Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

2 cun inferior to the midpoint of the popliteal crease, in a depres-

sion between the two bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle.

How to find

Locate the popliteal crease by flexing the knee. In slim patients,

palpate for the joint space. From the centre of the popliteal

crease, palpate 2 cun in an inferior direction and locate BL-55

in a depression between the two bellies of the gastrocnemius

muscle.

Needling

Vertically or obliquely 1–1.5 cun

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel, alleviates pain (also in the urogenital region)

● Stops uterine bleeding

BL-55 Confluence of Yang HEYANG

BL-55

Vertical line through the

centre of the popliteal crease

Muscle bellies of

the gastrocnemius

2 cun

BL-40

Long head of the

biceps femoris

Gastro-

cnemius

BL-40

BL-55

BL-56

BL-57

BL-58

BL-59

BL-60

BL-39 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Popliteal

crease

Lateral

malleolus

BL-38

BL-36

BL-37

BL-38

BL-40 BL-39

BL-55

BL-56

BL-57

BL-58

BL-59

BL-60

BL-61 cun

1,5

3

1

1

7

6

2

1/2

1/2

1/2

1/2

Popliteal

crease

BL-40

Popliteal

crease

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