La Vena Amoris "Vein of Love"

The reason we wear the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is attributed to a belief of the ancient Romans that there existed a vein extending from that finger directly to the heart. (Bottom left)

Hippocrates in his book On the Nature of man provides us with his description of the vascular system involving the veins or "phlebes" in Greek.

Of the four veins described by Hippocrates the fourth includes the "Vena Amoris" but as part of a larger general vein covering and connecting the arms and chest area without specific reference to the heart.

But Hippocrates also states that "From the belly too extend over the body very many veins of all sorts, by which nourishment comes to the body."

So it is possible he had considered this connection but Vena Amoris was probably described in detail somewhere along his blood line of desciples practising in the Roman Empire. Vena Amoris is found on the left hand (unilateral) where as Hippocrates describes the four veins as bilateral.

Of interest is also the fact that among the five fingers both ring fingers have three dermatomes thus all three spinal nerves C6,C7,C8 ending in the hand, radial, median, ulnar. Where all the three skin areas meet would be where the ring would be worn. Of course we know that there are varieties in dermatomes to take into consideration. Just like our different reflexology maps.

Lastly, The Triple Burner Meridian or SanJiao starts on the back of the ring finger. Initialy the three nerves discusssed previously come to mind, but the three "heaters, warmers or burners" correspond to three divisions of the body, could there be a correlation here?

According to Inge Dougans "This meridian governs activities involving all the organs and it unites the respiratory, digestive and excretory systems. It may be related to the hypothalamus, the link between the nervous system and endocrine glands. Its functions include regulation of the autonomic nervous system, thus of the heart and abdominal organs, especially in their response to emotion, control of the emotions and moods, so influencing social relations.

On this meridian where the wedding ring would be worn corresponds the San Jiao 2 acupuncture point, which can clear Heat in the Upper Jiao and alleviate pain along the channel. It can be used to treat disorders of the eyes, ears, and mouth, including the tongue. This corresponds somehow to Reflexology Charts even Zone therapy principles.

It has additional action of calming the spirit.

Come to think of it, when I am anxious I twist around my wedding ring without noticing.

Take care everyone, leave a comment if you have a say on this.