Extraordinary Vessels
Sea of 12 regular channels - regulating effect
+ - Sea of blood - regulates menstruation
Considered the origin of the other extraordinary vessels (except Ren and Du) specifically because the Chong spreads Qi to the other vessel's starting points
Connects the pre-heaven qi to the post-heaven qi
Distributes essence throughout the body
Circulates defensive Qi all over the body
Originates in the lower abdomen and emerges along St30
follows KD11 through KD21 and disperses in chest
reemerges in the throat and passes up to the face, encircling the mouth, and the into the nasal cavity
originates in the kidney and passes along the medial aspect of the thigh
Passes across the popliteal fossa to the medial margin of the tibia
passes along the posterior margin of the medial malleolus
a third branch along the tibia passes along the lateral margin of the tibia down to the heel
crosses the tarsal bones to the big toe.
A last branch pass through the pelvic cavity , enters the spin, and moves up along the vertebrae
Extraordinary vessels act as reservoirs. When there are heavy rains, the canals and ditches are full to the brim.
Connecting Channels – these are the connecting “rooms” If I turn on the vessel, it will also affect these other channels.
They are considered to be “odd”, strange, or different
They are vessels rather than a channel. They “hold” or “contain” things as opposed to having things flow or move through them.