BL23 Shenshu (Kidney Shu Point)

腎俞shèn shūShenshu

Bladder Meridian

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Location of acupuncture point BL23 Shenshu (Kidney Shu Point)
56
Indications
778
Protocols
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Location

1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

Categories

  • Back-Shu point of the Kidney

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

Cautions

Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

Indications

Conditions for which BL23 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

AsthmaMuscle WastingUterine and Menstrual ConditionsStomach RumblingCommon ColdCold StomachCold UterusCold Uterus ChronicCold VomitingCoughDampExhaustion DeficiencyDeafness Kidney DeficiencyQi DeficiencyDiarrheaStomach BloatingErectile DysfunctionErectile / Impotence ProblemsUrinary ProblemsDyspnoea ChronicEmaciation FemaleBedwettingEyesight / Vision BlurredBlurred VisionEyesight / Vision DizzyDizzy VisionEyesight / Vision Night BlindnessNight Blindness VisionVaginal DischargeLeucorrhea Vaginal Discharge RedWhite Vaginal DischargeNocturnal Emission Wet DreamEdemaRib PainGenital PainHypogastrium Acute PainIrregular PeriodsPeriod / Menstruation IrregularPremature EjaculationCold StagnationUndigested Food in StoolDeficiency Taxation Oedema SyndromeDeficiency-taxation Oedema SyndromeTaxationThirsting ExcessiveTinnitusFrequent UrinationUrination ScantyUrine BloodUrine CloudyUrine SemenUrine WhiteBack Lumbar WeaknessQi Kidney WeaknessYang WeaknessWeight Low Despite Appetite

TCM actions

What classical sources say BL23 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit EarsBenefit EssenceBenefit EyesBenefit Regulate Water PassagesBenefit Tonify KidneysBenefit UrinationBenefit UterusNourish Kidney YinRegulate Water PassagesTonify Kidneys

