The Chong Mai: Nerve and Myofascial Integration

 Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with neuroscience and medical chemistry presents the challenge of reconceptualizing how classical descriptions represent reactions in the nervous system. This requires both a qualitative understanding of the nervous system's portrayal in ancient texts and a quantitative, reproducible, and objective method to ensure effective treatment, forming a comprehensive approach to contemporary clinical practice.

The Chong Mai, or Penetrating Vessel, is a vital channel in TCM known for its influence on the body's core functions and its role in connecting various energetic pathways. This channel's internal branches traverse from the lower abdomen through the chest and into the head. By mapping these TCM branches to their nerve equivalents and corresponding myofascial lines, we gain a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of the body's structural and energetic systems.

Neurologically, the Chong Mai encompasses innervation and vital processes automated by the brain, spinal cord, and autonomic nervous system (ANS). The classical concept of the Chong Mai, sourced by essence and subdividing into other meridians at conception, aligns with the understanding of early developmental influences on the nervous system. This connection reflects how stimulation of points can influence distant areas through intricate fascial and energetic connections.

The Chong Mai originates in the lower abdomen at the level of the lumbar and sacral plexuses, which provide innervation to the pelvic floor muscles. This connection highlights the Chong Mai's role in core stability and pelvic support, particularly for procreation. As the channel ascends through the abdomen, it aligns with the lumbar plexus and enteric nervous system, influencing digestive functions and abdominal reflexes. The pathway's intersection with the kidneys and its traversal through the thoracic cavity illustrate its role in supporting vital organ functions and respiratory mechanics, as reflected in the innervation patterns of the renal and celiac plexuses, and the phrenic nerve.

In myofascial anatomy, the Chong Mai's trajectory closely parallels the Jue Yin Sinew Channels (Pericardium and Liver), corresponding to the Deep Front Line (DFL), which integrates all levels of the body – feet, legs, trunk, neck, and arms. The Jue Yin line, commanded by the Liver as the "General," represents the last line of defense before the parasympathetic and central nervous system structures are affected. This role reflects its function in commanding our postural, neurological, and emotional defenses against threats. The Jue Yin muscles are connected to primitive states of reactive defense governed by the cranial nerves, initiating flexion postures and medial rotation to collapse the structure in defense. These deep rotators, including the pelvic floor, psoas, diaphragm, deep cervical fascia, and other core muscles, maintain central stability and connectivity throughout the body. When triggered, the outer muscle defenses in the Jue Yin line wrap protectively around nerve sheaths or groups, in a defensive posture mediated by the sympathetic nervous system (Yang/+ Charge). Many Jue Yin pathways also parallel nerve plexuses tied to nourishment and regulation, reflecting the spleen’s role in nourishment, which are largely parasympathetic. Cross-referencing these insights with the classics reveals that they accurately describe the emotional states resulting from retained primitive reflexes, even before the discovery of nerves and the primary role of the ANS in creating the limbic system. Chapters 9 and 10 of the Ling Shu capture the essence of how these deep reflexive and protective mechanisms shape our emotional responses.

From a neuroanatomical perspective, the propagation of nerve signals through fascial planes illustrates how distant points in the body influence each other. Nerve signals travel along these fascial lines, facilitating communication and coordination across different regions. Once initiated, nerve charges propagate along myofascial lines consistent with their layer of origin. The Deep Front Line (DFL), spanning the legs, trunk, neck, and head, can propagate a charge throughout its entire pathway. Anatomical slings, formed by interconnected muscles and fascia, support the body's ability to transmit force and maintain posture, further emphasizing the integrative nature of these structures. This principle supports the mirroring approach in TCM, where stimulation of points on the head can affect the feet, and vice versa, through these intricate fascial and energetic connections.

When working with the sinew channels in the context of neurogenic diseases and trauma, the clinical significance of the internal pathways of the eight extraordinary vessels becomes clear. In my TCM program, the internal pathways for all the channels were often overlooked and presented as largely theoretical. However, a neurological approach reveals that the internal branches of Chong Mai's five pathways play a significant role throughout the body. These pathways are not only valid but often become visible during treatment, particularly when restoring vagal tone through spastic regions. They also house many intersection points where we can influence multiple fascia lines simultaneously. The illustrations are courtesy of Mr. Deadman’s wonderful manual.

Since we are redefining spasticity and PR demonstration as the clinical presentation for chronic sympathetic dominance (characterized by strong flexion and rotation), we see significant deviations from classical TCM theory. These involuntary states of defense diminish qi, blood, nerve, and oxygen propagation through a local region. Once a patient moves into spasticity (such as frozen shoulder or cervical stenosis), the master and couple points become ineffective. The biggest issue arises from what I call the Chong-Dai Split at the intersections of the Chong and Dai in the abdomen. Strong states of defense, including FPR and Moro reflex, create strong flexion synergies through the rectus in the abdomen, resembling a posture similar to a sucker punch. Emotionally, this reflects any event that is so shocking or traumatic that it feels like a punch in the gut. Due to the extensive overlap of PR and cranial nerve pathways and shared trajectories, multiple reflexes reactivate simultaneously when a patient moves into partial or full PR demonstration. Therefore, a sinew-neuro approach is best facilitated by working directly with the points on the eight extras, particularly crossing and intersection points. The channels of the second ancestry, the Weis and Qiaos, can be considered contiguous myofascial lines that connect the upper and lower aspects of the body to the middle jiao. Opening the Chong-Dai split and restoring patency through the rectus-abdominal obliques and QL begins the process of restoring the qi dynamic through a strong flexion posture.

Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) Intersection Points:

1. Ren 1 (Huiyin) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Ren Mai.
2. Ren 7 (Yinjiao) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Ren Mai.
3. ST 30 (Qichong) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Stomach Channel.
4. KI 11 (Henggu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
5. KI 12 (Dahe) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
6. KI 13 (Qixue) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
7. KI 14 (Siman) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
8. KI 15 (Zhongzhu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
9. KI 16 (Huangshu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
10. KI 17 (Shangqu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
11. KI 18 (Shiguan) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
12. KI 19 (Yindu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
13. KI 20 (Futonggu) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.
14. KI 21 (Youmen) - Intersection of Chong Mai and Kidney Channel.

Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) Intersection Points:

1. KI 9 (Zhubin) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai and Kidney Channel.
2. SP 12 (Chongmen) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai, Spleen Channel, and Chong Mai.
3. SP 13 (Fushe) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai, Spleen Channel, and Chong Mai.
4. SP 15 (Daheng) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai and Spleen Channel.
5. SP 16 (Fuai) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai and Spleen Channel.
6. LV 14 (Qimen) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai, Liver Channel, and GB Dai Mai.
7. Ren 22 (Tiantu) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai and Ren Mai.
8. Ren 23 (Lianquan) - Intersection of Yin Wei Mai and Ren Mai.