Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

6 cun distal to ➞BL-36(gluteal crease), on a line connecting

➞BL-36and ➞BL-40(in the popliteal crease), in a gap in the

musculature.

How to find

First, locate ➞BL-36in the centre of the gluteal crease and,

from there, palpate 6 cun along the posterior aspect of the thigh

in an inferior direction towards the centre of the popliteal crease

(➞BL-40). This is the location of BL-37, which in slim patients

can be located where the long head of the biceps femoris muscle

and the semitendinosus muscle converge (usually 8 cun superior

to the centre of the popliteal crease. Or:Spreading hands tech-

nique (➞2.3.3 or elastic tape): Place the little fingers on the cen-

tre of the popliteal crease (➞BL-40) and the centre of the

gluteal crease (➞BL-36). Locate BL-371–2 cun proximal to

the midpoint of the distance, in a depression between the two

muscle bellies.

Needling

Vertically 0.5–2 cun

Actions/Indications

● Relaxes the tendons

● Opens the channel and luovessels

● Benefits the lower back

BL-37 Gate of Abundance YINMEN

BL-36

BL-40

Popliteal

crease

BL-37

Centre of the

popliteal crease

6 cun

ca. 8 cun

BL-40

BL-36

Biceps

femoris

Semi-

tendinosus

2

1

G.B.-31

G.B.-32

G.B.34

19

13

14

15

16

17

18

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

BL-37

BL-36

G.B-30

BL-39BL-40

G.B.-33

cun

Highest

prominence

of the greater

trochanter

6 cun

Centre of the

popliteal

crease

BL-55

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