Glossary

A group of points originally part of a separate set of collateral meridians defined as the network of visible superficial blood vessels. They were diagnosed by observing for distended, broken or unusually coloured regions along their associated pathway and treated with bloodletting to release stagnation and Heat from their channels and associated Zangfu. Since the Shen is anchored in the Blood and disturbed by excess Heat they are also strongly indicated for psycho-emotional disorders and may have derived from the instinct for self-harm (in excess, but maybe also fear of harm in deficiency conditions) that accompanies many psychological disorders. They formed an important part of Nei Jing acupuncture but have largely fallen out of use in modern TCM where they are often reduced to the single point along the primary meridian's trajectory where they are said to branch from to move Blood, clear Heat and calm the Shen. They are rarely bled today and often located at specific locations instead of where the blood vessels are visible although some neo-classical schools use Plum Blossom needles or lancets for this purpose. The main protocol for which they are still used is called the "guest-host method" where the Yuan-source point of the affected Zangfu is paired with the Luo-connecting point of the of its Interior-Exterior pair through the "transverse Luo" channel that connects them. If the Zangfu is in excess it is drained by reducing the Yuan-source point and then tonifying the Luo, if deficient the opposite. It is as though the excess is drained from the Zangfu, filling the Luo, or emptying the Luo to nourish the Zangfu.