Yangsheng and the Channels

The following article explores the traditional concept of yǎngshēng (養生), often translated as 'nourishing life',and discusses how this concept might be understood in the context of the early Hàn Chinese conception of the acupuncture channels and collaterals (經絡, jīngluò). The possible meanings of these foundational concepts are discussed in order to explore the physiological models underlying traditional Asian lifestyle advice. By considering how early Hàn practitioners may have understood the nature and function of the channels, modern practitioners can better educate patients about how to normalise their physiology and therefore improve their health and quality of life.