Location
1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV12 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra.
Cautions
Avoid deep perpendicular needling.
Indications
Conditions for which BL13 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
Abscess LungLoss of AppetiteAsthmaMuscle WastingAtrophy LungAversion ColdAversion SpeakingBenefit Descend Qi LungBenefit Regulate Qi LungBenefit Tonify Qi LungChillsCommon ColdCold LungCoughCough Infantile PersistentCough (infant) PersistentCough PhlegmAgitation DeficiencyTaxation Fever DeficiencyDeficiency-fever TaxationDepression SuicidalDescend Qi LungDesire Not To SpeakPsychological DisorderPsychological Mad Walking DisorderSteaming Bone DisorderDry MouthBreathing Lying Down ProblemsBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsShortness of BreathEpilepsyFeverFever Tidal FullnessChest FullnessGoiterHeatHeat LungLumbar StiffnessSpine Scoliosis StiffnessImmobility Back Lumbar StiffnessImmobility Spine ScoliosisItchiness SkinJaundiceNourish Lung YinLower Back PainChest PainFlesh PainShoulder PainPain Around NavelPharyngitisPulse / Heart Rate RapidPulse Heart Rate RapidRegulate Qi LungRelease ExteriorSaliva BloodHeat Chest SensationShiveringSpontaneous SweatingNight SweatsSweating Night-timeThirsting ExcessiveTongue DryTonify Qi LungTuberculosis PulmonaryTurtle Back (infant)Turtle Back InfantileHivesVomitingVomiting FluidVomiting FoamWind Lung
Protocols using BL13
The 50 best-sourced of 234, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.
- Asthma, Allergy Rhinitis, Allergy Eczema – BL12, BL13 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nel082 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- Allergic Rhinitis, Rhinitis Seasonal, Nasal Symptoms, Eye Symptoms – LU07, LI04, LI11, LI20, ST36, SP06, BL13, TB17, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-128 ↗)
- Lung Pain, Cancer Pain – LU01, LU02, BL13, BL17 (doi:10.1155/2014/804746 ↗)
- Fever, Headache, Skin Vesicles, Skin Pustules, Skin Eczema, Skin Herpes, Itching Face, Skin Oozing – BL13 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2014.17.020 ↗)
- Asthma, Immune Dysregulation, Respiratory Chronic – BL13, BL43, CV14, CV22 (doi:10.1155/2015/896247 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- Cough, Asthma, Shortness Of Breath, Chest Tightness, Wheeze – BL12, BL13, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0947-z ↗)
- Nasal Congestion, Allergic Rhinitis, Sneezing, Rhinorrhea, Nasal Pruritus – LI20, BL13 (doi:10.1155/2015/846851 ↗)
- Asthma, Wheezing, Dyspnea – BL13, BL20, BL23, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2015/846851 ↗)
- Allergic Rhinitis, Nasal Obstruction, Sneezing, Nasal Itching, Rhinorrhea – BL13, BL23, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1374-5 ↗)
- Copd, Dyspnea Exertional, Respiratory Obstruction – LU01, LU09, LI18, ST36, BL13, BL20, BL23, GB12 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000004879 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- Asthma – BL12, BL13 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30004-2 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- Nasal Obstruction, Sneezing, Nasal Itching, Rhinitis Allergic Seasonal, Rhinorrhoea – LU07, LI04, LI11, LI20, ST36, SP06, BL13, TB17, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2017-011382 ↗)
- Weight Loss, Copd, Dyspnea, Malnutrition, Exercise Intolerance – LU01, LU09, LI18, ST36, BL13, BL20, BL23, KD03, GB12, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2341-3 ↗)
- Cancer Lung Non-small-cell, Immunosuppression Perioperative, Inflammation Postoperative – LI04, ST36, BL13 (doi:10.1177/1533033818806477 ↗)
- Pneumothorax Spontaneous, Respiratory Dysfunction Postoperative, Pulmonary Infection Postoperative – BL13, BL23, BL43, CV22 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000014575 ↗)
- Lung Cancer, Dyspnea, Pneumonitis Radiation, Inflammation Pulmonary – LU01, LU02, LU09, LI04, ST36, BL13, BL20, BL23, KD03, PC06, GB12, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV14 (doi:10.1177/1534735420908327 ↗)
- Copd, Dyspnea, Reduced Exercise Capacity – ST36, BL13, BL23 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Copd, Reduced Lung Function – BL13 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Cough, Phlegm, Copd – LU07, LU09, ST36, ST40, SP06, BL12, BL13, BL20, BL23, KD03, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Copd, Reduced Lung Function – BL13 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Copd, Reduced Lung Function – BL13, BL17 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Copd, Dyspnea, Reduced Exercise Capacity – ST36, ST40, BL13, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Copd, Reduced Quality Of Life – BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02899-3 ↗)
