BL9 (Yuzhen, “Yuzhen”) is an acupuncture point on the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the posterior head, 1.3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the superior border of the external occipital protuberance. This is approximately 2.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline and 1.3 cun lateral to the Du Mai point Naohu (DU17). It dispels wind and cold, clears the head and eyes, alleviates pain.
On the posterior head, 1.3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the superior border of the external occipital protuberance. This is approximately 2.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline and 1.3 cun lateral to the Du Mai point Naohu (DU17).
Transverse (subcutaneous) insertion, directed inferiorly or medially, 0.3-0.5 cun. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion.
Dispels wind and cold, clears the head and eyes, alleviates pain.
Headache, head and neck pain, dizziness, eye pain, half-head cold sensation, bone pain with cold and heat, nasal congestion, inability to smell, profuse sweating, sudden collapse and stiffness, aversion to wind and cold, mad walking, convulsions, blurred vision, internal eye obstruction, inability to see.
Yuzhen is a key local point for occipital headaches, neck stiffness, and pain that may radiate to the eyes or vertex. Its classical indications for wind-cold affecting the head make it useful for common colds with headache and nasal congestion. Due to its location over the occiput, it is also used for visual disturbances and dizziness originating from the posterior head and neck.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《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 ↗
玉枕 在絡卻後一寸半。 起肉枕骨上入髮際三寸。 （針三分灸三壯一曰禁針）治目痛如脫鼻塞不聞香臭According to this text, BL9 lies 1.5 cun behind BL8, on the raised flesh above the occipital bone, 3 cun into the hairline; it gives needling 0.3 cun and 3 moxa cones (one view says needling is prohibited), and records use for eye pain as if the eyes would burst out and nasal blockage with loss of smell.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第二十九 · Source: Wikisource ↗
玉枕，在絡卻後七分半，挾腦戶旁一寸三分，起肉枕骨上，入發際三寸According to this text, BL9 lies 0.75 cun behind BL8, 1.3 cun beside DU17, on the raised flesh above the occipital bone, 3 cun into the hairline.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 頭直夾督脈各一寸五分卻行至玉枕凡十穴第三（足太陽經） · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
玉枕二穴，主腦風，目如脫，項如拔，不可左右顧，風眩頭寒，多汗，鼻窒不聞The text records that BL9 was used for brain wind, eyes as if bursting out, a neck as if pulled with inability to turn the head, wind dizziness with cold head, much sweating, and nasal blockage with loss of smell.
《千金翼方》 Qiānjīn Yìfāng — Supplement to the Thousand Gold Prescriptions, c. 682 · 卷28 · Source: Wikisource ↗
灸汁法∶ 多汗寒熱，灸玉枕五十壯，針入三分The text records that for much sweating with chills and fever, 50 moxa cones were applied at BL9, with needle insertion of 0.3 cun.
BL9 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL9 (Yuzhen) is located on the posterior head, 1.3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the superior border of the external occipital protuberance. This is approximately 2.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline and 1.3 cun lateral to the Du Mai point Naohu (DU17).
BL9 dispels wind and cold, clears the head and eyes, alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include headache, head and neck pain, dizziness, eye pain, half-head cold sensation, bone pain with cold and heat, nasal congestion, inability to smell, profuse sweating, sudden collapse and stiffness, aversion to wind and cold, mad walking, convulsions, blurred vision, internal eye obstruction, inability to see.
Transverse (subcutaneous) insertion, directed inferiorly or medially, 0.3-0.5 cun. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion. Caution: The Zhen Jiu Ju Ying lists Yuzhen (玉枕) in its 'Forbidden to Needle' song (禁針穴歌), which is a notable caution, although most other major classics permit needling.
BL9 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).