Atlas of Acupuncture

4.7 The Bladder Channel System – Foot taiyang(zu tai yang jing luo)

Location

3 cun lateral to the posterior midline, on the level of the lower

border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra (T3).

How to find

After locating the spinous process of C7 (➞3.4.1), count down

3 spinous processes to the lower border of the spinous process of

T3. Located on this level and 3 cun lateral to the midline is BL-42.

Or:With the patient seated and their shoulders in a relaxed posi-

tion, the spinous process of T3 is generally on the level of the

medial end of the scapular spine, an easily palpable structure

(➞3.4.2). Locate BL-42on the level of the lower border of

the spinous process of T3, 3 cun lateral to the midline. With the

patient’s shoulders relaxed, 3 cun corresponds on this level to the

distance from the midline to the medial border of the scapula.

Located on the same level are ➞Du-12(on the midline), a point

of ➞Ex-B-2 (0.5 cun lateral to the midline) and ➞BL-13

(1.5 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

Obliquely 0.3–0.5 cun. Caution: Pneumothorax.

Actions/Indications

● Tonifies and nourishes the Lung

● Alleviates wheezing and coughing, calms the corporeal soul

(po)

● Opens the channel and alleviates pain

● Clears Heat from the Lung

Door of the Corporeal Soul POHU BL-42

Spinous process C7

Midline

Base of the

scapular spine

Inferior

angle

3 cun

Bladder channel,

lateral branch

Medial borderof the scapula

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

Spinous process T12

BL-42

S.I.-15 Du-14

G.B.-21

Extension and

flexion of the

head

2 fingers on the

spinous processes

of C6 and 7

Du-12

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T3

BL-13

Spinous process T3

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