The Source and Luo Point Combination

The Source and Luo Point Combination

Treating the source and luo points together is a common modern treatment method that is not found in the early classics of acupuncture. Researching the history of the luo mai reveals four main shifts in the way the luo points are applied in clinical practice. The changes occur from the Jin dynasty (A.D. 1115-1234) to the early 1900s.

The legendary Dou Hanqing created the first change when he presented the command points for the eight extraordinary channels in A.D. 1196. Four of the command points are luo points. The functions of these luo points would include treating the eight extraordinary channels and the vital substances associated with the eight extraordinary channels: jing and source qi. The second change is found in the Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, written by Yang Jizhou, in the Ming Dynasty. The third change occurred with George Soulie De Morant, the French practitioner, writer and teacher. And the fourth change occurred with Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, the influential Vietnamese translator, teacher and practitioner. Each of their theories, assumptions and applications will be evaluated to gain a deeper understanding of them and their relationship to the teachings from the Ling Shu.

Dou Hanqing is a famous practitioner and writer from the Jin dynasty (A.D. 1115-1234). In A.D. 1196 he wrote The Guide of Acupuncture. Dou Hanqing is the person we can historically trace that presented and promoted the eight command points of the extraordinary channels. He revealed these points around A.D. 1196. They are not in any known texts before his work. He left no theory of how they work or why each point was selected. For this reason classical practitioners do not use these points as command points of the eight extraordinary channels. Classical and serious practitioners always pick points on the eight extraordinary channels. Four luo points were selected as command points. The luo points are lung 7 for the ren channel, san jiao 5 for the yang wei channel, pericardium 6 for the yin wei channel, and spleen 4 for the chong channel. Creating this new point category and assigning this function to the four luo points created new conditions the luo points could treat. It radically changed the function of the luo points. The luo points could now treat jing, source qi and conditions of the eight extraordinary channels. It seems these four points could treat conditions the source points would classically treat. I believe this new function contributed to the change in how the luo points would be used in the future and is the basis of the source-luo point combination.

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