The Meridian Principle to a Healthy Weight

f you’ve read my article ‘Meridians – Energy Channels for Health & Vitality’, then you will know what I’m referring too.

We all know the simple mathematics that if you eat more calories than you use, then you will put on weight. This is irrefutable. The Western catch cry is ‘eat less, exercise more’. Even though this is great advice, Oriental medicine believes that things aren’t always so black and white.

Being overweight seems to be a concern for the majority of people. The main problem with being overweight is not that you lack energy, but the fact that it increases your susceptibility to other serious life-threatening conditions.

According to TCM an overweight condition is seen as a result of a meridian imbalance. Depending on which meridian is out of balance determines where you will carry the extra weight. Based on this principle, to loose weight effectively you need to understand or know which type of meridian imbalance type you belong to.

There are 6 basic overweight types associated with the 6 pairs of meridians. These 6 pairs of meridians are introduced below with recommendations on how to achieve balance.

When considering exercise for weight loss, if the exercise is not suited to your emotional and physical type, the chances are that its effects will not be deep or long-lasting. So when deciding on a form of exercise, ask yourself ‘what feels right’, as your body always knows what it needs. Type A: Lung & Large Intestine Meridians Characteristics of individuals * may have had tonsillitis or recurrent respiratory infections in childhood * found physical activity difficult while growing up * quiet individuals with a pale complexion and fine skin that sweats very little * body has an overall rounded appearance Type B: Spleen & Stomach Meridians Characteristics of individuals * worry excessively about details * crave food without being hungry * never feel satisfied * nervous types who eat too fast * prefer sweets and liquids (yin foods) * tend to belch and release gas * complain of shoulder tension and knee joint pain * tend to have dry skin * have a tendency towards diabetes * tend to store fat on chest, stomach and legs Type C: Heart & Small Intestine Meridians Characteristics of individuals * very controlled and disciplined * tend to be tense and have a formal manner * always on the go * sweaty palms * lower half of body easily chilled * rigid neck and shoulders * often complain of headaches or dizziness * tend to have low back pain or heaviness in their legs * women may have menstrual irregularities * tend to store fat on waist, hips and thighs Type D: Kidney & Bladder Meridians Characteristics of individuals * insomnia * headaches * frequent urination * lower back easily chilled * fluid retention * sweaty face and hands * tire easily Type E: Pericardium & Triple Heater Meridians Characteristics of individuals * poor circulation * sensitive skin prone to problems such as pimples or skin rashes * allergies * catch colds and suffer from sore throats frequently * shortness of breath * palpitations * fluctuating blood pressure * heaviness of the head * fat stores in upper part of body Type F: Liver & Gall-bladder Meridians Characteristics of individuals * become tense, irritable and excited easily * work hard * tend to have high blood pressure * commonly male * thick neck * may have enlarged prostate or thyroid gland * suffer from eyestrain * fat stored in abdomen and chest