BL45 (Yixi, “Yixi”) is an acupuncture point on the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6). The classical location method involves pressing the area and having the patient exclaim 'Yixi' (an expression of pain), with the point being where the response is felt under the practitioner's hand. It expels wind, stops sweating, and alleviates pain in the lateral costal region.
On the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6). The classical location method involves pressing the area and having the patient exclaim 'Yixi' (an expression of pain), with the point being where the response is felt under the practitioner's hand.
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 0.7 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique insertion away from the spine carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax.
Expels wind, stops sweating, and alleviates pain in the lateral costal region.
Sweating due to 'great wind', pain and distention in the flank and hypochondriac region that radiates to the lower abdomen.
Yixi is a point whose name itself describes its nature as a tender, or 'ashi', point. The classical texts highlight its use for two distinct conditions: moxibustion for sweating associated with wind patterns and needling for pain that spans the flank and lower abdomen. Its location on the outer Bladder line suggests a role in addressing musculoskeletal tension in the upper back and intercostal region.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《類經圖翼》 Lèijīng Túyì — Illustrated Wings to the Classified Canon, Zhang Jiebin, 1624 · 卷七 · 經絡（五） · 足太陽膀胱經穴 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
譩譆 在肩膊內廉，六椎下，去脊中各三寸半，正坐取之。 甲乙經曰：以手痛按之，病者呼噫嘻是穴According to this text, BL45 lies on the inner border of the shoulder blade below the sixth vertebra, 3.5 cun from the spine's centre, found sitting upright; citing the Jiayi Jing, it says that when pressed firmly the patient cries out "yi-xi", which marks the point.
《黃帝內經》 Huángdì Nèijīng — The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, c. 2nd–1st c. BCE · gu-kong-lun · Source: Wikisource ↗
大風汗出，灸譩譆，譩譆在背下俠脊傍三寸所，厭之令病者呼The text records that for great wind with sweating, BL45 was moxibusted; it lies on the back about 3 cun beside the spine, and pressing it makes the patient cry out.
《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 ↗
譩譆二穴，主勞損不得臥，背悶氣滿，腋脅拘急，目眩，鼻衄，膈脹，胸中痛，氣逆，肩膊內痛，不得回顧，大風，汗不出，溫瘧寒熱The text records that BL45 was used for consumptive damage preventing lying down, oppression and qi fullness in the back, tightness of armpits and flanks, dizziness, nosebleed, diaphragm distension, chest pain, counterflow qi, pain inside the shoulder blade preventing turning, great wind, absence of sweating, and warm malaria with chills and fever.
BL45 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL45 (Yixi) is located on the upper back, 3 cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6). The classical location method involves pressing the area and having the patient exclaim 'Yixi' (an expression of pain), with the point being where the response is felt under the practitioner's hand.
BL45 expels wind, stops sweating, and alleviates pain in the lateral costal region. Common clinical indications include sweating due to 'great wind', pain and distention in the flank and hypochondriac region that radiates to the lower abdomen.
Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 0.7 cun. Deep perpendicular or oblique insertion away from the spine carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax. Caution: Deep needling risks injuring the lungs. All modern sources strongly advise against deep or perpendicular insertion due to the risk of pneumothorax.
BL45 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).