Nādīs in the Indian Yoga Tradition and Meridians in East Asian Medicine: Their Historical Intersections

Key Points

• The research investigates the historical intersections between the concepts of nādī in Indian traditions and meridians in East Asian medicine.
• Examined historical texts from the 7th to 11th century
• Analyzed the influence of Chinese medicine on nādī concepts
• Identified structural and functional similarities between sushumna and Chinese meridians
• Outlined the impact of external knowledge systems on nādi development
• Established that nādī developed through a blend of indigenous and foreign influences
• Highlighted the role of mercury alchemy in the transfer of medical knowledge
• Demonstrated that structural similarities exist between Indian and Chinese systems
• Showed that the duality of ida and pingala resembles Chinese yin-yang philosophy more closely than Indian dualism

Abstract