BL23 (Shèn Shū, “Shèn Shū”) is the Back-Shu of the Kidney point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2). This level is generally horizontal with the umbilicus. It tonifies Kidney Qi, Yin, and Yang, strengthens the lower back, benefits the ears, regulates the water passages, and strengthens the reproductive system.
On the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2). This level is generally horizontal with the umbilicus.
Perpendicular-oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.5 cun. Deep perpendicular insertion carries a risk of injuring the kidney.
Tonifies Kidney Qi, Yin, and Yang, strengthens the lower back, benefits the ears, regulates the water passages, and strengthens the reproductive system.
Virtual consumption and emaciation, deafness, Kidney deficiency, chronic cold of the water organ (Kidney), abdominal fullness and distension, fullness and pain in the two flanks drawing to the lower abdomen, intestinal rumbling, borborygmus, diarrhea with undigested food, urinary dripping, turbid urine, bloody urine, seminal emission, dream emission, Kidney wind, sitting with a bent waist, lower back pain, thirst, five taxations and seven injuries, exhaustion, stiffness and pain in the knees, coldness of the lower back as if sitting in water, head heaviness, body heat, shivering and chills, eating a lot but remaining thin, yellow-black facial complexion, intestinal rumbling, weakness and cold in the four limbs, edema like water, cold and heat, abdominal pain, qi inversion with heart pain, stomach cold and distension, hiccups, lower back pain that prevents bending or extending, jaundice, bone and joint cold and heat, difficult urination, tetanus with heat, chronic cough, shortness of breath, turbid and red urine, lower back and body soreness, epilepsy,pain that pulls between the lower back and abdomen, heaviness in the lower limbs, inability to eat, malaria.
As the Back-Shu point of the Kidney, BL23 is a paramount point for tonifying all aspects of the Kidney system, including Qi, Yin, Yang, and Essence. It is a primary choice for chronic lower back pain due to deficiency, as well as a wide range of constitutional issues like fatigue, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and developmental disorders. Its use in treating edema, urinary problems, and deafness reflects its role in governing water metabolism and opening to the ears.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《諸病源候論》 Zhūbìng Yuánhòu Lùn — Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases, Chao Yuanfang, 610 · 一、中风候 · Source: Wikisource ↗
肾中风，踞而腰痛，视胁左右，未有黄色如饼粢大者可治，急灸肾俞百壮The text records that in kidney wind-stroke with squatting and lumbar pain, if no cake-sized yellow patches appear on either flank the case was considered treatable, and BL23 was promptly moxibusted with 100 cones.
《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 ↗
腎腧 在十四椎下兩旁。 開脊中二寸前與臍平。 （針三分。 灸隨年壯○刺中腎六日死其動為嚏）治虛勞羸瘦According to this text, BL23 lies on both sides below the fourteenth vertebra, 2 cun from the spine's centre, level with the navel in front; needle 3 fen, moxa as many cones as the patient's years. It warns that piercing the kidney leads to death in six days, the sign being sneezing, and records use for consumptive weakness and emaciation.
《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 ↗
腎腧二穴，在第十四椎下兩旁，相去脊中各一寸五分，與臍平。 針入三分，留七呼，灸隨年壯It is located on both sides below the fourteenth vertebra, 1.5 cun from the spine's centre and level with the navel, according to this text; BL23 is needled 3 fen, retained 7 breaths, with moxa cones matching the patient's age.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷08 · Source: Wikisource ↗
久喘咳，少氣，溺濁赤，腎俞主之The text records that BL23 was used for chronic wheezing and cough, shortness of qi, and turbid reddish urine.
BL23 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL23 (Shèn Shū) is located on the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2). This level is generally horizontal with the umbilicus.
BL23 tonifies Kidney Qi, Yin, and Yang, strengthens the lower back, benefits the ears, regulates the water passages, and strengthens the reproductive system. Common clinical indications include virtual consumption and emaciation, deafness, Kidney deficiency, chronic cold of the water organ (Kidney), abdominal fullness and distension, fullness and pain in the two flanks drawing to the lower abdomen, intestinal rumbling, borborygmus, diarrhea with undigested food, urinary dripping, turbid urine, bloody urine, seminal emission, dream emission, Kidney wind, sitting with a bent waist, lower back pain, thirst, five taxations and seven injuries, exhaustion, stiffness and pain in the knees, coldness of the lower back as if sitting in water, head heaviness, body heat, shivering and chills, eating a lot but remaining thin, yellow-black facial complexion, intestinal rumbling, weakness and cold in the four limbs, edema like water, cold and heat, abdominal pain, qi inversion with heart pain, stomach cold and distension, hiccups, lower back pain that prevents bending or extending, jaundice, bone and joint cold and heat, difficult urination, tetanus with heat, chronic cough, shortness of breath, turbid and red urine, lower back and body soreness, epilepsy,pain that pulls between the lower back and abdomen, heaviness in the lower limbs, inability to eat, malaria.
Perpendicular-oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.5 cun. Deep perpendicular 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. The Suwen warns that needling into the Kidney can cause death in five or six days. The Zhen Jiu Ju Ying repeats this warning. This highlights the importance of correct depth and angle to avoid puncturing the organ.
BL23 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).