Stomach Luo-Connecting Channel

The Stomach Luo-connecting channel explains, to acupuncturists, why Stomach 40, Fenglong, is so often useful.

Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott

June 30, 2020

Although it’s a secondary channel, where the Stomach Luo-connecting channel goes explains to acupuncturists why the acupuncture point Fenglong, Stomach 40, is so useful.

Note to readers! …

This page is a bit abstruse if you’re a beginner. It’s not that the words are any, or at least, much, more difficult than on other pages, but this is about a subject usually taught some way into acupuncture courses.

So some of the concepts need your familiarity with other ideas in Chinese medicine.

Actually, I did this page, and other luo-connecting channel pages, for a few insistent patients, and for me.

It means I can look up both the channel and its symptoms on my smartphone in case I forget them!

If it helps others, well, all the better!

For more information about this type of acupuncture channel, click on luo-connecting channels.

Pathway of the Stomach Luo-connecting channel

Stomach Luo-connecting channel pathway — Stomach-luo

The Stomach Luo channel commences at Fenglong, Stomach 40, on the leg, lateral to the shin-bone.
It then joins the primary channel of its Earth partner, the Spleen.
Separately to that, it extends up the leg, across the torso, to the nape of the neck.
From the neck it then flows to the throat.
From the neck it then also joins up with other channels and enters the head.

Symptoms of Stomach Luo connecting channel

Symptoms of ….

Fullness: ‘fullness’ means states that alternate between manic ‘fire-excess’ symptoms and their opposite, withdrawal and cutting-off
Emptiness: shin flesh and muscles, especially those at the front, emaciate or lose their substance. This means that feet musculature loses its tone and shape. As with all conditions of emptiness like this, other points – often local to the condition – along the primary channel may be needed to direct the Qi to where it is needed.
Counter-flow Qi (ie Qi not flowing its ‘natural’ way, in this case, downwards): this means you get throat pain or blockage, and loss of voice – aphasia.

Wrong Way, like Counterflow — Consequences of doing things the wrong way – Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Wind: ‘wind’ means dislike of cold, with fever, sore throat, swelling of tonsils, and aching jaw (alternatively, paralysis or numbness of the face)
Damp: dislike of cold, with fever. Nausea and vomiting. Feeling of heaviness in the epigastrium; swollen neck glands.
Cold: pain, vomiting, severe epigastric pain
For more, see Stomach 40.

Comment on Stomach Luo connecting channel

The Stomach luo pathway explains its potential:
This is a calming point for mental/emotional stress, including mania
Clears phlegm from the head, as in mental confusion and anxiety, but also the foggy state you feel during a bad cold, AND the actual phlegm-catarrh you get that blocks your nose and sinuses.
I’ve also found that it helps some people whose ears block, or seem to block, on sudden changes in altitude.
A good point for use where you’ve lost your voice, especially if from emotions or anxiety affecting the Stomach
Pain in the neck associated with Stomach channel problems
A useful point for phlegm causing neck-area glandular swellings, as in the thyroid in goitre, if the Stomach channel or Stomach and Spleen zang-fu are involved