A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature: Report of a WHO Scientific Group: 3. Proposed standard international acupuncture nomenclature: 3.4 The 8 extra meridians

A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature: Report of a WHO Scientific Group
(1991; 36 pages)

Table of Contents

	WHO Scientific Group on International Acupuncture Nomenclature
	1. Introduction
	2. Background
		2.1 Historical perspective
		2.2 Towards a standard nomenclature²
		2.3 Essential elements of a standard nomenclature⁴
		2.4 Nomenclature proposals to date⁵
		2.5 The importance of a common language
	3. Proposed standard international acupuncture nomenclature
		3.1 Structure of the proposed nomenclature
		3.2 The 14 main meridians
		3.3 The 361 classical acupuncture points
		3.4 The 8 extra meridians
		3.5 The 48 extra points
		3.6 Scalp acupuncture lines
	4. Recommendations for further action by WHO in the field of acupuncture
		4.1 Dissemination of the proposed standard international acupuncture nomenclature
		4.2 Further standardization of nomenclature
		4.3 Regulation by health authorities
		4.4 Basic training
		4.5 Safety
		4.6 Indications and contraindications
		4.7 Acupuncture equipment
		4.8 Education of the public
		4.9 Clinical and basic research
	Acknowledgements
	Back cover

3.4 The 8 extra meridians

After lengthy discussion it was concluded that “thoroughfare vessel” was the most suitable English equivalent of “chongmài”. This term was agreed, with the alphabetic code TV. The proposed nomenclature for the 8 extra meridians is as follows.

English name	Pinyin name	Han character name	Alphabetic code
governor vessel⁸	dumài		GV
conception vessel⁸	rènmài		CV
thoroughfare vessel	chongmài		TV
belt vessel	dàimài		BV
yin heel vessel	yinqiaomài		YinHV
yang heel vessel	yángqiaomài		YangHV
yin link vessel	yinwéimài		YinLV
yang link vessel	yángwéimài		YangLV

⁸ Although listed under the 14 main meridians, the governor vessel and conception vessel are by custom also included among the 8 extra meridians. Of the 8 extra meridians, only these two have their own defined points.