BL18 (Liver Shu Point)

肝俞gān yú

102

Indications

191

Protocols

Location

1.5 thumb widths lateral to the du8 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 Benefit Eyes Benefit Eyes Benefit Regulate Liver Blood Benefit Regulate Qi Liver Benefit Tendon Ligament Benefit Tendon / Ligament Cough Coughing Blood Coughing Blood Cramping Cramping Abdomen Cramping Abdomen Depression Psychological Disorder Psychological Disorder Shan Disorder Shan Disorder Costal Lateral Bloating Costal Lateral Bloating Focal Bloating Focal Bloating Dizziness Dry Mouth Dry Mouth Breathing Shortness Of Breath Problems Breathing Shortness Of Breath Problems Epilepsy Eyesight / Vision Blurred Blurred Vision Eyesight / Vision Dizzy Dizzy Vision Eyesight / Vision Night Blindness Night Blindness Vision Eyesight / Vision Superficial Obstruction Superficial Obstruction Vision Fibroids / Masses Ji Fibroids Masses Ji Fibroids / Masses Ju Fibroids Masses Ju Chest Fullness Chest Fullness Costal Lateral Fullness Costal Lateral Fullness Hypogastrium Fullness Hypogastrium Fullness Heat Fire Heat Fire Stiff Neck Spinal Stiffness Immobility Neck Immobility Spine Itchiness Eye Canthus Medial Itchiness Eye Canthus Medial Jaundice Lachrymation Excessive Lachrymation Excessive Nosebleed Nourish Liver Blood Nourish Liver Blood Oculogyric Crisis Eyes Staring Upwards Oculogyric Crisis Eyes Staring Upwards Opisthotonos Lower Abdominal Pain Lower Abdominal Pain Lower Back Pain Lower Back Pain Chest Pain Chest Pain Rib Pain Rib Pain Upper Stomach Pain Upper Stomach Pain Lower Abdominal Pain Lower Abdominal Pain Neck Pain Neck Pain Nose Pain Nose Pain Redness Pain Redness Pain Shoulder Pain Shoulder Pain Spine Pain Spine Pain Supraorbital Pain Supraorbital Pain Tendon Ligament Pain Tendon / Ligament Pain Red Eyes Red Eyes Regulate Liver Blood Regulate Qi Liver Saliva Blood Saliva Blood Damp Heat Syndrome Damp-heat Syndrome Tetanus Tetany Vomiting Blood Vomiting Blood Wind

Protocols using BL18

The 50 best-sourced of 191, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

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 – BL18, BL23, BL25, GV03, GV04 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210812 ↗)
Lumbar Pain, 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 ↗)
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Knee – ST34, ST35, ST36, SP10, BL18, BL23, GB33, GB34 (doi:10.1186/s12984-025-01692-y ↗)
Anxiety, Insomnia, Restlessness Insomnia, Insomnia Chronic, Fatigue Daytime, Mood Disturbance, Liver-fire Heart-disturbance – HT07, BL15, BL18, LV03 (doi:10.2147/NSS.S521578 ↗)
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 ↗)
Tic Disorder Motor, Tic Disorder Vocal, Eye Blinking, Mouth Twitching, Sniffing, Throat Clearing – BL14, BL15, BL18, KD07, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045844 ↗)
Dry Eye, Perimenopausal Syndrome, Perimenopause, Dry Eye Perimenopausal – BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB19 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230536 ↗)
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 ↗)
Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – ST18, ST36, SI01, BL18, BL20, BL21, LV03, LV14, CV12, CV17, GV14 (doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305 ↗)
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 ↗)
Fatigue, Blood Deficiency – ST36, SP04, SP06, HT07, BL17, BL18, LV08, GV20 (doi:10.1177/2164956119870444 ↗)
Arthritis Rheumatoid, Joint Pain, Stiffness Morning, Inflammation Joint – LI04, ST36, BL18, BL23, GB39 (doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.829409 ↗)
Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Mild – BL18, BL23, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.942682 ↗)
Anxiety, Low Mood, Depression Cancer-related – BL13, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL23 (doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.1036634 ↗)
Anxiety, Low Mood, Depression Cancer-related – ST40, SP06, BL18, BL62 (doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.1036634 ↗)

BL18 (Liver Shu Point)

Location

Cautions

Indications

Protocols using BL18

Other points on the Bladder Meridian