BL18 Ganshu (Liver Shu Point)

Location

1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

Cautions

Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

Indications

Conditions for which BL18 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Anger Cough Coughing Blood CrampingCramping AbdomenDepressionPsychological DisorderShan DisorderCostal Lateral BloatingFocal BloatingDizziness Dry MouthBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsEpilepsyEyesight / Vision BlurredBlurred VisionEyesight / Vision DizzyDizzy VisionEyesight / Vision Night BlindnessNight Blindness VisionEyesight / Vision Superficial ObstructionSuperficial Obstruction VisionFibroids / Masses JiFibroids Masses JiFibroids / Masses JuFibroids Masses JuChest FullnessCostal Lateral FullnessHypogastrium FullnessHeat FireStiff NeckSpinal StiffnessImmobility NeckImmobility SpineItchiness Eye Canthus MedialJaundiceLachrymation ExcessiveNosebleedOculogyric Crisis Eyes Staring UpwardsOpisthotonosLower Abdominal PainLower Back Pain Chest Pain Rib Pain Upper Stomach Pain Neck PainNose PainRedness PainShoulder Pain Spine Pain Supraorbital PainTendon Ligament PainTendon / Ligament PainRed EyesSaliva BloodDamp Heat SyndromeDamp-heat SyndromeTetanusTetanyVomiting BloodWind

TCM actions

What classical sources say BL18 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit EyesBenefit Regulate Liver BloodBenefit Regulate Qi LiverBenefit Tendon LigamentBenefit Tendon / LigamentNourish Liver BloodRegulate Liver BloodRegulate Qi Liver

