BL41 (Fufen, “Attached Branch”) is an acupuncture point on the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the upper back, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra (T2), 3 cun lateral to the posterior midline. It expels wind and cold from the Taiyang channel, relaxes the sinews, and alleviates pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulder.
On the upper back, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra (T2), 3 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of pneumothorax.
Expels wind and cold from the Taiyang channel, relaxes the sinews, and alleviates pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulder.
Shoulder and back stiffness, wind-cold lodging in the superficial tissues (cou li), stiff and painful neck, inability to turn the head, numbness of the elbow and arm, back pain radiating to the head.
BL41 is a key local point for stiffness and pain in the upper thoracic region, particularly when there is a sensation of wind and cold invasion. Its location on the outer Bladder line makes it effective for conditions affecting the scapula, shoulder, and neck, such as difficulty turning the head or radiating numbness into the arm. As a meeting point of the Hand and Foot Taiyang channels, it harmonizes the Qi flow between the upper and lower body along this pathway.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
附分第二节外三寸，附项内廉陷中，正坐取之。 针八分，灸五壮。 主背痛引颔引头，肩背拘急，风冷客于腠理According to this text, BL41 lies 3 cun lateral to the second vertebra, in the depression on the inner border near the neck, found sitting upright; needle 8 fen, moxa 5 cones. It records use for back pain radiating to the jaw and head, tight shoulders and back, and wind-cold lodged in the skin pores.
《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 ↗
附分二穴，在第二椎下附項內廉兩旁，相去各三寸，手足太陽也，令正坐取之。 針入三分，可灸五壯It is located on both sides below the second vertebra on the inner border near the neck, 3 cun from the midline, according to this text, on the hand and foot taiyang, found sitting upright; BL41 is needled 3 fen with up to 5 moxa cones.
《神灸經綸》 Shénjiǔ Jīnglún — Principles of Divine Moxibustion, Wu Yiding, 1851 · 卷之二 · 十二經脈起止 · 膀胱經六十三穴分寸 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
附分 自大杼別脈其支者從肩膊內循行第二椎下附項內廉兩旁相去脊中各三寸半正坐取之灸五壯According to this text, BL41 lies where a branch from Dazhu runs along the inner shoulder blade below the second vertebra, on the inner border near the neck, 3.5 cun from the spine's centre, found sitting upright, with 5 moxa cones.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 背自第二椎兩旁夾脊各三寸行至二十一椎下凡二十八穴第九 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
附分二穴，主風寒客於腠理，肩背拘急，頸項強痛，不得回顧，肘臂不仁The text records that BL41 was used for wind-cold lodged in the skin pores, tight shoulders and back, stiff painful neck unable to turn, and numbness of the elbow and arm.
BL41 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL41 (Fufen) is located on the upper back, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra (T2), 3 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
BL41 expels wind and cold from the Taiyang channel, relaxes the sinews, and alleviates pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulder. Common clinical indications include shoulder and back stiffness, wind-cold lodging in the superficial tissues (cou li), stiff and painful neck, inability to turn the head, numbness of the elbow and arm, back pain radiating to the head.
Oblique insertion medially, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique lateral insertion carries a risk of pneumothorax.
BL41 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).