BL-41 - Attached Branch

附分 - Fù fēn

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 second thoracic vertebra (T2), 3 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 up to T2
  2. Go to the level just below the bump of T2
  3. The point is four finger-widths out from the midline (in line with the inner edge of the shoulder blade)
BL-41 (Attached Branch) acupressure point location: On the upper back, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra (T2), 3 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 second thoracic spinal bone (one bump above the bump level with the inner ends of your shoulder-blade ridges), four 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:

  • Neck stiffness
  • Shoulder contracture
  • Arm numbness
  • Restricted head movement
  • Upper back pain

Related Health Concerns

Neck and Shoulder Pain

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