Protocols using BL23

The 50 best-sourced of 778, 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 ↗)
  • Period Short, Period Scanty, Period Low, Period Light, Warm Kidney Yang, Hypomenorrhea Ovulatory, Vitality Weakness, Hypomenorrhea Luteal, Period Short, Period Scanty, Period Low, Period Light, Warm Kidney Yang, Conduct Blood Downward, Hypomenorrhea Ovulatory, Vitality Weakness – SP01, BL23, KD03, CV04, CV06 (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 ↗)
  • Hypomenorrhea, Menstrual Irregular – SP01, BL23, KD03, CV04, CV06 (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 ↗)
  • Dysmenorrhea Primary – ST25, ST36, SP06, SP08, SP10, BL23, BL32, KD03, GB34, GB39, LV03, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
  • Dysmenorrhea Primary – ST25, BL18, BL20, BL23, CV03, CV04, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60035-2 ↗)
  • Dysmenorrhea Primary – BL23, LV03, CV04 (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 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Asthma, Dyspnea, Tachypnea – LU09, ST40, BL13, BL23, KD03, TB06, CV08 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60081-9 ↗)
  • Vascular Dementia, Memory Impairment, Cognitive Impairment – BL17, BL23, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60058-3 ↗)
  • Leg Pain, Prolapse Of The Lumbar Intervertebral Disc, Low Back Pain – BL23, BL25, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, BL40, BL54 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60003-0 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Sneezing, Nasal Itching, Nasal Discharge Watery, Coldness Body And Limbs, Soreness Waist And Knee, Waist And Knee Weakness – LU09, LI20, BL13, BL23, GB20, GV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60062-5 ↗)
  • Insomnia, Dream-disturbed Sleep, Difficulty Falling Asleep, Frequent Wakening, Early Wakening – ST36, SP06, BL15, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60006-4 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Tinnitus, Insomnia, Abdominal Distention, Palpitation, Dream-disturbed Sleep, Loose Stool, Difficulty Falling Asleep, Frequent Wakening, Poor Memory – ST36, SP06, BL15, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60006-4 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Fatigue, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Insomnia, Dreaming, Spermatorrhea, Poor Memory, Appetite Poor, Nocturnal Emission, Lack Of Energy, Low Back Weakness, Soreness Knee – SP06, HT07, BL15, BL20, BL23, BL52, KD03, PC06, CV04, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60090-x ↗)
  • Fatigue, Insomnia, Sleep Difficulty Falling Asleep, Sleep Early Awakening, Sleep Frequent Awakening, Memory Decreased – BL11, BL13, BL23, BL52, GV04, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60025-x ↗)
  • Urinary Retention, Urination Difficulty, Abdominal Distending Pain – SP06, SP09, BL23, BL28, BL32, BL39, CV02, CV03, CV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60020-5 ↗)
  • Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Knee – LU06, LI04, LI10, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP05, SP06, SP09, SP10, SI08, SI10, BL23, BL40, BL60, KD03, KD07, KD10, TB14, GB33, GB34, LV03, LV07, LV08 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-4-6 ↗)
  • Low Back Pain, Disability Low Back – BL23, BL25, BL40, GV03, GV04 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919 ↗)
  • Back Low Pain, Disability Musculoskeletal – BL23, BL25, BL40, GV03, GV04 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919 ↗)
  • Immune Deficiency, Immune Dysregulation – ST36, BL18, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nel107 ↗)
  • Back Pain, Sciatica Pain, Herniated Nucleus Pulposus – BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL31, BL32, BL33, BL34, BL40, BL57, BL60, GB30 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep085 ↗)
  • Disability Low Back, Low Back Chronic Pain – ST04, ST36, SP13, SP14, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL37, BL40, GB12, GB26, GB30, GB34, GB41, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV24, GV26 (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-118 ↗)
  • Fatigue, Insomnia, Irritability, Hot Flashes – SP06, HT07, BL15, BL23, BL32, PC06, GB34, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.03.033 ↗)
  • Glaucoma Open-angle, Intraocular Pressure Elevated, Retrobulbar Circulation Impaired – ST02, ST36, SP06, BL02, BL18, BL23, KD03, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2011/157090 ↗)
  • Back Low Pain, Disability Functional – BL23, BL24, BL25 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-146 ↗)
  • Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual Pain, Mood Changes, Cold Stagnation – LU07, ST36, SP06, BL23, KD06, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV04 (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 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Back Low Pain, Acute Pain, Referred Pain – LI04, BL23, BL25, BL40, BL52, BL54, BL58, BL62, KD03, GB30, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗)
  • Exercise Capacity Reduced, Cardiorespiratory Fitness Low, Sedentary Lifestyle – LU01, ST36, BL17, BL23, BL52, PC06, GB34, CV04, CV17 (doi:10.6061/clinics/2012(02)18 ↗)
  • Glaucoma Open-angle, Circulation Retrobulbar Impaired – ST02, ST36, SP06, BL02, BL18, BL23, KD03, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2012/513638 ↗)
  • Low Back Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain – BL23, BL24, BL25, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-16 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Lumbar Pain, Low-back Pain – BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL32, BL40, BL60, GB30, GB34 (doi:10.1155/2013/872142 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Back Low Chronic Pain – BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, BL60, KD03, GB34 (doi:10.1155/2013/125937 ↗)
  • Fatigue, Weakness, Constipation, Depression, Insomnia, Spasticity, Dysphagia, Atrophy Muscle, Limb Pain, Limb Numbness, Dyspnea Nocturnal, Dysarthria, Sweating Abnormal – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, BL23, KD03, PC06, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2013/613596 ↗)
  • Low Back Pain, Spondylolisthesis – BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, BL60, GB30, GB31, GV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-105 ↗)

Most often selected alongside BL23

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with BL23. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

  • ST36Leg Three Miles290 protocols
  • SP06Three Yin Intersection259 protocols
  • CV04Original Qi Gate222 protocols
  • BL20Spleen Shu Point216 protocols
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu Point199 protocols
  • KD03Great Stream175 protocols
  • BL18Liver Shu Point156 protocols
  • BL40Middle Of The Crease147 protocols
  • GV20100 Convergences134 protocols
  • LV03Great Surge123 protocols
  • CV06Sea Of Qi115 protocols
  • GV04Life Gate114 protocols

Other points on the Bladder Meridian

BL01BL02BL03BL04BL05BL06BL07BL08BL09BL10BL11BL12BL13BL14BL15BL16BL17BL18BL19BL20BL21BL22BL24BL25BL26BL27BL28BL29BL30BL31BL32BL33BL34BL35BL36BL37BL38BL39BL40BL41BL42BL43BL44BL45BL46BL47BL48BL49BL50BL51BL52BL53BL54BL55BL56BL57BL58BL59BL60BL61BL62BL63BL64BL65BL66BL67