EXT-18 - Root of Distress

痞根 - Pǐ gēn

Point Region: Lower back

EXT

Extra Points

其他穴位 - Qítā Xuéwèi

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the lower back, lateral to L1, in line with the paraspinal muscles.

Extra points have no international location standard, and Chinese texts number and place some of them differently. This location follows common teaching.

How to Locate:

  1. Lie face down or stand with back accessible
  2. Locate the lower ribs and find the bottom edge
  3. Move about two finger-widths out from the spine at this level
  4. This location in the muscle beside the spine is EXT-18
(Illustration coming soon)

How to Apply Pressure

Once EXT-18 is located beside the spine at the L1 level, press gently into the muscle rather than the bone and stop if back pain increases or radiates. Skip it after a lumbar spine injury or recent back surgery, and get back pain of unknown cause medically assessed.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Abdominal masses
  • Lumbar pain
  • Digestive discomfort
  • Fatigue
  • Lower back stiffness
  • Abdominal distention

Related Health Concerns

Lower Back PainFatigue

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Lumbar spine injury
  • Severe back pain of unknown origin
  • Recent back surgery

Take care:

  • Avoid excessive pressure on spine
  • Be gentle with elderly patients
  • Stop if back pain increases