The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Zi Jing Ba Mai)

physiology / channels

In addition to the twelve main channels, there are eight “extraordinary vessels”: the Du Mai, Ren Mai, Chong Mai, Dai Mai, and the paired Qiao Mai and Wei Mai. They are not directly connected to specific organs and serve as “reservoirs” into which excess qi and blood from the main meridians flow and from which their deficiencies are replenished. The Du Mai governs all Yang meridians, the Ren Mai governs all Yin meridians; the Chong Mai (“Sea of Blood”) is associated with menstruation; the Dai Mai encircles the body. Each vessel “opens” at a specific point on a limb (for example, the Du Mai at SI-3, the Ren Mai at LU-7). They are particularly important in gynecology and in cases of chronic, constitutional disorders.