The 8 Qi Jing or curious meridians are also sometimes called extraordinary vessels. They are not directly connected to the organs and don't have the same structure as the main meridians. They are believed to function as expansion vessels. This means that they can absorb excess energy from the main meridians and give them back energy in case of need. The extraordinary meridians therefore allow treatment at a deeper level and are used when long-lasting results were not possible with the 12 main meridians.
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