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 2nd lumbar vertebra (L2).

How to find

For orientation in the lumbar region (➞3.4.3), first, locate the

Tuffier’s line: place both hands superior or lateral to the highest

points of the iliac crest, joining the thumbs in the middle above

the spine. In most cases, this line intersects with the spinous

process of L4 (note: this varies depending on the patient’s posi-

tion ➞3.4.). From there, count upward to the lower border of the

spinous process of L2 and, on this level, locate BL-523 cun in a

lateral direction.

Located on the same level are ➞Du-4(on the midline), a point

of ➞Ex-B-2(0.5 cun lateral to the midline) and ➞BL-23

(1.5 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

Vertically or obliquely 0.5–1 cun. Caution: Kidneys.

Actions/Indications

● Tonifies the Kidneys and Essence (jing), regulates urination

● Benefits the lumbar region

Residence of the Will ZHISHI BL-52

3 cun

Level of the

iliac crests

BL-52

Spinous process L1

Spinous process L2

Spinous process L3

Spinous process L4

Spinous process L5

Medial borderof the scapula

Du-3

Spinous process L4

Level of the

iliac crests

BL-23

BL-52

Du-4

Tuffier's line

Spinous process L2 Du-4

Spinous process L3

Spinous

(dependent onpatient position) process L4

Level of the

iliac crests

BL-23

BL-22

Level of theiliac crests BL-24

Spinous process L1

Spinous process L2

Spinous process L3

Spinous process L4

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