Girdle Vessel (Dài Mài, 带脉) is one of the eight extraordinary vessels in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Both in polarity. The Dai Mai constrains and regulates all the vertical channels, particularly those of the lower limbs and trunk, ensuring their proper flow and preventing stagnation.
| Chinese | 带脉 |
| Pinyin | Dài Mài |
| Group | extraordinary |
| Yin / Yang | Both |
| Organ | Kidney, Liver, Gallbladder |
| Master point | GB41 |
| Coupled point | SJ5 |
The Girdle Vessel is unique among the extraordinary vessels as it is the only one that runs horizontally. It originates below the hypochondriac region, encircles the waist like a belt, and passes through the Gallbladder channel points GB26, GB27, and GB28. It binds together all the vertical channels, especially those of the leg and trunk, at the waist level. It has no internal branches described in classical texts, primarily functioning as an external girdle.
The Dai Mai constrains and regulates all the vertical channels, particularly those of the lower limbs and trunk, ensuring their proper flow and preventing stagnation. It plays a crucial role in the movement of Qi and blood in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. It also influences the uterus and reproductive functions by maintaining stability in the pelvic area.
Disorders of the Girdle Vessel often manifest as a sensation of the waist being loose or weak, as if sitting in water, or a feeling of being cut in two. Symptoms can include lower back pain, abdominal distension, weakness and flaccidity of the lower limbs, and gynecological issues such as irregular menstruation, leucorrhea, and prolapse of the uterus. Dampness and cold accumulation in the lower jiao are frequently associated with Dai Mai pathology.
The Girdle Vessel is unique among the extraordinary vessels as it is the only one that runs horizontally. It originates below the hypochondriac region, encircles the waist like a belt, and passes through the Gallbladder channel points GB26, GB27, and GB28. It binds together all the vertical channels, especially those of the leg and trunk, at the waist level. It has no internal branches described in classical texts, primarily functioning as an external girdle.
The Dai Mai constrains and regulates all the vertical channels, particularly those of the lower limbs and trunk, ensuring their proper flow and preventing stagnation. It plays a crucial role in the movement of Qi and blood in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. It also influences the uterus and reproductive functions by maintaining stability in the pelvic area.