Protocols using BL18

The 50 best-sourced of 264, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

Dysmenorrhea Primary – ST25, BL18, BL20, BL23, CV03, CV04, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea Primary – SP08, BL18, BL23, BL32 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
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 ↗)
Vision Loss, Optic Nerve Contusion – LI04, LI11, BL01, BL02, BL18, GB20, GB37, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗)
Vision Blurred, Optic Nerve Contusion – LI04, LI11, ST36, BL01, BL02, BL18, GB20, GB37, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗)
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 ↗)
Bedwetting, Restlessness, Mental Retardation, Slow Reaction, Glossolalia, Salivation, Feeble Neck – LI04, ST04, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL10, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, GB13, GB20, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60036-2 ↗)
Headache, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Neck Stiffness – LI11, LI15, ST36, ST40, SI11, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, TB05, GB20, GB34, LV03, CV12, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60025-8 ↗)
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 ↗)
Acne, Irregular Menstruation, Liver Stagnation, Yin Deficiency – BL18, BL23, KD03, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60007-2 ↗)
Insomnia – ST25, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL14, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, PC06, GB20, GB41, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV17, GV20, GV23, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60009-1 ↗)
Dizziness, Headache, Constipation, Depression, Insomnia, Forgetfulness, Palpitation, Dry Mouth, Chest Distress – ST25, ST36, ST37, ST40, SP03, SP06, BL18, KD03, PC06, LV02, LV03, LV14, CV15, GV14, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60080-7 ↗)
Immune Deficiency, Immune Dysregulation – ST36, BL18, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nel107 ↗)
Chronic Pain, Post-thoracotomy Pain, Acute Pain – ST36, BL12, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL18, BL19 (doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.07.053 ↗)
Glaucoma Open-angle, Intraocular Pressure Elevated, Retrobulbar Circulation Impaired – ST02, ST36, SP06, BL02, BL18, BL23, KD03, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2011/157090 ↗)
Fatigue, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Fibromyalgia, Widespread Pain – LI04, SP06, BL18, BL20, PC06, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-59 ↗)
Dysmenorrhea, Kidney Deficiency, Liver Deficiency, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes – ST36, SP06, BL17, BL18, BL23, KD03, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep239 ↗)
Hot Flashes, Vasomotor Symptoms, Menopause Perimenopause, Menopause Postmenopause – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, HT07, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, GB34, LV03, CV06, CV17, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31821f9171 ↗)
Glaucoma Open-angle, Circulation Retrobulbar Impaired – ST02, ST36, SP06, BL02, BL18, BL23, KD03, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2012/513638 ↗)
Headache, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Fatigue Unexplained, Sleep Unrefreshing, Memory Impaired, Malaise Post-exertional – BL11, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-147 ↗)
Cancer Pain, Cancer Liver – BL18, BL19, LV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60121-1 ↗)
Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Sleep Unrefreshing, Fatigue Post-exertional – BL11, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0857-0 ↗)
Tic Disorder Motor, Tic Disorder Vocal, Tourette Syndrome – BL15, BL18, BL23, GB20, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0873-0 ↗)
Incontinence Urinary Stress, Incontinence Urinary Mixed, Incontinence Urinary Urgency – SP03, SP06, BL14, BL18, BL20, BL23, BL28, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, KD03, KD07, PC06, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV04, GV20 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2015-010828 ↗)
Hyperglycemia, Prediabetes, Impaired Glucose Tolerance – LI04, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, SP06, SP09, BL18, BL20, BL21, LV03, LV13, LV14, CV12, GV09 (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2014-4 ↗)
Hyperlipidemia, Elevated Ldl-c, Elevated Tc, Elevated Tg – ST25, ST40, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, CV14 (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2029-x ↗)
Fatigue, Loss of Appetite, Low-back Pain, Cough Chronic Intractable, Throat Dry, Lupus Nephropathy – LU07, LI04, LI20, ST21, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP04, SP06, SI03, BL13, BL18, BL23, BL62, KD03, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB41, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV22, GV01, GV08, GV14, GV24 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000009309 ↗)
Anxiety, Bloating, Abdominal Pain, Premenstrual Syndrome, Mood Irritability, Breast Tenderness, Depression Premenstrual – LI04, SP06, BL18, PC06, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV17, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2019/6246285 ↗)
COPD, Reduced Quality Of Life – BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Ulcerative Colitis, Blood In Stool – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL23, GV01 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03101-4 ↗)
Anxiety, Insomnia, Lethargy, Diarrhea, Psychomotor Retardation, Depression Bipolar, Malaise General – LI04, ST25, ST27, ST36, SP06, BL15, BL18, BL20, PC06, GB20, GB21, LV03, CV04, GV20 (doi:10.1177/1179547620967379 ↗)
Vomiting, Nausea, Abdominal Pain, Abdominal Bloating, Postprandial Fullness, Satiety Early, Gastroparesis Diabetic, Loss Of Appetite – ST21, ST25, ST36, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, PC06, CV12 (doi:10.1155/2021/6649331 ↗)
Anxiety, Stool Loose, Menstruation Irregular, Vision Visual Field Defect, Vision Blind Spot, Neck Myofascial Pain – LI04, LI10, ST36, SP03, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT08, SI03, SI13, BL10, BL18, BL20, BL22, BL23, BL65, PC06, PC07, GB20, GB21, GB34, LV03, GV14, GV20, MS14 (doi:10.1177/21649561211021081 ↗)
Cognitive Impairment Memory, Mild Cognitive Impairment Amnestic – BL18, BL23, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000027686 ↗)
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 ↗)
Fatigue, Depression, Insomnia, Poor Appetite, Lower Limb Weakness, Upper Limb Weakness, Muscle Atrophy Progressive, Paralysis Motor Neuron – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, ST41, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, TB05, GB20, GB34, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2022/6541600 ↗)
Sleep Disturbance, Restless Legs Syndrome, Lower Limb Abnormal Sensation – ST34, ST36, SP05, SP06, SP10, BL18, BL23, BL56, BL57, BL64, KD03, GB34, GB39 (doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.05.005 ↗)
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 ↗)
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 ↗)
Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy Spastic, Motor Impairment Gross Motor, Movement Disorder Posture – SP03, SP06, BL18, BL20, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.2147/NDT.S424102 ↗)
Epilepsy Drug-resistant, Seizures Focal, Seizures Tonic-clonic – ST40, BL15, BL18, GB34, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2023/5871991 ↗)
Osteoporosis, Back Low Pain, Muscle Weakness Skeletal, Sarcopenia – BL18, BL23, BL25, GV03, GV04 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210812 ↗)
Lumbar Pain, Low Back Pain, Lumbar Disc Herniation, Disc Herniation Lumbar, Restricted Range Of Motion Lumbar – ST25, BL18, BL23, GB34, GV14 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210951 ↗)
Pelvic Pain, Anorectal Pain, Defecation Disorder, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction – BL18, BL23, BL25, BL33, BL34 (doi:10.5152/tjg.2024.22516 ↗)
Constipation, Nausea, Liver Pain, Cancer Pain – LI04, ST36, BL17, BL18, PC06, LV03, LV13, LV14 (doi:10.2147/JPR.S456874 ↗)
Fatigue, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Depression, Absent Periods, Dysmenorrhea, Insomnia, Infertility, Arthralgia, Oligomenorrhea, Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency – SP06, SP10, BL18, BL20, BL23, BL32, KD16, CV04, CV06 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1357824 ↗)
Anxiety, Fibromyalgia, Whole-body Pain, Mood Depressive – ST25, ST27, ST36, SP04, SP06, HT07, SI03, BL16, BL18, BL19, BL20, BL21, BL23, BL62, KD03, KD06, TB05, LV03, LV08 (doi:10.7759/cureus.74385 ↗)
Hiv/aids, Immunodeficiency Immune Non-response, Substance Abuse Amphetamine – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL18, BL20, BL23, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04724-7 ↗)

Most often selected alongside BL18

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with BL18. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

BL23Kidney Shu Point156 protocols
BL20Spleen Shu Point125 protocols
ST36Leg Three Miles115 protocols
SP06Three Yin Intersection95 protocols
LV03Great Surge91 protocols
GV20100 Convergences71 protocols
BL15Heart Shu Point70 protocols
LI04Junction Valley64 protocols
BL17Diaphragm Shu Point62 protocols
PC06Inner Gate52 protocols
BL13Lung Shu Point49 protocols
CV04Original Qi Gate49 protocols