San Jiao meridian (hand shao yang) Pathway

San Jiao meridian also called Triple-burner or Triple Warmer meridian.

This organ-energy system, which is not recognized in Western physiology, is called the 'Minister of Dykes and Dredges' and is responsible for the movement and transformation of various solids and fluids throughout the system, as well as for the production and circulation of nourishing energy (ying chee) and protective energy (wei Qi). It is not a single self-contained organ, but rather a functional energy system involved in regulating the activities of other organs. It is composed of three parts, known as 'burners', each associated with one of the body's three main cavities: thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. An ancient Chinese medical text states: 'The Upper Burner controls intake, the Middle Burner controls transformation, the Lower Burner controls elimination.'

The Upper Burner runs from the base of the tongue to the entrance to the stomach and controls the intake of air, food, and fluids. It harmonizes the functions of heart and lungs, governs respiration, and regulates the distribution of protective energy to the body's external surfaces.

The Middle Burner runs from the entrance to the stomach down to its exit at the pyloric valve and controls digestion by harmonizing the functions of stomach, spleen, and pancreas. It is responsible for extracting nourishing energy from food and fluids and distributing it via the meridian system to the lungs and other parts of the body.

The Lower Burner runs from the pyloric valve down to the anus and urinary tract and is responsible for separating the pure from the impure products of digestion, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating solid and liquid wastes. It harmonizes the functions of liver, kidney, bladder, and large and small intestines and also regulates sexual and reproductive functions.

Some medical researchers believe that the Triple Burner is associated with the hypothalamus, the part of the brain which regulates appetite, digestion, fluid balance, body temperature, heartbeat, blood pressure, and other basic autonomous functions.

Passage with points

The meridian originates from the tip of the ring finger (TW 1)  runs upward between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones on the dorsum of the hand and wrist  goes further along the lateral aspect of the forearm between the radius and ulna  passes through the olecranon and along the lateral aspect of the upper arm  reaches the shoulder region  winds over to the supraclavicular fossa.

The branch from the chest runs upward  emerges from the supraclavicular fossa  from there ascends to the neck  travels along the posterior border of the ear and then to the corner of the anterior hairline  turns downward to the cheek  terminates in the infraorbital region.

The branch from the retroauricular region enters the ear  emerges in front of the ear  crosses the previous branch at the cheek  ends at the lateral side of the eyebrow (TW 23), where it links with the gallbladder meridian. 

Passage without points

The branch from the supraclavicular fossa spreads in chest connects with the pericardium  then descends through the diaphragm to the abdomen  joins its pertaining structure the triple warmer.