BL10 (Tiān Zhù, “Celestial Pillar”) is the Window of Heaven point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located in the posterior neck, in the depression on the lateral border of the trapezius muscle, 1.3 cun lateral to the posterior midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2). It expels wind, clears the head and brain, soothes the sinews, alleviates pain, and benefits the eyes and nose.
In the posterior neck, in the depression on the lateral border of the trapezius muscle, 1.3 cun lateral to the posterior midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2).
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion directed inferiorly and medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Avoid deep or superiorly directed needling to prevent puncturing the spinal canal.
Expels wind, clears the head and brain, soothes the sinews, alleviates pain, and benefits the eyes and nose.
Headache, head spinning, brain pain, feeling of heaviness in the head, sensation that the eyes are falling out, stiff neck, inability to turn the head, shoulder pain as if it will break, sudden convulsions and dizziness, inability of the feet to support the body, tearing, eye pain, redness of the inner canthus, nasal congestion, loss of sense of smell, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, weeping, crying out.
Tianzhù is a primary point for relieving pain and stiffness in the posterior neck, occiput, and shoulders, making it essential for tension headaches and cervical spondylosis. As a 'Window of Heaven' point, it regulates the flow of Qi and blood to the head, addressing dizziness, vertigo, and sensory organ issues like eye pain and nasal congestion. Its ability to expel wind makes it effective for both exterior wind-cold invasions and internal wind patterns such as convulsions.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸逢源》 Zhēnjiǔ Féngyuán — Sources of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Li Xuechuan, 1815 · 卷四 · 經穴考正 · 足太陽膀胱經穴考 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
天柱 在項後髮際大筋外廉陷中。 （針五分。 禁灸）治頭眩腦痛According to this text, BL10 lies in the depression on the outer edge of the large neck muscle at the back hairline; it gives needling of 5 fen, forbids moxa, and records use for dizziness and pain in the head.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
天柱，在俠項後髮際大筋外廉陷者中，足太陽脈氣所發，刺入二分，留六呼，灸三壯It is located in the depression at the outer edge of the large muscle beside the nape at the hairline, according to this text, where the foot taiyang qi emerges; needle 2 fen, retain 6 breaths, moxa 3 cones.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
次灸天柱二處各七壯，穴在項後兩大筋外入發際陷者中是The text records moxibustion of 7 cones on each of the two BL10 points, located in the depressions outside the two large neck muscles just within the hairline.
《扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經》 Biǎn Què Shényìng Zhēnjiǔ Yùlóng Jīng — Bian Que's Jade Dragon Classic of Divinely Responsive Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1329 · 针灸歌 · Source: Wikisource ↗
巨骨更取穴噫嘻，肩背痛兼灸天柱The verse records that for shoulder and back pain, moxibustion at BL10 was added to Jugu and Yixi.
BL10 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL10 (Tiān Zhù) is located in the posterior neck, in the depression on the lateral border of the trapezius muscle, 1.3 cun lateral to the posterior midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2).
BL10 expels wind, clears the head and brain, soothes the sinews, alleviates pain, and benefits the eyes and nose. Common clinical indications include headache, head spinning, brain pain, feeling of heaviness in the head, sensation that the eyes are falling out, stiff neck, inability to turn the head, shoulder pain as if it will break, sudden convulsions and dizziness, inability of the feet to support the body, tearing, eye pain, redness of the inner canthus, nasal congestion, loss of sense of smell, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, weeping, crying out.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion directed inferiorly and medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Avoid deep or superiorly directed needling to prevent puncturing the spinal canal. Caution: Close to the brainstem/spinal cord — never needle deeply or angle superomedially; direct the needle as standard (e.g. toward the opposite eye for GB20). Deep insertion can be fatal. The Huangdi Neijing (Ling Shu) states that for sudden convulsions and dizziness where the feet cannot support the body, one should needle Tianzhu. The modern caution is to avoid deep needling toward the spinal cord.
BL10 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).