Specific Points: These are acupoints among the fourteen meridian points that have special therapeutic effects and are summarized under specific titles.
Based on their different distribution characteristics, meanings, and therapeutic effects, they are divided into:
“Five Transporting Points”, “Yuan Points”, “Luo Points”, “Xi Points”, “Lower He Points”, “Shu Points”, “Mu Points”, “Eight Meeting Points”, “Eight Extra Meridians Meeting Points”, and “Meeting Points”.
“Luo Points” are the acupoints where the Luo vessels branch out from the main meridians.
Each of the fifteen Luo vessels has one acupoint where it branches from the meridian, known as a Luo point, also referred to as “Fifteen Luo Points”.
“Luo” implies connection and distribution. Each of the twelve meridians has a Luo vessel branching out, hence each has a Luo point.
The Luo points of the twelve meridians are located below the elbow and knee joints of the limbs;
The Luo point of the Ren Meridian, Jiuwei, is located in the upper abdomen;
The Luo point of the Du Meridian, Changqiang, is located in the tailbone area;
The Luo point of the Spleen, Dabaoshu, is located in the chest and lateral rib area.
Among these, the Luo points of the twelve meridians serve to connect the interior and exterior meridians and treat both exterior and interior diseases, or diseases affecting both the interior and exterior meridians.
The Luo points of the Ren, Du, and the Spleen’s major Luo regulate the Qi and blood of the body’s front, back, and sides, and treat conditions in the chest, abdomen, back, waist, and lateral rib areas.
The therapeutic effects of Luo points mainly include:
1. Luo points are used to treat conditions related to the deficiency or excess of their corresponding Luo vessels. For example, if the hand Shaoyin Heart’s Luo vessel is in excess, it may cause fullness in the chest; if deficient, it may lead to an inability to speak. In both cases, the Luo point can be needled to treat the interior.
2. Luo points can connect the interior and exterior meridians, hence the saying “One Luo connects two meridians”. They can treat diseases of the primary meridian as well as those of the corresponding exterior meridian.
For instance, the Luo point of the hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Lieque, can treat cough and wheezing of the Lung Meridian, as well as tooth pain and neck pain related to the hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian.
3. In cases of acute inflammation, needling the Luo point to induce bleeding can also yield good results.
4. In clinical applications, Luo points can be used alone or in combination with their corresponding Yuan points, known as the Yuan-Luo point pairing method.
Yuan-Luo Point Pairing Mnemonic:
Taiyuan pairs with Pianli, Hegu pairs with Lieque; (Lung and Large Intestine are interior-exterior related)
Chongyang pairs with Gongsun, Taibai pairs with Fenglong; (Spleen and Stomach are interior-exterior related)
Shenmen pairs with Zhizheng, Wangu pairs with Tongli; (Heart and Small Intestine are interior-exterior related)
Jinggu pairs with Dazhong, Taixi pairs with Feiyang; (Kidney and Bladder are interior-exterior related)
Dalings pairs with Waiguan, Yangchi pairs with Neiguan; (Pericardium and Sanjiao are paired)
Qiu Xu pairs with Ligou, Taichong pairs with Guangming. (Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exterior related)
Clinical Differentiation and Application
Luo points are more frequently applied in clinical practice. They are the locations where the primary meridian intersects with its corresponding exterior meridian, facilitating communication between the two.
This means that Luo points can simultaneously treat diseases of both the interior and exterior meridians.
If this characteristic is not recognized, some acupuncture prescriptions may be difficult to explain in clinical practice.
For example, needling Lieque can treat tooth pain because Lieque is the Luo point of the Lung Meridian, which is interior-exterior related to the Large Intestine Meridian. Thus, the Luo point of the Lung Meridian can treat diseases of the Large Intestine Meridian, leading to the conclusion that other Luo points have similar effects.
If one does not understand that Lieque is a Luo point, but only recognizes it as a point along the Lung Meridian, one cannot comprehend why it can treat tooth pain.
Similarly, Lieque is also an Eight Extra Meridians Meeting Point, connecting to the Ren Meridian.
If one is unaware that Lieque connects to the Ren Meridian, it becomes difficult to explain why it can be used to treat dysmenorrhea in the central area.
Current textbooks have never mentioned that Lieque can treat dysmenorrhea, but following TCM theoretical guidance for treatment proves effective.
Often, our thinking is limited by textbooks, which state that certain points can treat specific diseases, leading to rote memorization without differentiation or critical thinking. This detachment from TCM’s differentiation and treatment principles is akin to having some Western medicine doctors prescribe Chinese patent medicines without regard to the syndrome.
For instance, textbooks may suggest using Hegu, Lieque, and Neiting for tooth pain,
but they do not consider why Neiting can treat tooth pain, nor do they explore what type of tooth pain Neiting treats, or what type Hegu or Lieque treats.
This leads to a situation where the ability to cure a disease may depend on luck; one patient with tooth pain may be cured, while another with the same condition may not respond to the same treatment. In such cases, it indicates a lack of thorough consideration, ultimately blaming the patient for “having the wrong disease”.
Therefore, it is essential to delve into the therapeutic effects of each acupoint to apply them flexibly in clinical practice.
For example, Dr. Xu in our department treats stiff necks with confidence, stating before needling: “If I needle twice and it still hurts, you don’t have to pay.”
This confidence stems from accurately grasping the pathogenesis before treatment. By identifying the meridian affected by the pain and using the micro-needle strong communication method, the pain naturally disappears.
But why do others hesitate to make such claims? One reason is a lack of understanding of our micro-needle strong communication method, and another is that textbooks do not include our treatment approach.
However, these methods are genuinely rooted in the TCM differentiation system, which is why they yield definite results.