BL17 Geshu (Diaphragm Shu Point)

Location

1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV09 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

Categories

• Hui-Meeting point of Blood

The classical groups this point belongs to, from Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture.

Indications

Conditions for which BL17 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

TCM actions

What classical sources say BL17 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Protocols using BL17

The 50 best-sourced of 171, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

• Period Short, Period Scanty, Period Low, Period Light, Hypomenorrhea Follicular, Kidney Qi Weakness, Kidney Jing Weakness, Mai Ren Deficiency, Mai Chong Deficiency, Restore Yin, Yang Weakness, Facial Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Period Short, Period Scanty, Period Low, Period Light, Hypomenorrhea Follicular, Kidney Qi Weakness, Kidney Jing Weakness, Mai Ren Deficiency, Mai Chong Deficiency, Restore Yin, Yang Weakness – BL17, BL20, BL23, KD03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/S0254-6272(09)60059-5 ↗)
• Facial Paralysis, Facial Paralysis – BL17, BL20, BL23, KD03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/S0254-6272(09)60059-5 ↗)
• Hypomenorrhea, Menstrual Irregular – BL17, BL20, BL23, KD03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60059-5 ↗)
• Bronchial Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, COPD, Bronchitis Chronic, Infection Respiratory Recurrent – BL13, BL15, BL17, BL23, BL43, CV17, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60037-4 ↗)
• Cerebral Palsy, Motor Dysfunction, Posture Abnormalities – LI04, LI11, ST02, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, HT07, SI19, BL01, BL17, BL18, BL23, BL40, BL60, BL62, KD01, KD03, KD06, PC06, PC08, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB13, GB14, GB19, LV03, CV06, CV10, CV12, CV13, CV14, CV23, GV17, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60074-1 ↗)
• Hives, Itching – LI11, SP06, SP10, HT07, BL12, BL13, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD16, GB20, GB31, CV06, CV09, GV14, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60041-8 ↗)
• Sweating, Lassitude, Poor Appetite, Palpitation, Chest Precordial Pain, Loose Stool – LI04, ST36, HT06, BL15, BL17, PC06, LV03, CV14, CV17 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60034-5 ↗)
• Lassitude, Abdominal Distention, Chloasma, Shoulder Pain, Loose Stool, Neck Muscular Pain, Quick Temper – LI04, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST36, SP06, SP10, HT07, SI18, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60017-0 ↗)
• Fatigue, Dizziness, Headache, Depression, Lassitude, Knee Pain, Head Vertex Pain, Dyspnea, Heaviness Lower Limbs, Lower Back Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, BL26, KD03, PC06, GB20, LV03, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
• Vascular Dementia, Memory Impairment, Cognitive Impairment – BL17, BL23, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60058-3 ↗)
• Limbs Numbness, Limbs Pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Abnormal Sensation Limbs – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST09, ST31, ST32, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST43, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP08, SP09, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB34, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60003-9 ↗)
• Insomnia, Lassitude, Abdominal Distension, Forgetfulness, Palpitation, Loose Stool, Sleep Dreamy, Decreased Food Intake – SP06, SP09, HT07, BL15, BL17, BL20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60004-7 ↗)
• Sciatica, Lumbar Pain, Prolapse Intervertebral Disc – BL17, BL25, BL32, BL40, GB30, GB34 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60041-2 ↗)
• Chronic Pain, Post-thoracotomy Pain, Acute Pain – ST36, BL12, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL18, BL19 (doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.07.053 ↗)
• Cough, Wheezing, Dyspnea, Asthma Chronic Moderate, Chest Tightness – BL13, BL17 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-11-121 ↗)
• Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes, Qi-blood Deficiency – ST36, SP06, SP08, BL17, BL20, BL32, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep239 ↗)
• Dysmenorrhea, Kidney Deficiency, Liver Deficiency, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes – ST36, SP06, BL17, BL18, BL23, KD03, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep239 ↗)
• Exercise Capacity Reduced, Cardiorespiratory Fitness Low, Sedentary Lifestyle – LU01, ST36, BL17, BL23, BL52, PC06, GB34, CV04, CV17 (doi:10.6061/clinics/2012(02)18 ↗)
• Shortness of Breath, Tachycardia, Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Bronchitis, Dampness, Yin Deficiency Liver, Yin Deficiency Kidney, Yin Deficiency Heart, Blood Stagnation – LU07, LI04, ST40, SP06, HT06, BL17, BL23, KD03, PC06, GB20, LV03, LV08 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010380 ↗)
• Joint Pain, Stiffness Joint, Deformity Joint, Fluorosis Skeletal, Bi-syndrome – LU05, LI04, LI11, LI15, ST35, ST40, ST41, SP06, SP10, BL10, BL17, TB04, GB29, GB30, GV03, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2013/839132 ↗)
• Obesity, PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Hormonal Imbalance – ST25, SP06, BL17, BL32, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60166-1 ↗)
• Lung Pain, Cancer Pain – LU01, LU02, BL13, BL17 (doi:10.1155/2014/804746 ↗)
• Hemiplegia, Blood Stasis, Ischemic Stroke, Qi Deficiency – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, BL17, BL60, TB05, GB34, GB39, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007080 ↗)
• PCOS, Infertility Anovulatory, Hyperandrogenism, Anovulation, Oligoovulation – SP06, SP10, BL17, BL26, KD03, LV03, CV03, GV04 (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1375-4 ↗)
