BL36

Chengfu

Star

承扶 (Chéngfú) — Support

Bladder channel · point 36

Not yet clinically reviewed

Traditionally used for

Bowel health
Urinary & fluids
Nerves & recovery
Pain & joints

Location

On the back of the thigh, at the midpoint of the gluteal crease.

How to locate: With the patient prone and the buttocks relaxed, the point lies at the centre of the transverse gluteal fold, where the buttock meets the back of the thigh.

Regional anatomy: Skin and subcutaneous tissue at the lower border of gluteus maximus, then between the long head of biceps femoris and semitendinosus; the sciatic nerve runs deep beneath, so strong radiating sensation is expected and forceful manipulation is avoided.

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

Body map, back: BL36 · Thigh — Fig. — BL36 · Thigh After Albinus, 1747

The femur — Gray's Anatomy plate — The femur Gray's Anatomy, 1918 Marker hidden while its position on this plate is re-checked.

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Perpendicular insertion

Depth 1–2 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. 296 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 1.0–2.0 cun

Angle: Perpendicular

Functions

Activates the channel and relieves pain of the buttock and thigh
Relaxes the sinews
Regulates the lower burner and benefits the anus

Indications

Sciatica and pain of the buttock and posterior thighlow back painhaemorrhoidsdifficult urinationnumbness and weakness of the leg

Balance Method partners

Under Dr. Tan's six systems, BL36 at the thigh balances these channels at the regions its segment images.

1. Same Chinese name

Small Intestine channel

Upper arm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Forearm · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Small Intestine channel →
2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)

Lung channel

Upper arm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Forearm · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Lung channel →
3. Interior–exterior pair

Kidney channel

Thigh · Same segment, opposite side
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Kidney channel →
4. Chinese clock opposite

Lung channel

Upper arm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Forearm · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Lung channel →
5. Chinese clock neighbour

Small Intestine channel

Upper arm · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)
Forearm · Reversed mirror
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Small Intestine channel →
6. Same channel

Bladder channel

Thigh · Same segment, opposite side
Lower abdomen, Sacrum · Image, head at the hand/foot
Solve for the Bladder channel →

Combinations Using This Point

Huantiao and Chengfu

GB30 and BL36 at the buttock and gluteal fold — for low back and leg pain, sciatica, leg weakness and numbness, and hemiplegia.

Similar Points

Chengling 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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