BL20 (Pí Shū, “Spleen Shu”) is the Back-Shu of the Spleen point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, below the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11). It tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves dampness, regulates the middle jiao, nourishes the blood, and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, below the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11).
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Perpendicular insertion is also used, but care must be taken to avoid puncturing the lung, especially in thin patients.
Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves dampness, regulates the middle jiao, nourishes the blood, and harmonizes Qi and Blood.
Jaundice, frequent yawning, poor appetite, fullness under the ribs, desire to vomit, body heaviness, disinclination to move, lassitude of the four limbs, accumulations of evil qi, abdominal pain, alternating fever and chills, abdominal distention, diarrhea, undigested food in stool, emaciation despite eating, abdominal masses (pi ji), accumulation and gathering, phlegm-malaria with cold and heat, edema, bloating with pain radiating to the spine, spleen cold, spleen distention, tetanus with fever, wasting and thirst (xiao ke),consumptive disease with hematuria and seminal emission, feeling of sadness in the heart, body swelling, urinary retention or difficult urination, coldness in the four limbs, indigestion, muscle wasting in children.
As the Back-Shu point of the Spleen, Pishu is the primary point for treating any Spleen-related disorder, whether deficient or excess. The classical texts emphasize its role in treating digestive issues like poor appetite, abdominal distention, and diarrhea, as well as its crucial function in resolving dampness, evidenced by its use for jaundice, edema, and body heaviness. Its application extends to conditions of malnourishment, such as emaciation and consumptive disease, highlighting its fundamental role in regulating post-natal Qi and Blood.
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 ↗
脾腧 在十一椎下兩旁開脊中二寸。 （針三分。 灸三壯○刺中脾十日死其動為吞）治內傷脾胃吐瀉痰瘧According to this text, BL20 lies on both sides below the eleventh vertebra, 2 cun from the spine's centre; needle 3 fen, moxa 3 cones. It warns that piercing the spleen leads to death in ten days, the sign being swallowing, and records use for internal damage of spleen and stomach, vomiting and diarrhoea, and phlegm malaria.
《針灸資生經》 Zhēnjiǔ Zīshēng Jīng — Classic of Nourishing Life with Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1220 · Source: Wikisource ↗
脾俞 二穴．在十一椎下兩旁各寸半．針三分．留七呼．灸三壯．It is located 1.5 cun on each side below the eleventh vertebra, according to this text; BL20 is needled 3 fen, retained 7 breaths, with 3 moxa cones.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷26 · Source: Wikisource ↗
脾中風者，其人但踞坐而腹滿，視身通黃口吐涎汁尚可治，灸脾俞百壯，急服續命湯The text records that in spleen wind-stroke, with the patient squatting and abdominal fullness, if the whole body is yellow and the mouth spits saliva the case was still considered treatable; BL20 was moxibusted with 100 cones and Xuming decoction given urgently.
BL20 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL20 (Pí Shū) is located on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline, below the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11).
BL20 tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, resolves dampness, regulates the middle jiao, nourishes the blood, and harmonizes Qi and Blood. Common clinical indications include jaundice, frequent yawning, poor appetite, fullness under the ribs, desire to vomit, body heaviness, disinclination to move, lassitude of the four limbs, accumulations of evil qi, abdominal pain, alternating fever and chills, abdominal distention, diarrhea, undigested food in stool, emaciation despite eating, abdominal masses (pi ji), accumulation and gathering, phlegm-malaria with cold and heat, edema, bloating with pain radiating to the spine, spleen cold, spleen distention, tetanus with fever, wasting and thirst (xiao ke),consumptive disease with hematuria and seminal emission, feeling of sadness in the heart, body swelling, urinary retention or difficult urination, coldness in the four limbs, indigestion, muscle wasting in children.
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Perpendicular insertion is also used, but care must be taken to avoid puncturing the lung, especially in thin patients. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall. The Su Wen states that needling too deeply and piercing the Spleen can cause death in ten days.
BL20 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).