Meridians

Begins at the chest and runs down the medial forelimb to the nail of the inner digit. Used for the respiratory system — coughing, dyspnoea — and for the skin.

Runs from the nail of the second digit up the lateral forelimb, over the shoulder and ends on the face. Used for analgesia, fever, the intestines, and the facial and nasal points.

Runs from the face along the ventral trunk and down the cranio-lateral hindlimb to the digits. The great tonifying channel: digestion, general weakness and the hindlimb.

Runs from the inner digit of the hindlimb up the medial aspect, across the abdomen to the chest. Used for the spleen and digestion, blood, damp conditions and the skin.

Runs from the axilla down the caudo-medial forelimb to the nail of the outer digit. Used to calm the spirit: insomnia, anxiety, panic and cardiac signs.

Runs from the nail of the outer digit up the caudo-lateral forelimb, across the scapula and ends in front of the ear. Used for the shoulder, neck, ear and small intestine.

The longest channel. From the medial canthus over the head and down both sides of the spine — carrying every back-shu point — then down the hindlimb to the outer digit. The backbone of spinal work.

Runs from the plantar hindpaw up the medial limb to the chest. Tonifies the kidney, bones and hearing; the channel of the geriatric patient.

Runs from the chest down the mid-medial forelimb to the nail of the third digit. Used for nausea, vomiting, chest oppression and to calm the spirit.

Runs from the nail of the fourth digit up the lateral forelimb, over the shoulder and around the ear. Used for otitis, the face, the shoulder and fluid metabolism.

Runs from the lateral canthus around the head, down the flank and lateral hindlimb. Used for sinews and muscle, the hip, and a stiff neck.

Runs from the nail of the hindlimb up the medial aspect to the costal arch. Used for the liver, eyes, sinews, irritable behaviour and seizures.

The ventral midline from the chest to the caudal abdomen. Tonifies yin and qi and regulates digestion and the urinary tract.

The dorsal midline from the tail tip to the nose. The principal yang channel: spine, brain, and the resuscitation points.

Classical points used specifically in animals, lying off the main channels — Bai-hui, Er-jian, Wei-jian and others.