BL-14 - Pericardium Shu

厥阴俞 - Juè yīn shū

Point Region: Upper back

BL

Bladder Meridian

足太阳膀胱经 - Zú Tàiyáng Pángguāng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the upper back, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4), 1.5 cun out from the midline.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find T3, the spinal bump on the line joining the inner ends of the bony ridges of the shoulder blades (standing, arms by your sides), then count one bump down to T4
  2. Go to the level just below the bump of T4
  3. The point is two finger-widths out from the midline (halfway between the spine and the inner edge of the shoulder blade)
BL-14 (Pericardium Shu) acupressure point location: On the upper back, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4), 1.5 cun out from the midline.

How to Apply Pressure

Using a fingertip, apply gentle, steady pressure in the groove just below the bump of the fourth thoracic spinal bone (count one bump down from the bump level with the inner ends of your shoulder blades), two finger-widths out from the midline. Firm but never painful pressure is enough; stop if it hurts. If you cannot reach the spot comfortably, skip it rather than strain, and skip this point over irritated or broken skin.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Irritability
  • Cough
  • Acid reflux
  • Vomiting
  • Emotional distress

Related Health Concerns

Cold and Flu OnsetHeartburnNausea and VomitingPanic Attack

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.