三陽絡 : Sanyangluo : The Yang Luo (Connection)

Classifications:

Group Luo Point for the Three Arm Yang (Large Intestine, Small Intestine & San Jiao)

Location:

4 cun proximal to Yangchi SJ-4, in the depression between the radius and the ulna, on the radial side of the extensor digitorum communis muscle.

Needling:

Slightly oblique insertion towards the ulnar side or oblique proximal or distal insertion towards the elbow or wrist respectively 0.5 - 1.5 cun.

Warnings:

According to the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and The Illustrated Classic of Acupuncture Points on the Bronze Man this point is contraindicated to needling.

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The hand Yin and Yang receive their Qi via nearby paths so their Qi arrive swiftly. The depth of piercing must not exceed 2 fen and must not remain inserted for longer than one exhalation" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"Needling is prohibited. However, it is moxaed with nine cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Clears the San Jiao channel
Activates the channel and alleviates pain

TCM Indications:

• Sudden deafness, sudden loss of voice, toothache, somnolence, fever, no desire to move the limbs.
  
• Inability to move the arm, pain of the arm, lumbar pain due to traumatic injury.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm from C5 - C8

Dermatome Segment: C6, C7

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Major Combinations:

• SUdden loss of voice:
    Sanyangluo SJ-8 with Yamen Du-15
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Sudden loss of voice:
    Sanyangluo SJ-8 with Zhigou SJ-6 and Tonggu Bl-66
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Sudden deafness:
    Sanyangluo SJ-8 with Yemen SJ-2
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Somnolence with no desire to move the four limbs:
    Sanyangluo SJ-8 with Tianjing SJ-10, Ziwuli Liv-10, Lidui St-45 and Sanjian LI-3
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Pain of the chest and lateral costal region:
    Sanyangluo SJ-8 with Dabao Sp-21, Ximen Pc-4, Yangfu GB-38 and Zulinqi GB-41 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji and Baker, 2001, A Manual of Acupuncture).

Notes:

There is little written about the Group Luo except that they are used in cases where 3 related meridians are imbalanced. The only detailed protocol that could be found was from Pialoux (2008), Guide to Acupuncture and Moxibustion, where it states that they can "switch the energies from one side to the other by tonifying deficiencies and dispersing excesses".

To do this, the Group Luo relating to the type of energy (Yin or Yang) in excess is reduced on the affected side after the opposite Group Luo is tonified on the opposite side. Alternatively a trauma affecting all three channels on one limb could be resolved tonifying all its paired opposites - arm/leg and yin/yang on the same side, the same point on the opposite side, and then reducing the affected Group Luo point (i.e. an injury causing swelling affecting all three leg Yang channels can be resolved by tonifying the Group Yang Luo on the affected side arm and opposite leg, and the Group Yin Luo on the affected side, then reducing the the Group Yang Luo on the affected side).

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here