• Neuropathy Peripheral, Neuropathic Pain, Paresthesia, Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy, Sensory Loss, Muscle Weakness – ST25, ST36, ST43, SP06, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL58, GB41, LV03, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-3037-z ↗)
• Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced – ST36, BL17, BL19, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2017/9854893 ↗)
• COPD, Reduced Lung Function – BL13, BL17 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
• Pruritus, Urticaria Chronic, Wheals, Angioedema – BL17, BL19 (doi:10.1155/2020/6598708 ↗)
• Thrombocytopenia, Leukopenia, Bone Marrow Suppression Chemotherapy-induced, Neutropenia, Myelosuppression Chemotherapy-induced, Leukopenia Chemotherapy-induced – LI04, ST36, SP06, BL17, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2021/2693472 ↗)
• Dysuria, Leg Pain, Lower Back Pain, Spasticity, Balance Impaired, Lower Extremity Weakness, Gait Disturbance – LU08, ST34, ST36, ST37, SP01, SP02, SP03, SP10, HT08, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL18, BL19, KD03, KD07, LV01 (doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i31.9691 ↗)
• Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Itching, Itchiness Skin, Pruritus, Prurigo Nodularis, Pruritus Chronic – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST36, ST42, SP06, SP10, SI04, BL17, BL64, TB04, TB05, GB20, GB40, CV06, CV12, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.2147/CCID.S336109 ↗)
• Respiratory Diaphragm Dysfunction, Breathing Reduced Capacity – BL17, BL46, GB34, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.1155/2022/6608200 ↗)
• Fatigue Cancer-related, Cancer Lung Non-small-cell, Fatigue Chemotherapy-induced – ST36, BL17, CV04, CV06, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2022/6530454 ↗)
• Breast Pain, Mastalgia Cyclic, Breast Pain Premenstrual, Mammary Gland Hyperplasia – LI04, ST15, ST18, SP06, SI11, BL17, BL18, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03779-8 ↗)
• Asthma, Respiratory Wheezing, Respiratory Dyspnea – BL13, BL15, BL17, BL20, BL23, CV04, GV14 (doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.01.013 ↗)
• Headache, Sore Throat, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Sleep Unrefreshing, Memory Impaired, Fatigue Post-exertional, Cold Intolerance, Concentration Impaired, Yang Deficiency Spleen-kidney, Lumbar Weakness – BL11, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL19, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL25, GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12967-023-04250-z ↗)
• Postoperative Pain, Uterine Contraction Pain, Postoperative Cesarean Pain, Incision Pain – ST36, SP06, BL17, BL23, BL25 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210959 ↗)
• Constipation, Nausea, Liver Pain, Cancer Pain – LI04, ST36, BL17, BL18, PC06, LV03, LV13, LV14 (doi:10.2147/JPR.S456874 ↗)
• Constipation, Vomiting, Insomnia, Nausea, Erythromelalgia, Night Sweats, Chronic Pain, Burning Extremities Pain, Extremities Redness, Hot Flashes Extremities, Thirst Excessive – ST44, SP06, BL15, BL17, BL23, KD06, KD07, PC07, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.7759/cureus.65890 ↗)
• Insomnia, Hypertension, Alopecia, Limb Pain, Diarrhea Chronic, Spasm Muscle – BL17, BL23, BL40, BL57, BL60, GB20, GV04, GV08, GV14, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1543991 ↗)
• Hyperpigmentation Skin, Hyperpigmentation Chest, Hyperpigmentation Abdomen, Hyperpigmentation Upper Limb, Tingling Skin, Post-covid Skin Manifestation – LI04, SP06, SP10, BL17, GB34 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1598618 ↗)
• Hiccups Persistent, Cancer Stomach Metastatic – ST36, SP04, BL17, PC06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044036 ↗)
• Hiccups Persistent, Cancer Lung Metastatic – ST36, SP04, BL17, PC06, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044036 ↗)
• Hiccups Persistent, Post-transplant – BL17 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044036 ↗)
• Atherosclerosis Carotid, Arterial Stiffness Carotid – ST09, BL15, BL17, BL19, PC06, GB34, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230354 ↗)
• Airway Hyperresponsiveness, Asthma Intermittent, Asthma Mild – LU01, LU05, LU07, LU09, LU11, LI04, LI06, LI20, ST13, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, HT05, HT07, SI03, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, KD06, KD08, KD27, PC06, TB05, TB15, GB03, GB34, GB40, GB41, LV02, LV03, LV08, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV17, CV21, GV04, GV13 (doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0155-1 ↗)
• Asthma Exercise-induced, Bronchoconstriction Exercise-induced – LU05, LU07, BL13, BL17, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0155-1 ↗)
• Hyperglycemia, Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, SP09, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL52, KD03, CV04, CV06, CV12 (doi:10.3892/etm.2017.4379 ↗)
• Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – LU01, LI04, ST17, ST18, SP20, SI01, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305 ↗)
• Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – LI04, ST11, ST17, SP20, SI01, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, GB21, CV16, CV17 (doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305 ↗)

Most often selected alongside BL17

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with BL17. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• ST36Leg Three Miles69 protocols
• BL18Liver Shu Point62 protocols
• BL23Kidney Shu Point61 protocols
• BL20Spleen Shu Point49 protocols
• BL13Lung Shu Point47 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection46 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley45 protocols
• BL15Heart Shu Point41 protocols
• PC06Inner Gate39 protocols
• LV03Great Surge38 protocols
• CV12Stomach Centre35 protocols
• CV04Original Qi Gate31 protocols

Other points on the Bladder Meridian