ACUPUNCTURE
Ge Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
GESHU
Name
Ge Shu (BL-17)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra, level with DU-9 Zhiyang.
Locate at the visible highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
Needling
- Oblique insertion toward the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture obliquely 0.5 to 0.7 cun.
- Transverse insertion 1 to 1.5 cun.
- 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 directed away from the spine, carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax. Do not needle too deeply, in order to avoid puncturing the lung. Moxibustion is applicable.
Command functions
- Hui-meeting point of blood
- Back-shu point of the diaphragm
Actions
- Regulates, invigorates, nourishes and harmonizes the blood
- Transforms congealed blood and dispels blood stasis
- Cools blood heat and stops bleeding
- Expands the chest and diaphragm; harmonizes the diaphragm and removes obstructions from it
- Strengthens deficient conditions and tonifies qi and blood
- Descends rebellious qi and pacifies Stomach qi
- Calms the shen
Indications
Blood disorders
- All blood diseases
- Anemia
- Amenorrhea due to blood dryness
- Hemafecia (blood in the stool)
- Hematemesis, spitting blood, hemoptysis and epistaxis
- Chronic bleeding
- Stomach ache due to blood stasis
- Oppression of the chest, heart pain and stabbing pain of the Heart
Diaphragm and chest
- Diaphragmatic spasm
- Esophageal constriction and dysphagia
- Hiatal hernia
- Abdominal distention and lumps
- Fullness of the abdomen and lateral costal region
- Belching, hiccup and stomach reflux
- Epigastric pain with vomiting; vomiting; vomiting of food eaten the day before
- Difficult ingestion and inability to eat
- Heart pain on eating
- Throat bi and swollen, painful throat
- Asthma and coughing with dyspnea
Whole-body patterns
- Upper jiao wasting and thirsting with intense thirst
- Steaming bone syndrome
- Whole body Bi pain; pain of the skin, flesh and bones
- Aversion to Cold and fever with absence of sweat
- Heaviness of the body; swelling, distention and pain of the body
- Weariness of the four limbs; lassitude and lethargy with no desire to move
- Frequent stretching and yawning
- Somnolence and chronic somnolence
- Mania-depression
- Jaundice and afternoon fever
- Tidal fever, fever and chills, night sweats and excessive sweating
Skin and swellings
- Scrofula
- Urticaria and psoriasis
- Abscesses and carbuncles
- Tuberculosis of the lymph glands
Other
- Dizziness
- Nervous vomiting
- Back pain and rigidity of the spine
- Stomach cancer
- Measles
Combinations
| REN-22 Tiantu, REN-17 Shanzhong, REN-14 Juque, ST-36 Zusanli | Diaphragmatic spasm |
| DU-14 Dazhui, UB-21 Weishu, SP-10 Xuehai, ST-36 Zusanli | Anemia |
| LU-8 Jingqu | Swollen and painful throat (throat bi) |
| UB-19 Danshu, UB-43 Gaohuangshu, M-BW-6 Huanmen | The hundred syndromes of deficiency-taxation; moxa |
| LIV-13 Zhangmen, REN-12 Zhongwan | Vomiting; moxa |
| GB-8 Shuaigu | Cold phlegm in the diaphragm and Stomach |
| UB-45 Yixi, UB-63 Jinmen, LU-5 Chize | Contraction and cold of the shoulder and back with pain of the inner aspect of the scapula |
| REN-19 Zigong, REN-18 Yutang | Bone pain |
| UB-18 Ganshu | Nourishes Liver blood and removes Liver blood stasis |
| UB-15 Xinshu | Nourishes Heart blood and removes Heart blood stasis |
| UB-20 Pishu | Nourishes the Spleen's function of manufacturing blood |
| UB-19 Danshu | Tonify qi and blood (the Four Flowers); moxa |
| UB-18 Ganshu, UB-20 Pishu | Tonify qi and blood (the Magnificent Six); moxa |
Notes
This is an important point with many functions. It is an important point for many kinds of bleeding disorders, and it has an important action on the diaphragm.
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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