The following text I picked up randomly from the Internet. Its the first that I ran across, which associates dermatomes and meridians. I'd be glad to hear more... See my thoughts and questions in cursive.
"It is the discipline of acupuncture that interests us in this discussion. Out of a several millenia...
of clinical practice and empirical experience, arose a theoretical concept of energy relationships within the body and the distribution of energy among the organ systems of the body. Twelve meridians made up of many points mapped out on the surface of the skin of the human body were tied to major organs systems within the body.
The distribution of energy between the organ systems was related to particular time periods of the day and night. It is aberrations in the natural flow of energy between the organ systems that was noted to be the cause of illness.
It was found that first applying pointed pressure and eventually needles onto/into particular points would balance the flow on energies between the organ systems. Thus arose a matrix of symptoms coupled with needle insertion into specific points on the organ system meridians for specific disease conditions. The fact that this conceptual system of treatment survives the millenia atests to the efficacy of the treatment methodology.
It was also found that the skin overlaying a particular area of the body, that contained in part the acupuncture points, is associated with a particular meridian and constitutes the projection of Qi influence on that portion of the skin.
Question: Are these skin areas the dermatomes of Western physiology? How exactly are skin regions (dermatomes) and the meridians of Eastern physiology associated?
This expanse of skin is then the cutaneous connection with the internal organ the meridian is inturn associated with. Thus we have on the surface of the skin a direct relationship with a flow of energy and an internal organ. This direct correspondence between wide skin expanses, the meridian channels and the internal organs of the body is a key element of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment.
Which role do the sensory capabilities of the skin play in this context? After all, the dermatomes’ significance is their direct innervation by one section each of the sensory-motor system.
This is because it was noticed that the cutaneous expanse of a particular meridian reflected the pathologies of the corresponding internal organ. The influence of each of the 12 channels is not confined to a narrow strip of skin but instead, as stated, spreads over a broad area around the channel. Thus, every part of the body is in fact covered by skin directly influenced by a given channel. Therefore, the pathology of a relevant channel may be manifested on the particular corresponding cutaneous expanse according to the constitution of the person. This may include such symptoms as discoloration, pain, skin rashes, veins & veinules and muscle contractions & tendon tightness beneath the skin."
This statement sounds a bit iffy, for after all not always any symptoms such as named accompany a given illness.
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