BL22

Sanjiaoshu

Star

三焦俞 (Sānjiāoshū) — Triple Energiser Shu

Bladder channel · point 22

Not yet clinically reviewed

Back-Shu point of the Triple Energiser

Traditionally used for

Digestion
Bowel health
Urinary & fluids
Pain & joints

Location

On the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of L1.

How to locate: With the patient prone, the line joining the highest points of the iliac crests usually crosses the L4 spinous process (this shifts with posture); count up three spinous processes to L1. The point is 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the L1 spinous process, on the crest of the paraspinal muscles.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, back: BL22 · Lower back — Fig. — BL22 · Lower back After Albinus, 1747

The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate — The vertebral column Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Techniques — the source gives these as alternatives:

Oblique insertion — towards the spine

Depth 1–1.5 cun

skindeeper
Perpendicular-oblique insertion — towards the spine

Depth 1–1.5 cun

skindeeper

Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.

Sources (1)

Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 281 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.5–1.0 cun

Angle: Perpendicular or slightly oblique

Functions

Regulates the Triple Energiser
Opens the water passages, promotes urination and reduces oedema
Harmonises the middle and lower burners
Strengthens the lower back

Indications

Oedema and difficult urinationabdominal distension and borborygmusvomiting and diarrhoealumbar pain and stiffness

Similar Points

Ranked by shared patterns and conditions

Yinlingquan how are these connected? Sanyinjiao how are these connected? Zhongji how are these connected? Pishu how are these connected? Taibai how are these connected? Zhongwan how are these connected?

Sources

World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)

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