The Dai Mai, or Girdle Vessel, is one of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). These vessels are considered the foundational pathways in the body’s energetic system, often referred to as the Channels of First Ancestry or Primary Ancestry. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels, including the Dai Mai, are believed to carry the inherited Qi and Jing (essence) from one's ancestors, forming the deep, constitutional layers of the body's energy system.
Primary
Ancestry in TCM refers to the idea that these vessels govern the fundamental
energies that support life, development, and the overall constitution of an
individual. These energies are thought to be inherited at birth and are central
to a person's vitality, growth, and reproductive functions. The Eight
Extraordinary Vessels, including the Dai Mai, are not only pathways for this
ancestral energy but also serve as regulators that help distribute and balance
this energy throughout the body.
The Dai Mai,
unique among these vessels for its horizontal trajectory, is traditionally
understood to be comprised of only three points: GB26 (Dai Mai), GB27 (Wu Shu),
and GB28 (Wei Dao). These points form a boundary that regulates and contains
the flow of Qi and blood, especially in the vertical channels. Historically,
the Dai Mai plays a significant role in harmonizing the body, particularly
around the waist, which is a key area for movement and flexion.
In terms of
usage, the Dai Mai is often involved in treatments related to gynecological
issues, urinary problems, and disorders of the lower abdomen and waist. It
helps to "bind" the Qi that flows through the other channels,
ensuring that it remains balanced and that the body's overall energy is
harmonized. The Dai Mai is also thought to influence the legs, as it connects
with the Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel), integrating the energy of the
lower body with that of the upper body.
The Fascia
Representation of the Dai Mai
In modern
anatomy, while the Dai Mai is traditionally comprised of only three
points—GB26, GB27, and GB28—recent fascia research suggests that its influence
extends far beyond these localized areas. The Dai Mai can be understood as
having a physical counterpart in the fascia, particularly through the structure
known as the retinacula. The retinacula are specialized bands of fascia that
stabilize tendons as they pass over joints, providing both structural support
and a pathway for the transmission of tension and force throughout the body.
The Dai Mai’s
influence is not confined to the waist but extends through eight levels of
retinacula, which are distributed from the pelvic floor to the head. These
retinacula work together to transmit force and tension across the entire length
of the torso. When the body moves or experiences stress, these bands of fascia
distribute the resulting forces, ensuring that tension does not concentrate in
any single area but instead spreads evenly throughout the fascia network. This
system allows the body to maintain stability and flexibility, supporting both
movement and posture.
As explored in The
Endless Web by R. Louis Schultz and Rosemary Feitis, fascia is described as
a continuous, interconnected tissue that plays a critical role in transmitting
not just mechanical forces, but also in influencing how the body responds to
internal and external stimuli. The horizontal transmission of tension through
the retinacula aligns closely with the theoretical concept of the Dai Mai,
which traditionally governs horizontal energy distribution in the body. The
appearance of what I describe as retinaculum 8 appears above the 4th ribs. This
one was not represented in Schultz’s depiction, so I have edited to include it.
I see this one consistently in women and men with dysreflexia.
Pelvic Retinaculum: Located around the pelvis, this retinaculum plays a crucial role in stabilizing the lower body.
Waist Retinaculum: Encircles the waist, corresponding to the traditional Dai Mai points.
Thoracic Retinacula: Positioned along the upper torso, supporting the ribcage and upper spine.
Cervical Retinacula: Found in the neck region, helping to stabilize the head and neck.
Cranial Retinaculum: Located at the top of the head, involved in maintaining the alignment of the skull and its connection to the spine.
Wrist and Ankle Retinacula: These stabilize the tendons in the wrists and ankles, crucial for the fine motor control of the hands and feet.
These
retinacula, along with others, create a continuous fascial network that
supports the transmission of tension and neural signals throughout the body.
This perspective helps to reframe the Dai Mai not just as an energetic vessel
but as a critical component of the body’s structural and functional integrity.
