BL21 (Wèi Shū, “Stomach Shu”) is the Back-Shu of the Stomach point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12). It harmonizes the Stomach, regulates the Middle Jiao, transforms dampness, and tonifies Stomach Qi and Yin.
On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12).
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of injuring the kidney.
Harmonizes the Stomach, regulates the Middle Jiao, transforms dampness, and tonifies Stomach Qi and Yin.
Abdominal pain, stomach cold, abdominal distention, abdominal fullness and rumbling, poor appetite, eating a lot but the body is emaciated, emaciation, vomiting, vomiting food, regurgitation of food, cholera, chest and hypochondriac fullness, back pain, muscle spasms, failure of infants to develop muscle and skin, dim vision, dragon-type carbuncle on the back.
As the Back-Shu point of the Stomach, BL21 is a primary point for a wide range of gastric disorders, whether excess or deficient, hot or cold. It is particularly effective for conditions of Stomach Cold and Dampness, manifesting as abdominal distention, poor appetite, and loose stools. It is also a key point for tonifying the Stomach in chronic conditions leading to emaciation, such as failure to thrive in children or wasting and thirsting disorder.
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09 · Source: Wikisource ↗
胸脅滿，嘔吐，脊急痛，筋攣，食不下，胃俞主之The text records that BL21 was used for fullness of chest and flanks, vomiting, acute spinal pain, sinew spasms and inability to get food down.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
胃俞十二节外一寸半，针三分，灸三壮。 主胁满脊痛，腹胀腹痛，肠鸣，呕吐不食，筋脉挛急According to this text, BL21 lies 1.5 cun lateral to the twelfth vertebra; needle 3 fen, moxa 3 cones. It records use for flank fullness, spinal pain, abdominal distension and pain, borborygmi, vomiting with inability to eat, and spasm of sinews and vessels.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷中 · 揹人形第二 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
胃俞 二穴，在第十二椎下兩旁各一寸半宛宛中，灸七壯。 主胃中寒氣不能食，胸脅支滿，身羸瘦，背中氣上下行，腰脊痛，腹中鳴也The text records that BL21, in the hollow 1.5 cun on each side below the twelfth vertebra, was moxibusted with 7 cones for cold qi in the stomach with inability to eat, propping fullness of chest and flanks, emaciation, qi moving up and down the back, lumbar and spinal pain and rumbling in the abdomen.
BL21 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL21 (Wèi Shū) is located on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12).
BL21 harmonizes the Stomach, regulates the Middle Jiao, transforms dampness, and tonifies Stomach Qi and Yin. Common clinical indications include abdominal pain, stomach cold, abdominal distention, abdominal fullness and rumbling, poor appetite, eating a lot but the body is emaciated, emaciation, vomiting, vomiting food, regurgitation of food, cholera, chest and hypochondriac fullness, back pain, muscle spasms, failure of infants to develop muscle and skin, dim vision, dragon-type carbuncle on the back.
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of injuring the kidney. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall.
BL21 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).