Treating Painful Bi Syndromes with

Channel Layers and

Ling Shu Needle Protocols
By

Jack Schaefer, L.Ac.

Leading Acupuncture CE Provider

For On Demand CEU/PDA in the office, at home or on the go.
Choose from videos, audio, articles or streaming Live webinars.

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715
Tel: 626-780-7182 Fax: 626- 363-9751
Website: www.eLotus.org Email: info@elotus.org

www.eLotus.org
LEARN THE SCIENCE. PRACTICE THE ART. HEAL.

Treating Painful Bi syndromes

with Channel Layers, and Ling
Shu Needle techniques
Jack D. Schaefer LAc

A modern
d
use off classical
l
i l ttechniques.
h i

Tel: (626) 780-7182 Fax: (626) 363-9751

Web: www.elotus.org Email: info@elotus.org

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715

Shall not be copied, duplicated, or distributed in any format or be used for teaching without prior written consent from Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

The Huangdi Neijing states that,
Diseases include [those] at the surface and [others] in
the depth; piercing includes shallow [piercing] and
deep [piercing]. Always go to the respective structures
[skin, flesh, the vessels, the sinews, and the bones]
When [the proper measure of] shallow or deep
[piercing] is not achieved, contrary [to ones intentions]
this will cause severe injury and excite the five depots
[zang organs] internally. (Unschuld)

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

When treating bi-impediments, not only should we
identify the pathogen type:
Cold, wind, heat, damp, trauma etc.
Type of channel where the pathogen is located.
y
Most commonly:
Luo
Superficial minute luo
Luo connecting channel
Sinew channels
Primary channels

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

When evil settles in the physical appearance, it will
first lodge in the skin and hair. It stays there [for a
while] and does not leave. Then it enters [more deeply]
and lodges in the tertiary vessels. It stays there [for a
while] and does not leave. Then it enters [further] and
lodges in the network vessels [luo-connecting
channels]. It stays there [for a while] and does not
leave. Then it enters [further] and lodges in the conduit
vessels. It links up with the five depots [zang] internally
and spreads into the intestines and the stomach. With
both the yin and yang [regions] being affected, the five
depots will be harmed.(Unschuld)

Channel Anatomy
Think in 3
Dimensions

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715

Tel: 626-780-7182 Fax: 626-363-9751 Website: www.eLotus.org Email: info@eLotus.org
Shall not be copied, duplicated, or distributed in any format or be used for teaching without prior written consent from Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Photo from Maciaocia

Luo Vessels
The Ling Shu basically says that pathogens enter
the skin which is where the minute luo vessels are.
If the skin is relaxed they move into luo channel.
Minute luo and the luo vessels are the first place bi
impediments start.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Luo Channel Diagnosis

Sinew Channels

Visual
Color: Red, Blue/green, Black

Palpation
Nodules, stiffness or hardness

Other symptoms
Numbness, paralysis, duration

Once the pathogen has passed through the luo

vessels it reaches the sinew channels.
Sinew channels primarily govern movement and
physical
h i l protection.
t ti
The majority of sinew channel pathologies are
excess stagnation type
Cold, heat, damp, wind etc
Trauma, or taxation stagnation

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Sinew Channel Diagnosis
Symptom:
Muscle stiffness, pain, etc. along the pathways.
Pain with movement
Pain at binding points

Referenced in Deadman etc.

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715

Tel: 626-780-7182 Fax: 626-363-9751 Website: www.eLotus.org Email: info@eLotus.org
Shall not be copied, duplicated, or distributed in any format or be used for teaching without prior written consent from Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Primary Channels
By the time a bi impediment is in the primary channels
there should be some symptoms in the pulse, tongue, or
zang fu.
Primary channels symptoms happen later than the luo and
sinew channel symptoms
symptoms.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Luo Vessels
Luo ci (luo-connecting needling): piercing the minute
luo-connecting vessels superficially using a lancet or a
filiform needle to drain small amounts of blood from
vessels affected by blood stasis or heat. Plum blossom
needle technique falls into this category
category.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Luo Vessels
Mao ci (Hair needling) and Zhi Ci (Straight needling):
Cont

The shallowness of this technique protects the tissues

below and allows pathogens to exit. Treats superficial
obstruction and cold causing numbness or pain.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Chapter 7, Guan Zhen , known as the chapter
on Official Needling, is really a summary of various
techniques.
When we look closely at the techniques and what they
are recommended to treat we can also infer which
channel layer they are treating.
They are mostly for excesses of cold, damp, heat, blood
stasis etc.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Luo Vessels
Mao ci (Hair needling) and Zhi Ci (Straight
needling): both techniques are performed by
grasping and lifting the skin and needling
superficially at a transverse angle without penetrating
the muscle below.
below Maoci is done with a finer gauge
needle than zhici.
These methods can be used either to drain the
minute luo-connecting vessels in the skin, or to
drain the luo-connecting points along the primary
channels. Once the needle is inserted a
dispersing technique is usually used.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Sinew Channels
Fen ci (divide needling): needling the
areas where muscles are thick and show
clear bands of tightness or muscle spasm.
This is an ashi technique that focuses on
needling palpable bands of tension in the
muscle belly.
Insert the needle at the edge of the
muscle and needle across the muscle
fibers in the area of most tension or pain.

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715

Tel: 626-780-7182 Fax: 626-363-9751 Website: www.eLotus.org Email: info@eLotus.org
Shall not be copied, duplicated, or distributed in any format or be used for teaching without prior written consent from Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Sinew Channels
Huici (extending needling): a probing technique where
the needle is inserted perpendicularly, then directed
obliquely in four directions away from the insertion.

In order to protect the primary channel below the needle

must stay superficial to its depth
depth.

Treats tendon bi, muscle spasms tension muscles that

become knotted or tight.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Primary Channels
Local distal combinations.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Sinew Channels
Hegu ci (valley needling): three needles are
inserted in the shape of a chicken claw - one
straight into an ashi point and one to the left and
right of this. Then, holding the handles of all of
th needles
dl th
ti l t d as a single
i l unit
it
the
they are stimulated
using a shaking motion.
This should be used in areas where muscles
are thick, particularly in areas such as the
upper back where probing would be difficult
or dangerous, in which case all the needles
would be directed slightly transversely.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

Primary Channels
Local distal combinations.

Local points in the area of the disease

Duan ci (gradual needling): Gradually insert and
wave the needle to the bone. Then move the needle
up and down touching the bone
bone.Distal
Distal based on point
category.

Local points in the area of the disease

Shu ci (dredging needling): Insert the needle
perpendicularly and deeply followed by immediate
withdraw Clears heat
withdraw.
heat.

Bi Syndromes and Channel Layers

The take home is that you need to treat the
pathogen or problem where it is.
Luo vessels are shallow

Contact:
Jack Schaefer: jack.d.schaefer@gmail.com

transverse, dispersing, bleeding

Sinew channels are deeper

p

oblique, dispersing

Primary channels are the deepest.

perpendicular, dispersing, etc

Reference:

A Multi-Level Channel Modelfor Treating Bi-Impediment Syndromes

with Acupuncture. Journal of Chinese Medicine Number 107
February 2015.

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, PO Box 92493, City of Industry, CA 91715

Tel: 626-780-7182 Fax: 626-363-9751 Website: www.eLotus.org Email: info@eLotus.org
Shall not be copied, duplicated, or distributed in any format or be used for teaching without prior written consent from Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine.