ACUPUNCTURE
Pi Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
PISHU
Name
Pi Shu (Pishu)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra, at the same level as DU-6 Jizhong. 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, numbness and distention extending to the lumbar region.
- Caution: perpendicular needling, or oblique needling away from the spine, carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax.
- Caution: do not needle too deeply in order to avoid puncturing the Kidneys or Liver.
- Transverse-oblique insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture obliquely, 0.5 to 0.7 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Back-Shu, Associated, Transporting, point of the Spleen
Actions
- Tonifies Spleen Qi
- Regulates the qi of the Spleen and assists its transportive and transformative functions
- Tonifies Spleen Yang
- Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach
- Regulates the Stomach, especially Yin
- Resolves Dampness
- Transforms Dampness, Spleen and Stomach Damp-Heat, Damp-Phlegm and Cold-Phlegm
- Warms Cold
- Raises Spleen Qi
- Holds the Blood
- Nourishes and harmonizes the Blood
- Tonifies Ying Qi and Blood
- Regulates and harmonizes the qi of the Middle Jiao
- Reduces digestive Stagnation
- Softens hard masses
- Expedites lactation
Indications
- Distention and pain of the abdomen
- Focal distention
- Abdominal masses
- Lack of appetite
- Remains thin despite much eating
- Spleen Qi Cold
- Undigested food in the stools
- Diarrhea
- Dysenteric disorder
- Chronic childhood fright Wind
- Childhood nutritional impairment
- Drum distention
- Deficiency-taxation
- Jaundice of the Yin type
- Yellow body with abdominal fullness and vomiting
- Pain in the lateral costal region
- Gastritis
- Ulcers
- Nervous vomiting
- Hepatitis
- Anemia
- Chronic hemorrhagic diseases
- Weakness in the limbs
- Lumps in the chest and abdomen
- Tiredness
- Hemafecia with dysentery
- Vomiting
- Epigastric pain
- Backache
- Atrophy disorder due to Damp-Heat
- Ascites
- Stomach ache or epigastric pain due to Stomach Qi Deficiency and Cold
- Anxiety and palpitations due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
- Constipation
- Insufficient lactation due to Deficiency
- Hemafecia
- Hematuria
- Hematemesis
- Menorrhagia
- Chronic hemorrhage
- Uterine prolapse
- Edema
- Somnolence
- Lassitude
- Heaviness of the body with no desire to move
- No desire to move the four limbs
- Malarial diseases with alternating chills and fever
- Lumbar pain
- Pain of the shoulder and back
- Skin pain
- Turbid white urine
- Clonic spasm
- Prolapsed Stomach
- Indigestion
- Enteritis
- Hepato-splenomegaly
- Urticaria
- Constriction of the esophagus inhibiting swallowing
- Loose stools
- Deficiency bleeding
- Dysphagia
- Neurasthenia
- Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting
- Qi-type painful urinary dysfunction, Lin
- Pancreatitis
- Borborygmus
- Stomach dysfunction with insomnia
- Dizziness and vertigo due to Phlegm
- Cough with profuse sputum
- Lymphadenitis
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-28 Pangguangshu | Spleen Deficiency with undigested food in the stool |
| UB-21 Weishu | Much eating but remains thin |
| SI-19 Tinggong | Abdominal pain with no pleasure in eating |
| SP-1 Yinbai, UB-18 Ganshu, REN-13 Shangwan | Hematemesis and spontaneous external bleeding |
| HT-1 Jiquan, GB-24 Riyue | Loss of use of the four limbs |
| UB-18 Ganshu, UB-52 Zhishi | Acute pain of both lateral costal regions |
| UB-18 Ganshu, REN-13 Shangwan | Epistaxis with spitting of Blood |
| UB-17 Geshu, M-BW-12 Yishu, UB-23 Shenshu, N-BW-20 Pirexue | Diabetes |
| DU-14 Dazhui, ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Leukopenia, moxa |
| UB-23 Shenshu | Nourishes Blood |
Notes
Specifically indicated for remaining thin despite much eating. A very important point for nearly all chronic diseases when the person is very depleted of energy.
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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