BL-53 - Bladder's Vitals

胞肓 - Bāo huāng

Point Region: Buttock

BL

Bladder Meridian

足太阳膀胱经 - Zú Tàiyáng Pángguāng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the buttock, level with the second opening in the back of the sacrum (the second posterior sacral foramen), 3 cun out from the central ridge of the sacrum. It is level with BL-28 and BL-32.

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 BL-32, in the second hollow of the sacrum
  2. Move four finger-widths out from the midline
  3. The point is there
BL-53 (Bladder's Vitals) acupressure point location: On the buttock, level with the second opening in the back of the sacrum (the second posterior sacral foramen), 3 cun out from the central ridge of the sacrum.

How to Apply Pressure

Using a fingertip, apply gentle, steady pressure on your buttock, level with the second hollow in the back of the sacrum, four finger-widths out from the midline. Firm but never painful pressure is enough; stop if it hurts. Skip this point over irritated or broken skin.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Intestinal sounds
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Difficulty defecating
  • Lumbar pain
  • Pelvic disorders

Related Health Concerns

Lower Back Pain

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