- Lung Injury One-lung Ventilation, Inflammation Perioperative, Complication Pulmonary Postoperative, Cancer Esophageal – LI04, ST36, BL13 (doi:10.1155/2020/9018701 ↗)
- Nasal Congestion, Nasal Discharge, Rhinitis Allergic Seasonal – LU07, LI04, LI11, LI20, ST36, SP06, BL13, TB17, GB20, LV03 (doi:10.1007/s00405-022-07335-5 ↗)
- Cough, Wheezing, Spontaneous Sweating, Dyspnea, Shortness Of Breath, Chest Tightness, Sputum Expectoration, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – BL13, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1155/2022/4084505 ↗)
- Asthma, Respiratory Wheezing, Respiratory Dyspnea – BL13, BL15, BL17, BL20, BL23, CV04, GV14 (doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.01.013 ↗)
- Lymphedema Upper-limb, Edema Arm, Post-mastectomy Swelling, Breast-cancer Complication – LU05, LI11, LI14, SI09, SI11, BL13, BL20, BL23, PC06, TB05, GB21, CV17, GV14 (doi:10.1177/15347354231172735 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
- Lung Cancer, Lung Injury Acute, Lung Injury One-lung Ventilation, Oxidative Stress Perioperative, Surgery Thoracoscopic Lung Cancer, Pulmonary Complication Postoperative – LI04, ST36, BL13 (doi:10.1186/s12906-023-04304-1 ↗)
- Asthma, Airway Hyperresponsiveness – BL12, BL13, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(17)30033-x ↗)
- Proteinuria, Nephropathy Diabetic, Renal Function Impaired, Hemorheology Abnormal – SP06, BL13, BL21, BL23, KD03 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210036 ↗)
- Fatigue, Copd, Dyspnea, Dyspnea Exertional, Exercise Intolerance, Fatigue Leg – LU01, LU09, LI18, ST36, BL13, BL20, BL23, KD03, GB12, CV04, CV12 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04353-0 ↗)
- Cough Chronic, Dyspnea, Exercise Intolerance, Sputum Excess, Respiratory Airflow Limitation – LU01, ST36, ST40, BL13, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04412-6 ↗)
- Copd, Dyspnea, Lung Function Decline, Airway Obstruction – ST36, BL13, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04630-y ↗)
- Fever, Weight Loss, Arthralgia, Joint Pain, Sore Throat, Muscle Pain, Inflammation Systemic, Rash – ST24, SP15, BL12, BL13, KD13, CV04, CV06, CV08, CV10, CV12, GV14 (doi:10.12998/wjcc.v13.i8.101350 ↗)
- Postoperative Pain, Inflammation Perioperative, Complication Pulmonary Postoperative, Surgery Thoracic Postoperative, Hypoxemia, Pulmonary Complication Postoperative – LU06, LU09, BL13, CV17 (doi:10.1080/07853890.2025.2560684 ↗)
- Epilepsy, Epilepsy Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Central Temporal Spikes, Seizure Generalized Tonic-clonic, Seizure Nocturnal, Tonic-Clonic Seizures, Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes – BL13, BL18, GV06, GV08, GV11, GV14 (doi:10.3389/fnhum.2025.1618266 ↗)
- Fever, Fatigue, Anxiety, Depression, Sore Throat, Cough Dry, Muscle Pain, Infection Covid-19, Covid-19, Lung Inflammation – LU06, LU11, LI01, LI04, LI11, SP09, BL13, CV06, CV12, GV14 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230316 ↗)
- Cough, Fatigue, Chest Pain, Dyspnea, Anorexia, Pleural Effusion Malignant – ST28, BL13, BL20, BL23, CV04, CV17 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230821 ↗)
- Dry Eye, Perimenopausal Syndrome, Perimenopause, Dry Eye Perimenopausal – BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB19 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230536 ↗)
- Anxiety Cancer-related, Anxiety State, Anxiety Trait – LU09, LI04, LI10, HT07, BL13, CV06, GV20 (doi:10.5812/ircmj.25919 ↗)
- Asthma, Wheezing, Airway Obstruction – LU07, BL13, CV17 (doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0155-1 ↗)
- 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 ↗)
Most often selected alongside BL13
How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with BL13. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.
- BL23Kidney Shu Point93 protocols
- ST36Leg Three Miles89 protocols
- BL20Spleen Shu Point84 protocols
- GV14Great Vertebra60 protocols
- LI04Junction Valley51 protocols
- CV17Chest Centre45 protocols
- BL17Diaphragm Shu Point42 protocols
- BL18Liver Shu Point41 protocols
- LU09Great Source37 protocols
- BL15Heart Shu Point34 protocols
- ST40Abundant Bulge33 protocols
- CV12Stomach Centre32 protocols
