BL22 (Sān Jiāo Shū, “Sān Jiāo Shū”) is the Back-Shu Point 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 first lumbar vertebra (L1). The classics locate this point below the thirteenth vertebra. It regulates the San Jiao, resolves dampness, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the lower back, and dispels pathogenic factors.
On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first lumbar vertebra (L1). The classics locate this point below the thirteenth vertebra.
Insert obliquely toward the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Perpendicular insertion of 1.0 to 1.5 cun is also used, but caution is required to avoid injuring the kidney.
Regulates the San Jiao, resolves dampness, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the lower back, and dispels pathogenic factors.
Headache, inability to eat, abdominal pain, desire for diarrhea, abdominal distention, borborygmus, vomiting, diarrhea, undigested food in stool, shoulder and back stiffness, stiff lumbar spine, inability to bend forward or backward, dizziness, emaciation despite eating, urinary disorders, edema, bloody urine, turbid urine, seminal emission, consumptive disease (lao), weakness and emaciation, accumulation and gathering disorders of the five and six Fu-organs, fullness of the heart and abdomen, pain in the lower back and back, vomiting and counterflow, alternating chills and fever, scanty qi, urinary retention, jaundice, dysentery, intestinal rumbling.
As the Back-Shu point of the San Jiao, this point is fundamental for regulating the transformation and transportation of fluids and food throughout the body. It is classically indicated for a wide range of digestive disorders, from poor appetite and abdominal distention to borborygmus and diarrhea, reflecting its role in harmonizing the Middle and Lower Burners. Its use for edema, urinary issues, and emaciation further highlights its function in managing fluid metabolism and nourishing the body. Additionally, it is a key local point for stiffness and pain of the lumbar spine and back.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷27 · Source: Wikisource ↗
小腹堅大如盤盂，胸腹中脹滿，飲食不消，婦人症聚瘦瘠，灸三焦俞百壯，三報之The text records that for a hard lower abdomen as large as a basin, distension of chest and abdomen, undigested food, and in women abdominal masses with emaciation, BL22 was moxibusted with 100 cones, repeated three times.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷中 · 揹人形第五 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
三焦俞 二穴，在十三椎下兩旁各一寸半，正坐取之陷者中，灸五壯。 主背痛，身熱，腹脹腸鳴，腰脊急強也The text records that BL22, 1.5 cun on each side below the thirteenth vertebra in a depression found sitting upright, was moxibusted with 5 cones for back pain, body heat, abdominal distension with borborygmi and stiffness of the lumbar spine.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 背自第一椎兩旁夾脊各一寸五分下至節凡四十四穴第八 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
三焦俞二穴，竇氏禁灸。 主臟腑積聚脹滿，羸瘦，不能飲食，吐逆飧泄，腸鳴，目眩頭痛，肩背痛，腰脊強，不能俯仰The text notes that Master Dou forbade moxibustion at BL22, and records its use for accumulations and distension of the organs, emaciation, inability to eat and drink, vomiting and diarrhoea with undigested food, borborygmi, dizziness and headache, shoulder and back pain, and a stiff lumbar spine unable to bend.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷八 · Source: Wikisource ↗
三焦俞 十三椎下兩旁，相去脊各一寸五分，正坐取之。 銅人針五分，留七呼， 灸三壯，明堂針三分，灸五壯It is located on both sides below the thirteenth vertebra, 1.5 cun from the spine, found sitting upright, according to this text; the Tongren gives needling 5 fen retained 7 breaths with 3 moxa cones, the Mingtang 3 fen with 5 cones.
BL22 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL22 (Sān Jiāo Shū) is located on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the first lumbar vertebra (L1). The classics locate this point below the thirteenth vertebra.
BL22 regulates the San Jiao, resolves dampness, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the lower back, and dispels pathogenic factors. Common clinical indications include headache, inability to eat, abdominal pain, desire for diarrhea, abdominal distention, borborygmus, vomiting, diarrhea, undigested food in stool, shoulder and back stiffness, stiff lumbar spine, inability to bend forward or backward, dizziness, emaciation despite eating, urinary disorders, edema, bloody urine, turbid urine, seminal emission, consumptive disease (lao), weakness and emaciation, accumulation and gathering disorders of the five and six Fu-organs, fullness of the heart and abdomen, pain in the lower back and back, vomiting and counterflow, alternating chills and fever, scanty qi, urinary retention, jaundice, dysentery, intestinal rumbling.
Insert obliquely toward the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Perpendicular insertion of 1.0 to 1.5 cun is also used, but caution is required to avoid injuring the kidney. Caution: Overlies the thoracic cavity — risk of PNEUMOTHORAX. Needle obliquely or transversely, never deeply or perpendicularly toward the chest wall.
BL22 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).