animal experimental methods are gen-
erally used to identify the underlying mechanisms. While
such research outcomes offer singular insights into spe-
cic aspects of the meridian system, they fail to capture
its true essence. TCM posits that humans are intercon-
nected and interdependent, with this theory reecting
and summarizing natural laws in the human body. The
meridian system itself is considered an information
eld that connects the universe and humanity. Applying
Western scientic methods to the study of TCM and
meridian systems in a simple way may grossly misrep-
resent their true nature. In future research, it might be
fruitful to initiate investigations with a holistic perspec-
tive derived from TCM’s understanding of constant
movement and the unity between nature and human-
ity. This approach might facilitate the identication of
crossover points with modern medical research and offer
fresh angles for exploring concepts of TCM, potentially
leading to innovative ideas and breakthroughs.
Meridians possess multiple physical structures
The meridian system encompasses the entire structure
of the human body. In addition to the ndings of pre-
vious studies on structures such as blood vessels and
nerves, researchers have recently discovered a potential
interaction system within the meridians. This system is
composed of cells and the extracellular matrix, which
is widely distributed between organs, tissues, and cells,
and may constitute a unique type of connective tissue[27].
Recent ndings[28,29] have illuminated the ultra- structures
of the channels responsible for the circulation of qi and
blood within meridians—tissue microchannels formed by
skin collagen ber bundles and their components. These
advancements have provided insight into the essence of
the meridians, yet collagen studies constitute only a frac-
tion of the vast ocean of meridian research. If we can lib-
erate ourselves from the constraints of current research
approaches and utilize existing ndings to investigate
unproven yet interconnected anatomical structures within
the human body, we may discover new research angles
rather than solely relying on known anatomical systems.
This approach could lead to a deeper understanding of
the material structure of the meridian system, potentially
propelling forward research in related elds.
More technical methods are needed for exploring the
essence of meridians
The modern scientic technologies and methods for the
research of the essence of meridians cover many elds,
including physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. They
include typical physical detection methods: exploring the
relationship between meridian phenomena and physi-
cal quantities by measuring physical quantities such as

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resistance, conductance, and magnetic elds on meridian
lines[30]. This method helps reveal the physical properties
of meridian phenomena. In recent years, with the contin-
uous development of science and technology, some new
technologies and methods have also been applied to the
research of the essence of meridians, such as uorescent
tracer technology. By injecting sodium uorescein as a
contrast agent and using a laser to excite and photograph
it, the migration trajectory of the uorescent agent in the
body can be obtained. This method helps to understand
the ow characteristics of meridians[31]. Through the use of
neuroimaging methods, the biological and physiological
basis of meridian phenomena can be explored, by study-
ing the relationship between meridians and physiological
systems such as the nervous and endocrine systems. For
example, neuroimaging technology is used to study the
relationship between meridians and the nervous system.
Currently, the quantum theory is used to explain merid-
ian phenomena, and the quantum principle of meridians
has been proposed[23]. Based on the concept of macro-
scopic quantum states of ion channels, researchers have
proposed a quantum coherent state model of meridians.
This model can explain the role of meridians in regulat-
ing organ symptoms. It is believed that with the continu-
ous progress of modern science and technology, there will
certainly be appropriate research tools to accurately and
comprehensively reveal the essence of meridians.
Studying meridians with related pathological manifestations
Through in-depth research on pathological manifestations
related to meridians, we gain a more comprehensive under-
standing of the complex role of meridians in human health
and disease. When the physiological functions of meridians
are imbalanced, tangible subtle substances or metabolites
in the blood, tissue uid, or body uid can precipitate in
the gaps, forming specic abnormal manifestations such
as nodules or masses[32]. These abnormalities can intui-
tively reect the deciency or excess of qi and blood in
the meridian to a certain extent, providing objective evi-
dence for disease diagnosis. For abnormal manifestations
such as nodules or masses caused by imbalanced meridian
functions, physical therapies like acupuncture, massage,
and cupping can stimulate meridian points to promote
the circulation of qi and blood, while herbal formulas can
regulate organ functions, improve uid metabolism, and
remove phlegm and dampness to dredge the meridians.
With regard to the development and application of merid-
ian diagnosis, modern meridian medicine expert Wang
Juyi[33] recorded the contents of meridian diagnosis, merid-
ian differentiation, meridian selection, and acupoint selec-
tion and matching in his book Introduction to Meridian
Medicine which is applied in modern clinical medicine.
Meridian diagnosis is the rst step in clinical acupuncture
and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment. Attention should
be paid to the diagnosis of meridian acupoints to nd the
reaction points of diseases, in order to better identify
the location of diseases, select acupoints, and improve the
effect of treatment, providing a basis for further merid-
ian syndrome differentiation and guiding the diagnosis
and treatment of diseases[34]. Through modern anatomical
research, a new interpretation of the “Nine Pulses in Three
Parts” pulse diagnosis method has been provided, pointing
out that pulse diagnosis points are all located on import-
ant arteries, which further conrms the scientic nature of
meridian diagnosis[5].
Conclusion
The essence of meridians is complex and profound,
which cannot be fully explained by a single structure. It
interweaves a network of multiple physiological systems.
Meridians are not only closely related to anatomical
structures such as blood vessels and nerves, but also per-
form the critical function of transmitting and processing
biological information. This unique dual attribute—the
integration of the physical form and information form—
collectively shapes the complete image of meridians. In
general, the meridian system possesses a functional struc-
ture that can be considered as superior anatomy. The tra-
ditional meridian theory is primarily based on functions,
yet these functions are derived from material structures.
Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the essence
of meridians necessitates a substantial accumulation of
experimental and clinical data. By combining these foun-
dational research materials with the classical meridian
system, it is possible to establish a new meridian theory
that aligns with evolving international practices in mod-
ern acupuncture and moxibustion. Liberating ourselves
from the constraints of previous anatomical studies
and approaches to the study of meridians for the sake
of adopting the perspective of information exchanges
between nature and humanity could lead to a fresh per-
spective and new insights in medicine.
Conflict of interest statement
Fanrong Liang is the editorial board member of this jour-
nal. The other authours declare no conict of interest.
Funding
This research was supported by the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (82205286) and the
National Natural Science Foundation of China
(82074556). The regional cooperation program of
the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(U21A20404) and the Natural Science Foundation of
Sichuan Province (2023NSFSC1819).
Author contributions
Wenchuan Qi, Bin He, and Qingxin Gu: Conceptualiza-
tion, writing—original draft preparation. Yongming Li:
Review and editing. Fanrong Liang: Writing, review and
editing, funding acquisition. All authors have read and
agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Ethical approval of studies and informed consent
Not applicable.
Acknowledgments
None.

289
Qi et al. • Volume 4 • Number 3 • 2024 www.ahmedjournal.com
Data availability
Not applicable.
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