BL47

Hunmen

Star

魂門 (Húnmén) — Gate of the Ethereal Soul

Bladder channel · point 47

Not yet clinically reviewed

Outer Bladder line — spirit point of the Liver

Traditionally used for

Digestion
Sleep
Mood & calm
Pain & joints

Location

On the back, 3 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of T9.

How to locate: With the patient seated and the arms hanging relaxed, the inferior angle of the scapula is level with the T7 spinous process; count down two spinous processes to T9. The point is 3 cun lateral to the lower border of T9, level with BL18 and GV8.

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

Body map, back: BL47 · Upper back — Fig. — BL47 · Upper 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

Oblique insertion

Depth 0.3–0.5 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. 307 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.5 cun

Angle: Oblique, directed medially

Functions

Spreads Liver qi and relieves constraint
Harmonises the Spleen and Stomach
Relaxes the sinews
Settles the ethereal soul and restores a sense of direction

Indications

Hypochondriac pain and chest oppressiondepression and lack of direction or purposevomiting and poor digestioninsomnia with restless dreamingback pain

Clinical Notes

The outer-line spirit point of the Liver — indicated where emotional constraint presents as aimlessness rather than irritability.

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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