Bailao (Bailao, “Bailao”) is an extra (non-channel) acupuncture point. It is located on the posterior aspect of the neck, 2 cun superior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7, Dazhui), and 1 cun lateral to the midline. It tonifies deficiency, nourishes yin and blood, clears deficiency heat, stops sweating, and alleviates pain.
On the posterior aspect of the neck, 2 cun superior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7, Dazhui), and 1 cun lateral to the midline.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution should be exercised to avoid deep medial insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord.
Tonifies deficiency, nourishes yin and blood, clears deficiency heat, stops sweating, and alleviates pain.
Postpartum whole-body pain, mania, coughing up blood,consumptive disease, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, jaundice,all types of deficiency and damage, four limbs weakness, floating wind with whole-body itching, head and neck sores,opisthotonus from wind-stroke, eye blindness.
Bailao is a key point for treating chronic, consumptive disorders, as its name 'Hundred Labors' implies. It is particularly noted for addressing deficiency heat symptoms like steaming bone disorder, night sweats, and low-grade fevers. Its location on the neck also makes it effective for local issues like scrofula, neck rigidity, and cough, especially when related to Lung yin deficiency. The classical sources also highlight its use for severe conditions like mania and complications of wind-stroke.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之六·兼羅集 · 時疫瘧疾四十二 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
百勞，穴在背第一椎骨尖。 灸二七壯，針入三分，瀉According to this text, Bailao is located at the tip of the first vertebra of the back; it records moxibustion with 14 cones and needling 3 fen deep with a draining method.
《醫宗金鑑·刺灸心法要訣》 Yīzōng Jīnjiàn · Cìjiǔ Xīnfǎ Yàojué — Golden Mirror of Medicine: Essential Teachings on Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wu Qian et al., 1742 · 卷七 · 背部主病針灸要穴歌 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
百勞穴，主治滿身發熱，虛汗盜汗津津不止。 針五分，留三呼，瀉五吸，灸以年為壯The text records that Bailao was used for fever over the whole body and for unceasing spontaneous and night sweating; it gives needling 5 fen deep, retained for 3 breaths, draining over 5 breaths, with moxa cones numbered by the patient's age.
《針灸大成》 Zhēnjiǔ Dàchéng — Great Compendium of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1601 · 卷七 · Source: Wikisource ↗
百勞 天府 委中 十宣 白痧腹痛吐瀉，四肢厥冷，十指甲黑，不得睡臥The text lists Bailao together with Tianfu, Weizhong and Shixuan for "white sha" with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, cold limbs, blackened fingernails and inability to lie down and sleep.
Bailao (Bailao) is located on the posterior aspect of the neck, 2 cun superior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7, Dazhui), and 1 cun lateral to the midline.
Bailao tonifies deficiency, nourishes yin and blood, clears deficiency heat, stops sweating, and alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include postpartum whole-body pain, mania, coughing up blood,consumptive disease, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, jaundice,all types of deficiency and damage, four limbs weakness, floating wind with whole-body itching, head and neck sores,opisthotonus from wind-stroke, eye blindness.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Caution should be exercised to avoid deep medial insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord. Caution: The Zi Sheng Jing warns to avoid needling into tendons and bones. Modern anatomy dictates caution to avoid deep medial insertion which could damage the spinal cord.