ACUPUNCTURE
Shen Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHENSHU
Name
Shen Shu (Shenshu)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, at the same level as DU-4 Mingmen. Note: locate at the visible highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
Needling
- Straight insertion pointed slightly toward the spine, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention in the lower back or an electric, numb sensation extending toward the buttocks and lower extremities.
- Caution: care should be taken not to insert the needle too deeply, or away from the spine, to avoid puncturing the Kidneys.
- Caution: deep perpendicular needling carries a risk of injuring the Kidney.
- Oblique or perpendicular-oblique insertion towards the spine, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Puncture perpendicularly, 1 to 1.2 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Back-Shu point of the Kidneys
Actions
- Tonifies the Kidneys
- Fortifies Yang
- Benefits Jing
- Nourishes Kidney Yin
- Regulates Kidney qi
- Strengthens the Kidneys' function of receiving qi
- Firms Kidney qi
- Regulates the water passages
- Regulates the Lower Jiao
- Benefits urination
- Resolves Dampness
- Benefits and warms the uterus
- Benefits the ears and eyes
- Strengthens the lumbar region
- Nourishes Blood
- Benefits bones and marrow
- Tonifies Yuan Qi
- Expels urinary stones
Indications
- Edema
- Deficiency-taxation edema
- Difficult urination
- White turbidity
- Enuresis
- Frequent urination
- Dripping urination
- Wasting and thirsting disorder with frequent urination
- Hematuria
- Cold or Damp diarrhea
- Borborygmus
- Undigested food in the stools
- Eats a lot but remains thin
- Pain of the lateral costal region
- Cold and distention of the Stomach
- Cold vomiting
- Kidney Deficiency Deafness
- Tinnitus
- Visual dizziness
- Night blindness
- Blurred vision
- Heavy head with Heat in the body
- Redness and Heat of the face
- Redness of the head and body
- Yellow-black complexion
- Wind headache
- Alternating chills and fever
- Rebellious qi Heart pain
- Hemiplegia
- Nephroptosis
- Alopecia
- Anemia
- Sequelae of infantile paralysis
- Seizures
- Cold knees
- Osteoporosis
- Osteomalacia
- A constant desire to sleep
- Atrophy syndrome due to Deficiency
- Pulmonary tuberculosis with chills and shortness of breath
- Generalized weakness
- Amenorrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Prostatitis
- Urinary tract infection
- Urinary retention
- Optic nerve atrophy
- Emaciation
- Disorientation
- Lethargy
- Seminal emission
- Seminal emission with dreams
- Spermatorrhea
- Urine containing semen
- Impotence
- Premature ejaculation
- Genital pain
- Acute hypogastric pain
- Irregular menstruation
- Accumulation of Cold in women giving rise to taxation
- Chronic Cold of the uterus
- Emaciation in women due to sexual intercourse during menstruation
- Leukorrhea
- Red and white leukorrhea
- Chronic dyspnea
- Chronic cough
- Asthma
- Diminished Qi
- The five taxations and the seven injuries
- Taxation of the five Zang
- Chronic Cold of the Kidneys
- Deficiency-taxation emaciation
- Pain and soreness of the lumbar region
- Pain and soreness of the knees
- Icy-cold sensation of the lumbar region
- Cold legs
- Weak legs
- Hot and cold sensations of the bones
- Windstroke
- Nephritis
- Renal colic
- Lower back and soft tissue injuries
- Hematuria
- Tidal fevers
- Arthritic bone deformities
- Poor memory
- Fatigue
- Acute urinary stones
- Infantile paralysis
- Bronchial asthma
- Neurasthenia
- Menopausal syndrome
- Dysmenorrhea
- Diabetes
- Painful urinary dysfunction
- Urinary incontinence
- Eye fatigue
- Chronic knee, sacral or lower back pain
- Kidney stones
- Poor concentration
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-64 Jinggu, KI-2 Rangu | Cold in the lower extremities |
| UB-11 Dazhu, GB-39 Xuanzhong, KI-7 Fuliu, ST-45 Lidui, UB-62 Shenmai | Cold and pain in the bone marrow |
| UB-15 Xinshu | Weakness of the Kidneys and lumbar region accompanied by seminal emission |
| UB-24 Qihaishu, UB-29 Zhonglushu | Lumbar pain |
| UB-40 Weizhong, KI-3 Taixi, UB-30 Baihuanshu | Lumbar pain due to Kidney Deficiency |
| DU-4 Mingmen | Lumbar pain in the elderly, incontinence of urine or feces in the elderly, moxa |
| LIV-13 Zhangmen | Invasion by Cold or Damp, diarrhea containing undigested food in the stool |
| UB-25 Dachangshu | Cold or Damp diarrhea with undigested food in the stool |
| UB-21 Weishu | Vomiting or Cold in the Stomach with distention, much eating but remains thin |
| LIV-3 Taichong | Deficiency-taxation edema, moxa |
| REN-4 Guanyuan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Seminal emission, white turbidity |
| KI-2 Rangu, DU-4 Mingmen, REN-6 Qihai | Impotence |
| UB-52 Zhishi, UB-64 Jinggu, LIV-3 Taichong | Genital pain |
| GB-26 Daimai, REN-6 Qihai, REN-3 Zhongji, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Irregular menstruation |
| M-CA-18 Zigong, REN-3 Zhongji, REN-5 Shimen | Ceaseless uterine bleeding |
| GB-2 Tinghui or LI-6 Pianli, GB-2 Tinghui | Deafness due to Kidney Deficiency |
| ST-36 Zusanli, LI-4 Hegu | Deficiency tinnitus |
| SI-19 Tinggong, GB-2 Tinghui, SJ-21 Ermen, DU-20 Baihui, UB-8 Luoque, LI-5 Yangxi, SI-2 Qiangu, SI-3 Houxi, SI-4 Wangu, SJ-3 Zhongzhu, SJ-2 Yemen, LI-1 Shangyang | Tinnitus |
| ST-39 Xiajuxu, GB-40 Qiuxu, GB-43 Xiaxi | Fullness of the chest and lateral costal region radiating to the abdomen |
| ST-3 Juliao | Chest and diaphragm obstructed by Blood Stasis, congealed Blood in the chest and abdomen |
| REN-3 Zhongji, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Nephritis |
| UB-28 Pangguangshu, REN-3 Zhongji, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Urinary tract infection |
| LI-4 Hegu, ST-36 Zusanli | Diabetes |
| UB-28 Pangguangshu, SP-9 Yinlingquan | Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao |
| LIV-13 Zhongmen | Cold diarrhea with undigested food in the stool |
| UB-20 Pishu | Promotes the formation of Blood to treat Blood Deficiency |
Notes
The main point to tonify the Kidneys, and one of the principal points to strengthen the Kidneys, fortify Yang, nourish Yin and benefit Jing. It tonifies the mind, stimulates initiative, lifts depression and strengthens willpower.
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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