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Location Guides: |
Luo-Connecting point
Opening point of the Liver Divergent channel (Cecil-Sterman, 2012, Advanced Acupuncture)
5 cun above the prominence of the medial malleolus, immediately posterior to the medial crest of the tibia, in the depression between the medial crest of the tibia and the gastrocnemius muscle.
Perpendicular insertion 0.5 - 1 cun, or oblique insertion directed proximally towards the abdomen 1 - 2 cun.
"The Jueyin usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Jueyin is to be pierced 1 fen deep and remain inserted for two exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of two fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of three exhalations, and it is moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Spreads the Liver, regulates Qi and benefits the genitals
Clears Dampness and Heat from the Lower Jiao
Regualates menstruation
Treats plumstone Qi
Shared with Qiuxu GB-40. Balanced by ䷓ (Daling Pc-7 or Waiguan SJ-5).
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Saphenous nerve (L3 - L4)
Dermatome Segment: L4
Causes nausea, cramping of the abdomen and cramping of other muscles if struck hard enough. Can also cause Liver damage later in life (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
Mainly used for treating diseases of the genitals such as itching, burning and abnormal erection as well as depression associated with the menstrual cycle. It is thought to be especially effective if the deqi sensation travels as far up the leg as possible, even reaching the genitals themselves.
Ling Shu Ch. 10, On Channels, describes the diseases relating to the Luo emanating from this point as:
Repletion: Swollen testicles and persistent erection or arousal
Depletion: A violent itch
(Unschuld, 2016).
Ling Shu Ch. 19, On the Four Seasonal Qi, advises using the channels and Luo vessels for diseases which occur in spring. They are pierced deeply if severe and more shallow if mild. For the other seasons:
- in summer choose the Yang channels and Luo located in the partings between the skin and flesh
- in autumn choose the Shu-Stream points unless the disease in the Fu organs, then use the He-Sea points
- in winter choose Jing-Well and Ying-Spring opening and retain the needle.
Later in this chapter it suggests using these Luo vessels if they are knotted with blood along with the big Luo of the Taiyang (Feiyang Bl-58) when the lower abdomen is swollen and there is difficulty urinating. If it reaches the stomach then Zusanli St-36 is added.
Ling Shu Ch. 21, On Cold and Heat Diseases, repeats the advice to use Luo in spring but and adds that they can also treat diseases of the skin. For the other seasons it differs slightly from Ch. 19:
- in summer choose the partings in skin structures which also treat the muscle and flesh
- in autumn Taiyuan Lu-9 is chosen and can treat the sinews and vessels (this may also apply to other Shu-Stream points for this purpose, text is unclear)
- in winter one chooses the main channel points which also treat the bones and marrow.
Ligou Liv-5 and Lieque Lu-7 release emotions from the mood (Wei-Qi) level in Jeffrey Yuen's system of using the Luo to harmonise emotions.
The full protocol is to:
- Tonify the Yuan-Source point of the Yin meridian that relates to the emotional disposition being expressed.
- Bleed or plum blossom the Luo related to the level of expression (Lieque Lu-7 and Ligou Liv-5 in this example) in a figure 8 (e.g. Right arm -> Left leg -> Right leg -> Left arm) starting with the side with dominant symptoms. If unsure all levels can be released.
- Bleed or plum blossom the Luo of the Yang meridian connected to the Yuan-Source point tonified at the beginning (Yuen, 2004, The Luo Vessels lecture transcript, NESA; Chin, 2003, The Luo Vessels).
I think of it as tonifying the organ to bring the emotion up and then releasing it from the Luo via its transverse connection, like in a guest-host protocol, with the additional Luo being added to focus on the level of release.
The cathartic release of emotion through the Liver is explained as follows:
- Bleed Ligou Liv-5 to clear Cold in the Liver that gives rise to an inability to act.
- Tonify Ququan Liv-8 (Mother of Liver), Zhangmen Liv-13 and Qimen Liv-14 to help the patient cope with the release.
- Disperse Guangming GB-37 to help illuminate one's path in life. When we let go of our emotional fixations we can have a clear vision of the world. (Chin, 2003, The Luo Vessels).
The trajectories of the Longitudinal Luo of the Jueyin demonstrate their connection to our deepest sense of identity, the Pericardium travelling to our chest, while the Liver Luo travels to the genitals.
The name of this point paints a straightforward image of sexuality, involving a boring worm entering a moist canal to exchange fluids. The expanding (and penetrating in the male case) nature of the sex organs makes them most like Wood while their reproductive potential, and the fluids that facilitate their swelling and lubricates their passage, lies in Water.
Closer inspection of the first word reveals some interesting components worthy of consideration: 蠡 Li commonly translates as "woodworm, burrowing or boring insect" or as "gourd, calabash" or a utensil made from such an item. However, it comprises the radical 虫, Chong twice, referring to "insects, worms or invertebrate animals" and known from the Chinese concept of Sanchong 三蟲, the three worms, and Gu 蠱, magical poison. These are below the character 彖 Tuan with an etymology related to "a pig, hedeghog or porcupine" but also with connection to the I Ching, where the character is used to describe the expositions on each Trigram. There appears to be a lot to unpack here and it is worthy of contemplation but I have no conclusions yet.
溝 Gou has a simpler etymology, consisting of the radical for Water 水 and 冓 which derives from a picture of two fish with their heads towards each other, indicating a meeting.
In Tibetan medicine:
Moxa point slightly anterior, on the shaft of the tibia (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.
For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here
Steve Woodley Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine
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Eascote, Pinner, Greater London. HA5 1SP
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