BL-48 - Yang's Key Link

阳纲 - Yáng gāng

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 tenth thoracic vertebra (T10), 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 T7, the spinal bump level with the lower tips of the shoulder blades (standing, arms by your sides), then count three bumps down to T10
  2. Go to the level just below the bump of T10
  3. The point is four finger-widths out from the midline (in line with the inner edge of the shoulder blade)
BL-48 (Yang's Key Link) acupressure point location: On the upper back, level with the lower edge of the spinous process of the tenth thoracic vertebra (T10), 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 tenth thoracic spinal bone (three bumps below the shoulder-blade-tip level), 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:

  • Diarrhea
  • Indigestion
  • Intestinal sounds
  • Difficulty eating
  • Gallbladder disorders

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