Luo means connection. The Luo vessels extend the pathway of the main channel and reinforce the relationship between paired channels. From each Luo point of the main channels come two vessels: the Transverse Luo and Longitudinal Luo. The Transverse Luo communicates with the Yuan point of the paired channel, allowing regulation of the channel energy. The Longitudinal Luo has its own pathway that extends the route of the main channel.

Branching of the Luo

• In the four limbs: the transverse Luo vessels link in the Biao-Li relationship: connect with the yuan point of their paired channel.
• The Luo vessel of Ren Mai branches in the abdomen.
• The Luo of Du Mai distributes in the head, back and Bladder channel.
• The great Luo of Spleen branches in the chest and hypochondrium.
• The great Luo of Stomach branches in the chest, communicates with lungs and heart.

Transverse Luo

The transverse Luo vessels are located between the hand and elbow and foot and knee. They communicate the Qi of the channel with the paired channel, to reinforce the Biao-Li relationship. The Qi of the transverse Luo starts at the Luo point to reach the paired channel at its Yuan point.

Function of the Transverse Luo:

• Strengthen the coupling of Yin and Yang channels.

Treatment

1. If the Yang channel is in excess and the Yin channel is in deficiency: tonify the Luo Point of the deficient Yin channel and drain the Yuan Point of the excess Yang channel.
2. If the Yin channel is in excess and the Yang channel is in deficiency: drain the Yuan Point of the excess Yin channel and tonify the Luo Point of the deficient Yang channel.

Longitudinal Luo

There are 15 Luo vessels: 12 from the main channels and two from the extraordinary channels (Du Mai, Ren Mai) and one from the great Luo of Spleen. As with transverse Luo, the Longitudinal Luo start at the Luo Point, but they have another pathway; they go further since they can reach the organs or the bowels or the head.

Pathways of the Longitudinal Luo

• Luo of Lung.
• Luo of Large Intestine.
• Luo of Stomach.
• Luo of Spleen.
• Luo of Heart.
• Luo of Small Intestine.
• Luo of Bladder.
• Luo of Kidney.
• Luo of Pericardium.
• Luo of Triple Burner.
• Luo of Gall Bladder.
• Luo of Liver.
• Great Luo of Spleen.
• Great Luo of Stomach.
• Luo of Du Mai.
• Luo of Ren Mai.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a problem of the Luo vessel, we use palpation of the Luo point and symptomatology.

Treatment

• If the Luo is in fullness, drain the Luo point.
• If the Luo is in deficiency one must derive the energy from the paired main channel toward it: tonify the Luo point of the paired, the Yuan point of the same channel and the Luo point of the same channel.

For example: treatment of Spleen Luo in deficiency, symptoms of abdominal swelling.

• First ST-40 (Luo of Stomach, the paired vessel) in tonification.
• Tonify SP-3, the Yuan of Spleen, you direct the energy of the paired toward that direction.
• Tonify Luo, SP-4 you take that energy to the Longitudinal Luo vessel.

See Tonification and drainage techniques.

See also Luo Points.