Verscienta
BL52

Zhishi

Star

志室 (Zhìshì) — Residence of the Will

Bladder channel · point 52

Not yet clinically reviewed

Outer Bladder line — spirit point of the Kidney

Traditionally used for

  • Urinary & fluids
  • Menstrual & women's health
  • Fertility & vitality
  • Pain & joints

Location

On the lower back, 3 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of L2.

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 two spinous processes to L2. The point is 3 cun lateral to the lower border of L2, level with BL23 and GV4.

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

Body map, back: BL52 · Lower back
Fig. — BL52 · Lower back After Albinus, 1747
Body map, back: BL52 · Lower back

BL52 · Lower back · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

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

  1. Oblique insertion
    Depth 0.5–1 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)
  1. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 310 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.8–1.2 cun
Angle: Perpendicular

Functions

  • Tonifies the Kidney and consolidates the essence
  • Regulates urination
  • Strengthens the lower back
  • Fortifies the will and resolve

Indications

Seminal emission and impotencedifficult urination and oedemachronic low back pain and stiffnesslack of willpower and driveirregular menstruation

Clinical Notes

The outer-line spirit point of the Kidney — for the depleted patient whose difficulty is a loss of resolve, not merely fatigue.

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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