Luo Vessels
(1) Meaning of Luo Vessels
The luo vessels are branches that diverge from the main meridians, also known as “bie luo”. There are primarily fifteen luo vessels. These fifteen luo vessels consist of the branches from the twelve main meridians, as well as the branches from the Ren (Conception) and Du (Governing) meridians, along with the large luo of the Spleen.
The finer branches that diverge from the luo vessels are called “sun luo”. The luo vessels that are distributed on the surface of the skin are referred to as “fu luo”. The luo vessels can interconnect with each other, “complementing each other within the skin, their convergence is visible externally” (from the Ling Shu: Meridians). The luo vessels branch from large to small, forming countless fine branches that permeate the entire body, allowing qi and blood to nourish various parts and tissues of the body. This transforms the linear flow of qi and blood in the meridians into a diffuse, surface-level distribution, serving a nourishing function for the whole.
Each luo vessel is named according to the acupuncture point from which it diverges. For example, the luo vessel of the Hand Taiyin meridian diverges from the Lieque point, thus this luo point is named “Lieque”.
(2) Pathways of Luo Vessels
Among the fifteen luo vessels, those from the twelve main meridians diverge from below the elbows and knees, connecting the yin and yang meridians that are interrelated, serving as a link for the twelve meridians in the limbs.
The luo vessel of the Ren meridian is distributed in the abdomen, connecting with the Chong meridian; the luo vessel of the Du meridian is distributed in the back, diverging from the Taiyang meridian, and can connect with the Ren meridian and the Foot Shaoyin meridian; the large luo of the Spleen is distributed in the lateral body, overseeing the connections of all luo vessels of yin and yang. These three play a connecting role in the trunk, thereby enhancing the unified connection of the front, back, and sides of the body.
1. Hand Taiyin Luo Vessel
Name: Lieque.
Location: 1.5 inches behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges to the Hand Yangming meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Lieque point, starts above the wrist joint, connects with the Hand Taiyin meridian, and disperses in the palm.
2. Hand Shaoyin Luo Vessel
Name: Tongli.
Location: 1 inch behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges to the Hand Taiyang meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Tongli point, ascends along the meridian to the heart, connects upward to the root of the tongue, and belongs to the eye system.
3. Hand Jueyin Luo Vessel
Name: Neiguan.
Location: 2 inches behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Connects with the Hand Shaoyang meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Neiguan point, emerges between the two tendons, ascends along the meridian to connect with the pericardium, and links to the heart system.
4. Hand Yangming Luo Vessel
Name: Pianli.
Location: 3 inches behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Hand Taiyin meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Pianli point, diverges from the Hand Taiyin, its branch ascends along the arm to the shoulder, disperses in the cheek, connects to the teeth, and branches into the ear to join the main meridian.
5. Hand Taiyang Luo Vessel
Name: Zhizheng.
Location: 5 inches behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Internally connects with the Hand Shaoyin meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Zhizheng point, ascends to the elbow, and connects at the shoulder.
6. Hand Shaoyang Luo Vessel
Name: Waiguan.
Location: 2 inches behind the wrist.
Adjacent Meridian: Connects with the Heart Master (Jueyin).
Pathway: Diverges from the Waiguan point, circulates around the outer side of the arm, enters the chest, and meets with the Jueyin meridian.
7. Foot Yangming Luo Vessel
Name: Fenglong.
Location: 8 inches above the outer ankle.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Taiyin meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Fenglong point, travels towards the Taiyin, its branch ascends along the outer side of the tibia, connects at the top of the head, and disperses to the throat and pharynx.
8. Foot Taiyang Luo Vessel
Name: Feiyang.
Location: 7 inches above the outer ankle.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Shaoyin meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Feiyang point, travels towards the Foot Shaoyin meridian.
9. Foot Shaoyang Luo Vessel
Name: Guangming.
Location: 5 inches above the outer ankle.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Jueyin meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Guangming point, travels towards the Foot Jueyin, and connects downward to the dorsum of the foot.
10. Foot Taiyin Luo Vessel
Name: Gongsun.
Location: 1 inch behind the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Yangming meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Gongsun point, travels towards the Foot Yangming meridian, its branch enters the abdominal cavity, connecting with the intestines and stomach.
11. Foot Shaoyin Luo Vessel
Name: Dazhong.
Location: Below the inner ankle.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Taiyang meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Dazhong point, travels towards the Foot Taiyang meridian. Its branch ascends along the meridian, reaching below the pericardium, and externally connects to the lumbar spine.
12. Foot Jueyin Luo Vessel
Name: Ligou.
Location: 5 inches above the inner ankle.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Shaoyang meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Ligou point, travels towards the Foot Shaoyang meridian. Its branch passes through the tibia, ascending to the testicles, and converges at the penis.
13. Luo of the Ren Meridian
Name: Jiutai.
Location: Below the xiphoid process of the sternum.
Adjacent Meridian: Du meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Jiutai point, descends from the xiphoid process, and disperses in the abdomen.
14. Luo of the Du Meridian
Name: Changqiang.
Location: 0.5 inches below the tip of the coccyx.
Adjacent Meridian: Diverges from the Foot Taiyang meridian.
Pathway: Diverges from the Changqiang point, runs alongside the spine, ascending to the neck, and disperses on the head. The descending luo vessel starts from the scapular region, diverging to the left and right, connecting with the muscles beside the spine.
15. Large Luo of the Spleen
Name: Dabao.
Location: 3 inches below the armpit.
Adjacent Meridian: Connects with the blood of the whole body.
Pathway: Diverges from the Dabao point, 3 inches below the armpit, and the pulse energy disperses in the chest and lateral areas.
(3) Physiological Functions of Luo Vessels
They serve as a link between the yin and yang meridians, participating in the overall circulation of the twelve meridians. The pathological characteristics are that the conditions reflected by the fifteen luo vessels primarily focus on ailments of the limbs and surface, often being localized conditions, unlike the deeper and more complex conditions of the twelve meridians.
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