The exact alignment of the GB channel with the temporalis muscle, directly over
the temporal region, further suggests that the Dai Mai’s influence may extend
to neurological aspects, potentially tying into the vestibular system. The
horizontal transmission of tension through the retinacula could also contribute
to the body's ability to maintain balance and orientation, aligning with the
traditional function of the Dai Mai in stabilizing the upper and lower parts of
the body.
Role of the Gallbladder (GB) Channel in Neurophysiology
Traditionally, the Gallbladder (GB) channel in TCM is associated with decision-making, fostering the courage to act, and addressing emotional states like indecision or uncertainty. These aspects have been well-documented in classical TCM texts, where imbalances in the GB channel are treated with herbal formulas such as Wen Dan Tang, which harmonizes the Gallbladder by resolving conditions that cloud judgment. However, the classical understanding of the GB channel does not explore its potential connection to neurophysiology, particularly its influence on the vestibular system.Modern research suggests an expanded role for the GB channel, integrating its traditional functions with insights from neuroscience. By analyzing the channel's trajectory alongside the anatomical layout of the temporal lobe and temporalis muscle, it can be inferred that the GB channel may influence the vestibular system, which governs balance and spatial orientation. The precise overlap of the GB channel with the temporal lobe and temporalis muscle suggests a potential role in stabilizing the body's equilibrium and integrating sensory input.
Dr. Michael Greenwood’s exploration of the channels of Second Ancestry, including the Yang Wei Mai and the Yang Qiao Mai, offers additional insights into the broader role of the Gallbladder (GB) channel. Greenwood suggests that these channels, particularly the GB channel as part of the Yang Wei Mai, help mediate the flow of energy between Yin and Yang within the body, playing a crucial role in integrating the spirit (Shen) with the physical body. This integration of postural and emotional responses, governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), aligns with the GB channel's proposed influence on the vestibular system and its broader role in stabilizing both physical and emotional balance.
The GB channel has also been described as the body's "zone of neutrality," implying its role in maintaining a balanced state where neither sympathetic nor parasympathetic systems dominate. This neutrality is particularly relevant in the context of the vestibular system, where the GB channel serves as a buffer, managing excess sympathetic nervous system (SANS) activity from the yang sinew channels. This buffering role helps prevent overreactions to stress that could disrupt balance, orientation, or trigger primitive reactions in the limbic system.
Further analysis reveals that the GB channel’s path, beginning at the face near the ear, encircles the ear and collects auditory data from the hearing centers (mediated by San Jiao channel). This integration of auditory information is critical as the GB channel interacts with visual and motor centers. The channel then processes this sensory information from GB 4 - GB12, correlates it with vision @ GB14 to assess threat level and volitional motor function in the frontal lobe.
The alignment of the outer GB line GB13 to GB20 points integrates upright posture (UB and Du points) with upper cortex to harmonize sensory input with motor responses. This process emphasizes the GB channel's broader role in maintaining both physical and emotional balance by integrating sensory data with the body's movement and orientation systems. Anecdotally, Ikeda sensei said many times in workshop that dizziness was the result of a malfunctioning GB channel. Perhaps a more nuanced understanding expands this idea to include a malfunctioning vestibular system with cranial nerve involvement.
By maintaining patency and neutrality, resolving spasticity in the GB channel (and all the sinew channels) helps maintain overall ANS balance in the nervous system.
References
Deadman, P., & Al-Khafaji, M. (2007). A Manual of Acupuncture. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.
Greenwood, M. T. (2019). Non-Duality and the Second Ancestry. Medical Acupuncture, 31(1), 6-14. doi:10.1089/acu.2018.1320
Myers, T. W. (2020). Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists (4th ed.). Elsevier.
Schultz, R. L., & Feitis, R. (1996). The endless web: Fascial anatomy and physical reality. North Atlantic Books.
No comments:
Post a Comment