BL11 (Dà Zhù, “Great Shuttle”) is the Eight Influential Point (Hui-Meeting of the Bones) point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the upper back, in a depression 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1). It releases the exterior and dispels wind, strengthens the bones and sinews, regulates Lung qi, clears heat, and calms the spirit.
On the upper back, in a depression 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1).
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of pneumothorax.
Releases the exterior and dispels wind, strengthens the bones and sinews, regulates Lung qi, clears heat, and calms the spirit.
Headache, head wind, neck stiffness, inability to look up or down, pain in the lumbar spine and back, knee pain with difficulty flexing and extending, cough, laboring qi, fever and chills, body heat, vexing fullness, internal urgency, restlessness, inability to stand for long, stiffness and falling, tetany with qi excess and fullness in the hypochondrium, muscle spasms, epilepsy, mania, convulsions, aversion to wind and cold, absence of sweating in febrile disease, dizziness, chest fullness, abdominal pain.
As the Hui-Meeting point of the Bones, Dazhu is a primary point for any bone disorder, including pain, stiffness, and structural issues throughout the spine and joints. Its location at the top of the back makes it crucial for expelling exterior wind-cold, treating headache, neck rigidity, and the initial stages of febrile disease. It also has a notable effect on calming the spirit and treating convulsions or epilepsy, especially when related to sinew tension.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
大杼第一节外一寸半陷中。 针三分禁灸According to this text, BL11 lies in the depression 1.5 cun lateral to the first vertebra; it gives needling of 3 fen and states that moxibustion is forbidden.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之八·陰陽臟腑部 · 穴法下 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
大杼二穴，在項後第一椎下兩旁，相去各一寸五分陷中，手足太陽之會。 針入五分，可灸七壯It is located on both sides below the first vertebra at the back of the neck, 1.5 cun from the midline, according to this text, as a meeting point of the hand and foot taiyang; needle 5 fen, moxa up to 7 cones.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷07 · Source: Wikisource ↗
頸項痛不可以俯仰，頭痛振寒，瘈瘲，氣實則脅滿，俠脊有寒氣，熱，汗不出，腰背痛，大杼主之The text records that BL11 was used for neck pain preventing bending forward and back, headache with shivering, convulsions, fullness of the flanks from excess qi, cold qi along the spine, fever without sweating, and low back pain.
《脈經》 Màijīng — The Pulse Classic, c. 280 CE · 卷07 · Source: Wikisource ↗
太陽與少陽並病，頭痛，頸項強而眩，時如結胸，心下痞堅，當刺大杼第一間The text records that in combined taiyang and shaoyang disease, with headache, stiff neck and dizziness, at times like chest binding and a hard fullness below the heart, one should needle BL11 at the first intervertebral space.
BL11 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL11 (Dà Zhù) is located on the upper back, in a depression 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1).
BL11 releases the exterior and dispels wind, strengthens the bones and sinews, regulates Lung qi, clears heat, and calms the spirit. Common clinical indications include headache, head wind, neck stiffness, inability to look up or down, pain in the lumbar spine and back, knee pain with difficulty flexing and extending, cough, laboring qi, fever and chills, body heat, vexing fullness, internal urgency, restlessness, inability to stand for long, stiffness and falling, tetany with qi excess and fullness in the hypochondrium, muscle spasms, epilepsy, mania, convulsions, aversion to wind and cold, absence of sweating in febrile disease, dizziness, chest fullness, abdominal pain.
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of pneumothorax. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall. The Su Wen warns against deep needling of back shu points, stating that puncturing the Lung can be fatal. The Ming Tang Jing forbids moxibustion on this point.
BL11 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).