BL42 (Pohu, “Door of the Corporeal Soul”) is the Back-Shu of Lung point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the same level as the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra (T3). It descends rebellious Lung Qi, tonifies Lung deficiency, alleviates pain in the upper back and neck, and calms the Corporeal Soul.
On the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the same level as the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra (T3).
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique-lateral insertion carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.
Descends rebellious Lung Qi, tonifies Lung deficiency, alleviates pain in the upper back and neck, and calms the Corporeal Soul.
Vomiting and vexing fullness, tightness between the shoulders, aversion to cold with cold limbs, neck and back pain radiating to the neck, rebellious cough and shortness of breath, panting, consumptive disease, lung atrophy, corpse-like emaciation, wandering of the three corpse-demons, stiffness and pain of the neck and nape making it difficult to turn the head, body heat, consumptive cough.
As the 'Door of the Corporeal Soul' and located level with the Lung's Back-Shu point (BL13), BL42 is a key point for treating chronic Lung conditions, especially those with a psycho-emotional component like grief or unresolved sadness. It is effective for both excess patterns, such as acute cough and wheezing, and deficiency patterns like consumptive lung disease. Its location also makes it a useful local point for stiffness and pain in the upper back, shoulders, and neck.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷中 · 揹人形第七 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
魄戶 二穴，在第三椎下兩旁各三寸，正坐取之宛宛中。 灸五壯。 主肩膊間急痛，背氣不能引顧，咳逆上喘也The text records that BL42, 3 cun on each side below the third vertebra in a hollow found sitting upright, was moxibusted with 5 cones for tight pain between the shoulder blades, back qi preventing turning the head, and cough with rising wheeze.
《醫學入門》 Yīxué Rùmén — Introduction to Medicine, Li Chan, 1575 · 经穴起止 · Source: Wikisource ↗
魄户三节外三寸，针五分，灸五壮。 主咳逆喘气不得卧，肺寒热，项强，背胛无力，劳损痿黄，五尸走注According to this text, BL42 lies 3 cun lateral to the third vertebra; needle 5 fen, moxa 5 cones. It records use for cough and wheezing preventing lying down, cold and heat of the lung, stiff neck, weak shoulder blades, consumptive sallow weakness and the "five corpse" wandering illnesses.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之七·陰陽臟腑部 · 刺灸通論（刺虛實刺寒熱入治寒熱法） · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
體熱勞嗽而瀉魄戶The text records that for body heat with consumptive cough, BL42 is needled with a draining method.
BL42 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL42 (Pohu) is located on the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the same level as the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra (T3).
BL42 descends rebellious Lung Qi, tonifies Lung deficiency, alleviates pain in the upper back and neck, and calms the Corporeal Soul. Common clinical indications include vomiting and vexing fullness, tightness between the shoulders, aversion to cold with cold limbs, neck and back pain radiating to the neck, rebellious cough and shortness of breath, panting, consumptive disease, lung atrophy, corpse-like emaciation, wandering of the three corpse-demons, stiffness and pain of the neck and nape making it difficult to turn the head, body heat, consumptive cough.
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique-lateral insertion carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.
BL42 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).