Jing Luo

• Jing. (Also called mai, the channels) canal or circuit through which Energy (Qi) and Blood (Xue) pass.
• Luo. Connection or bond. Link between channels.

The channels or meridians cannot be seen or palpated, but we can observe their manifestations of blockage/disease (tension, redness, eczema...). Through acupuncture we can regulate the channels, tonifying or draining. See Tonification and Drainage Techniques.

The channels are like the trunks of a tree: straight, broad, and deep. And they are internal because they connect with the organs. The organ would be the root of this tree.

The luo vessels are smaller than the channels. The luo are more superficial and transverse. They are like the branches that branch off from the channels. The luo are also points. From each luo point two branches depart: one is the transverse branch, which connects with the coupled primary channel in an Interior-Exterior relationship (for example the luo of Lung connects with Large Intestine). The other is the longitudinal branch, which has its own pathway that expands the reach of the primary channel. Thanks to these connections, each Zang-Fu organ has a channel and the entire body is interconnected and nourished by Qi and Blood.

How were the channels discovered? First the points were discovered and how they improved symptoms. With practice, location and indications were refined and they were named according to the effects that were observed. More points were discovered and the sensation of Qi, of electrical current, and they were related.

The channels preserve health. They are very important for the body's defense. If they lose their balance, they lose the function of defense.

External pathogenic energies attack in this order:

• 1. Attacks the Luo.
• 2. Attacks the channel.
• 3. Attacks the organ/viscus.

If the origin of the disease is in the interior, in the dysfunction of an organ, the order is reversed: the diseased internal organ affects the channel, then the luo and the disease manifests on the surface.

As we see the channels serve to transmit disease (interior/exterior) and to monitor its progression. The luo can serve for diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to the manifestation in the channels, you can know which organ is affected. Examples:

• When Kidney-Qi becomes blocked, it manifests as pain in the popliteal fossa and lower back.
• When Spleen-Qi becomes blocked, it manifests in the thighs.
• When Liver-Qi becomes blocked, it manifests in the axillae.
• When Lung-Qi and Heart-Qi become blocked it manifests in the elbows.
• In Angina (angina pectoris) there is pain along the pathway of the Heart channel.
• In liver diseases the hypochondriac region and/or the head hurt.

Classification of the Jing Luo

Channels:

• 12 Primary channels: HT, SP, LU, KI, LR. SI, ST, LI, BL, GB.
• 8 Extraordinary Vessels. They divide the body into axes and cross with the primary channels. They regulate the primary channels. They originate from Kidney Essence and distribute it.
• 12 Divergent channels. Branches of the primary channel that extend its pathway and reinforce the connection between coupled Yin and Yang.

Luo:

• 12 Luo transverse. They establish the Interior-Exterior relationship, Yin-Yang, organ-viscus.
• 15 or 16 longitudinal luo. They have their own pathway and symptomatology.
• Capillary vessels.