EXT-22 - Lumbar Eyes

腰眼 - Yāo yǎn

Point Region: Lower back

EXT

Extra Points

其他穴位 - Qítā Xuéwèi

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the lower back, in the depression lateral to L4, often visible when the patient is prone.

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. Place hands on your lower back at waist level
  2. Locate the prominent hip bones (iliac crests)
  3. Find the depressions just above and to the side of the hip bones
  4. These 'dimples' in the lower back are EXT-22
(Illustration coming soon)

How to Apply Pressure

Having located the lumbar dimples of EXT-22, press gently into the muscle and stop immediately if pain radiates into your legs. Avoid it after lumbar injury or surgery, and get back pain of unknown cause medically assessed rather than pressed.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Low back pain
  • Urinary frequency
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Morbid leukorrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Kidney deficiency
  • Lumbar stiffness
  • Reproductive disorders

Related Health Concerns

Lower Back PainMenstrual IrregularityFatigue

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 lower back
  • Stop if pain radiates to legs