BL2 (Zǎn Zhú, “Gathered Bamboo”) is an acupuncture point on the Bladder Meridian. It is located in the palpable depression at the medial end of the eyebrow, directly superior to the inner canthus of the eye. It expels wind and clears heat from the head and eyes, brightens the eyes, calms the spirit, and alleviates pain.
In the palpable depression at the medial end of the eyebrow, directly superior to the inner canthus of the eye.
Transverse insertion, either subcutaneously inferiorly towards the eye for local issues, or superiorly towards Yuyao. Depth is typically 0.3-0.5 cun. Pricking to bleed is also common for acute conditions.
Expels wind and clears heat from the head and eyes, brightens the eyes, calms the spirit, and alleviates pain.
Headache, wind headache, facial pain, cheek pain, eye pain, red and painful eyes, blurry vision, excessive tearing, twitching eyelids, itchy pupils, inability to sleep due to eyelid twitching, wind dizziness, sneezing, hemorrhoid pain, corpse-like collapse (shi jue), epilepsy, mania, spirit possession, demonic haunting, convulsions, madly running about, inability to sleep, child's epilepsy with upward-staring eyes, neck rigidity, inability to look around, facial redness.
Zan Zhu is a primary point for a wide range of eye disorders, particularly those involving wind, heat, pain, and redness. Its location at the head of the eyebrow makes it effective for frontal headaches and sinus issues. The classical emphasis on its use for severe psycho-emotional and neurological conditions like mania, epilepsy, and spirit possession highlights its powerful function in calming the spirit and clearing disturbances from the head.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷07 · Source: Wikisource ↗
頭風痛，鼻鼽衄，眉頭痛，善嚏，目如飲脫，汗出寒熱，面赤頰中痛，項椎不可左右顧，目系急，瘈瘲，攢竹主之The text records that BL2 was used for head-wind pain, nasal congestion and nosebleed, pain at the brows, frequent sneezing, eyes feeling as if bulging out, sweating with chills and fever, red face and cheek pain, inability to turn the neck, tightness of the eye connectors and convulsions.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷上 · 正人形第十六 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
攢竹 二穴，在眉頭陷者中，灸一壯。 主頭目風眩，眉頭痛，鼻鼽衄，目䀮䀮無遠見The text records that BL2, in the depression at the inner end of the eyebrow, was moxibusted with 1 cone for wind dizziness of head and eyes, pain at the brows, nasal congestion and nosebleed, and dim vision unable to see far.
《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 ↗
攢竹二穴，在兩眉頭少陷中，足太陽脈氣所發。 不宜灸，針入一分，宜以細三稜針刺之，宣泄熱氣According to this text, BL2 lies in the slight depression at the inner end of each eyebrow, where the foot taiyang qi emerges; moxibustion is not advised, it is needled 1 fen, and a fine three-edged needle is recommended to release heat qi.
《針灸大全》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàquán — Complete Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Xu Feng, 1439 · 卷之一 · 治病十一證歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
攢竹絲竹主頭疼，偏正皆宜向此針The verse records that BL2 together with Sizhukong was used for headache, whether one-sided or general, and that needling these points was considered suitable.
BL2 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL2 (Zǎn Zhú) is located in the palpable depression at the medial end of the eyebrow, directly superior to the inner canthus of the eye.
BL2 expels wind and clears heat from the head and eyes, brightens the eyes, calms the spirit, and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include headache, wind headache, facial pain, cheek pain, eye pain, red and painful eyes, blurry vision, excessive tearing, twitching eyelids, itchy pupils, inability to sleep due to eyelid twitching, wind dizziness, sneezing, hemorrhoid pain, corpse-like collapse (shi jue), epilepsy, mania, spirit possession, demonic haunting, convulsions, madly running about, inability to sleep, child's epilepsy with upward-staring eyes, neck rigidity, inability to look around, facial redness.
Transverse insertion, either subcutaneously inferiorly towards the eye for local issues, or superiorly towards Yuyao. Depth is typically 0.3-0.5 cun. Pricking to bleed is also common for acute conditions. Caution: Adjacent to the eyeball — press the globe aside, insert slowly without lifting/thrusting or rotating; do not needle deeply. Bruising is common. Most classical sources advise against moxibustion at this point. Needling should be done with care to avoid the orbit and major blood vessels.
BL2 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).