BL15 (Xīn Shū, “Heart Shu”) is the Back-Shu Point of the Heart point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, in the depression below the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5). It calms the Heart and Spirit, regulates Heart Qi, clears Heart fire, tonifies Heart vacuity, and resolves blood stasis in the chest.
On the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, in the depression below the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5).
Insert obliquely toward the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun deep. Perpendicular or deep oblique insertion carries a risk of pneumothorax.
Calms the Heart and Spirit, regulates Heart Qi, clears Heart fire, tonifies Heart vacuity, and resolves blood stasis in the chest.
Heart pain that radiates to the back, vexation and fullness in the chest, inability to catch one's breath, cough with expectoration of blood, copious saliva, poor appetite, cough with inversion qi, sweating that does not cease, malaria-like conditions, blurry vision, sadness and weeping, memory loss, seminal emission, turbid discharge, jaundice, nosebleed, erysipelas, heart wind patterns with manic running, epilepsy, lying down without being able to turn to the side, agitation and collapse, sweating with red lips, heart vacuity in children leading to inability to speak for years, heart vexation and oppression that refers to the back, heart pain like a cone or knife stabbing, qi (qi binding), heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, chest pain, mania, epilepsy, vomiting, night sweats.
As the Back-Shu point of the Heart, BL15 is a primary point for directly influencing the Heart organ and its associated functions. It is essential for treating a wide range of cardiac and psycho-emotional disorders, from chest pain and palpitations to anxiety, insomnia, and poor memory. The classical debate over moxibustion highlights its powerful effect; while caution is warranted due to its location, moxibustion was considered a vital, life-saving measure in severe cases of Heart yang collapse or wind-stroke.
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 ↗
心腧 在五椎下兩旁開脊中二寸。 （針三分○刺中心一日死其動為噫甲乙經曰禁灸故世醫謂可針不可灸明堂曰。 灸三壯According to this text, BL15 lies on both sides below the fifth vertebra, 2 cun from the spine's centre; needle 3 fen. It warns that piercing the heart brings death within a day, notes that the Jiayi Jing forbids moxa so physicians said it may be needled but not moxibusted, while the Mingtang gives 3 cones.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之六·兼羅集 · 膽寒心驚遺精白濁夜夢鬼交五十八 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
心俞：穴在第五椎下兩旁各一寸五分。 針入一分，沿皮向外一寸半，灸七壯，不可多灸，先補後瀉，不宜多補It is located 1.5 cun on each side below the fifth vertebra, according to this text; BL15 is needled 1 fen and then along the skin outward 1.5 cun, with 7 moxa cones; it warns against much moxa or much tonifying, advising tonifying first and draining after.
《類經圖翼》 Lèijīng Túyì — Illustrated Wings to the Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷七 · 經絡（五） · 足太陽膀胱經穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
千金方言風中心，急灸心俞百壯，服續命湯，又吐逆不得食者灸百壯The text reports that, according to the Qianjin Fang, in wind striking the heart BL15 was urgently moxibusted with 100 cones together with Xuming decoction, and also 100 cones for vomiting with inability to eat.
BL15 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL15 (Xīn Shū) is located on the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, in the depression below the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5).
BL15 calms the Heart and Spirit, regulates Heart Qi, clears Heart fire, tonifies Heart vacuity, and resolves blood stasis in the chest. Common clinical indications include heart pain that radiates to the back, vexation and fullness in the chest, inability to catch one's breath, cough with expectoration of blood, copious saliva, poor appetite, cough with inversion qi, sweating that does not cease, malaria-like conditions, blurry vision, sadness and weeping, memory loss, seminal emission, turbid discharge, jaundice, nosebleed, erysipelas, heart wind patterns with manic running, epilepsy, lying down without being able to turn to the side, agitation and collapse, sweating with red lips, heart vacuity in children leading to inability to speak for years, heart vexation and oppression that refers to the back, heart pain like a cone or knife stabbing, qi (qi binding), heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, chest pain, mania, epilepsy, vomiting, night sweats.
Insert obliquely toward the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun deep. Perpendicular or deep oblique 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. Piercing the heart can cause death within one day. Several classical sources prohibit moxibustion, while others recommend it only in urgent situations. Modern practice requires oblique needling away from the lung field to prevent pneumothorax.
BL15 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).