BL-20 - Spleen Shu

脾俞 - Pí 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 11th thoracic vertebra (T11), 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 T12, the spinal bump level with the midpoint between the lower tip of the shoulder blade and the top of the hip bone, then count one bump up to T11
  2. Go to the level just below the bump of T11
  3. The point is two finger-widths out from the midline (halfway between the spine and the inner edge of the shoulder blade)
BL-20 (Spleen Shu) acupressure point location: On the upper back, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11), 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 11th thoracic spinal bone (count one bump up from the bump level with the midpoint between your lower shoulder-blade tip and the top of your hip bone), 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:

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Indigestion
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Joint pain
  • Digestive weakness
  • Loose stools

Related Health Concerns

Car SicknessIBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)FatigueBloating

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