ACUPUNCTURE
Fei Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
FEISHU
Name
Fei Shu (Feishu)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to DU-12 Shenzhu, at the lower border of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra. Note: locate at the highest visible point of the paraspinal muscles.
Needling
- Straight insertion, slanted slightly toward the spine, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: local soreness and distention, sometimes extending between the ribs.
- Transverse insertion, pointed downward along the muscle, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Caution: perpendicular needling, or oblique needling away from the spine, carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax. Do not needle too deeply in order to avoid puncturing the Lung.
- Oblique insertion toward the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture obliquely, 0.5 to 0.7 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Back Shu point of the Lungs
Actions
- Regulates and tonifies the Lungs, especially their Qi
- Tonifies Lung Qi
- Nourishes Lung Yin
- Regulates the Upper Jiao
- Tonifies ancestral qi
- Disperses Lung Qi
- Stimulates the Lungs' descending function
- Expands and relaxes the chest
- Dispels Wind, Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat and Wind-Dryness
- Transforms Phlegm, Phlegm-Cold, Phlegm-Dampness and Phlegm-Heat
- Clears Heat
- Releases Exterior conditions
- Stimulates sweating
- Regulates the Nutritive (Ying) and Defensive (Wei) Qi
- Stops cough
Indications
- Cough
- Asthma
- Chest pain
- Hemoptysis
- Afternoon fever
- Night sweating
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Pleurisy
- Bronchitis
- Urticaria
- Lower back pain and stiffness
- Throat Bi
- Dyspnea
- Shortness of breath with no desire to speak
- Sticky, yellow sputum
- Wheezing cough
- Persistent cough in children
- Heat sensation in the chest
- Coughing of phlegm
- Rapid pulse
- Chills and fever
- Cold shivering
- Lung atrophy
- Deficiency taxation fever
- Pain of the upper back and shoulder
- Deficiency agitation
- Heat in the body
- Epilepsy
- Vomiting
- Vomiting fluid after eating
- Vomiting of foam
- Crooked spine
- Turtle back in children
- Upper Jiao wasting and thirsting syndrome
- Steaming bone disorder
- Consumption with steaming bone disorder
- Atrophy syndrome due to Lung Heat
- Insanity
- Convulsions
- Lung abscess
- Tidal fever
- Spontaneous sweating
- Insomnia
- Neck and back stiffness
- Chest fullness with difficult breathing
- Pneumonia
- High fever with cough
- Chronic Lung Qi Deficiency
- Goiter
- Cold Lungs
- Difficult breathing on lying down
- Attack of the Lungs by Wind
- Fever
- Aversion to Cold
- Anhidrosis
- Consumption
- Dryness of the mouth and tongue
- Mania
- Mad walking with a desire to commit *******
- Fullness with no pleasure in eating
- Jaundice
- Pain of the flesh
- Itching of the skin
- Urticaria
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-12 Shenzhu | Chronic Lung Qi Deficiency |
| UB-43 Gaohuangshu | Nourishes Lung Yin |
| DU-14 Dazhui, UB-43 Gaohuangshu | Chronic bronchitis (moxibustion) |
| N-BW-20 Feirexue, REN-17 Shanzhong, LU-1 Zhongfu, PC-6 Neiguan | Bronchial asthma |
| DU-14 Dazhui joined to N-BW-6 Dazhui joined to Jiehexue, REN-17 Shanzhong joined to REN-18 Shanzhong joined to Yutang, LU-5 Chize, ST-36 Zusanli | Pulmonary tuberculosis |
| DU-14 Dazhui joined to N-BW-6 Dazhui joined to Jiehexue, REN-20 joined to REN-21 Huagai joined to Xuanji, LU-5 Chize, ST-36 Zusanli | Chest pain |
| LU-2 Yumen, LU-1 Zhongfu, SP-1 Yinbai, LIV-14 Qimen, UB-47 Hunmen, PC-7 Daling | Fullness in the chest |
| ST-40 Fenglong | Cough with phlegm |
| REN-22 Tiantu | Coughing, hoarse voice |
| LU-6 Kongzui, PC-3 Quze | Hemoptysis |
| DU-13 Taodao | Seasonal fever |
| DU-16 Fengfu | Mad walking with a desire to commit ******* |
| DU-2 Yaoshu | Stiffness of the lumbar region and back with inability to bend laterally |
Notes
The pre-eminent point to treat all disorders of the Lungs. This point can be used for both Exterior and Interior conditions. In cases of chronic Lung Qi Deficiency causing asthma or cough that is worse in the winter, apply intensive moxibustion to this point during the summer. The action of this point extends to the Heart.
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.
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