Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Herbs(TCMHH)
Ask us

ACUPUNCTURE

Da Bao: TCM Acupoint Guide

DABAO
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
Advertisement

Name

Da Bao (Dabao)

Location

On the mid-axillary line, in the sixth intercostal space. Note: several sources locate this point in the seventh intercostal space.

Needling

  • Transverse-oblique insertion along the intercostal space, 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • Caution: perpendicular insertion, especially in thin patients, carries a substantial risk of inducing a pneumothorax.
  • Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
  • Puncture obliquely, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.

Command Functions

  • Great Luo-Connecting point of the Spleen

Actions

  • Moves Blood in the Blood Connecting channels
  • Regulates Qi and Blood
  • Firms the sinews and joints
  • Unbinds the chest
  • Benefits the lateral costal region

Indications

  • Asthma
  • Intercostal neuralgia
  • Pain in the chest and lateral costal region on respiration
  • General aching and weakness
  • Flaccidity of the limbs
  • Flaccidity of the hundred joints
  • Distention and fullness of the lateral costal region
  • Chest pain
  • Suffocation
  • General pain due to Blood Stasis
  • Muscular pain moving throughout the body
  • Hypochondriac pain
  • Lethargy
  • Depression
  • Chest and hypochondriac fullness and pain
  • Cough
  • Dyspnea
  • Emaciation due to prolonged illness
  • Fatigued extremities

Combinations

PointsIndications
GB-34 Yanglingquan, LI-11 Quchi, UB-10 TianzhuPain of the whole body, weakness of the four limbs
SJ-8 Sanyangluo, PC-4 Ximen, GB-38 Yangfu, GB-41 ZulinqiPain of the chest and lateral costal region

Notes

A very powerful point, but not often used. It controls all of the minute Blood Connecting channels. This point connects Yin and Yang, and fuses the six Fu with the five Zang. It harmonizes the upper and lower body, the Interior to the Exterior and the right side to the left. This point can be used for emergencies.

Advertisement

Sources and further reading

We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.

  • Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
  • Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
  • NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.

Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.

Did this article help you?

Your answer shapes what gets rewritten next.

👍 Yes, this helped 👎 No, something is missing

Keep readingRelated entries

Mu Zhi Jian: TCM Acupoint Guide Mu Zhi Jian (Muzhijian) is 0.1 cun from the corner of the vallum unguis of the thumb. Needling: prick to bleed. Indications: stroke. Di Wu Hui: TCM Acupoint Guide Di Wu Hui (Diwuhui) is between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, 1 cun above GB-43 Xiaxi. Actions: spreads liver qi, clears gall bladder heat.. Wei Shang Xue: TCM Acupoint Guide Wei Shang Xue (Weishangxue) is 2 cun above the navel, 4 cun lateral to REN-10 Xiawan. Needling: transverse insertion toward the navel or ST-25 Tianshu, 2 to. Xia Xi: TCM Acupoint Guide Xia Xi (Xiaxi). On the dorsum of the foot, 0.5 cun proximal to the margin of the web between the fourth and fifth toes, at the junction of the red and white.

Something this article did not cover?

Ask us directly. We reply within two days, and good questions become public articles.

Ask a question →