Bladder Meridian
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BL-13
Safety Warnings
- Dangerous point - requires extra caution
- Deep needling contraindicated - shallow insertion only
Needle Depth
0.5–0.8 cun
Needle Angle
45° (Oblique)
Body Area
Back — Upper (Thoracic)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra (T3).
Main Actions
- Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin
- Defuses and descends Rebellious Lung Qi
- Clears Lung Heat
- Expels Exterior Wind
Indications
Commentary
As the Back Transporting point for the Lungs, Feishu BL-13 is a very important point for Lung patterns of various Exterior and Interior origins.
First of all, this point promotes the diffusing and descending of Lung Qi. This regulates and strengthens the Nutritive and Defensive Qi in the space between the skin and muscles, so as to prevents Exterior Pernicious Factors invasion such as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat. Typical manifestations include cough, wheezing, breathlessness, chest fullness, persistent cough in children, chest pain (from Lung patterns) and expectoration of phlegm. In this case, it is often used together with Shenzhu DU-12. Tonifying Needling method or moxa should be applied here to tonify Qi.
It is also widely used to expels the Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat at the beginning stage of the their attack, characterized by common cold symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, cough and sneezing.
Furthermore, Feishu BL-13 clears Interior Lung Heat, especially if the Heat is at the Qi level of the Four Levels Theory. This situation often occurs in the acute bronchitis due to Wind invasion. Typical symptoms include high fever, thirst, coughing with profuse sticky yellow sputum, breathlessness, restlessness, a rapid pulse and a red tongue body with a thick yellow dry coating.
For above two Excess patterns, Reducing Needling method should be applied.
Finally, when combined with Gaohuangshu Bl-43, Feishu BL-13 nourishes Lung Yin so that it calms the Mind and eliminates any suicide ideas. It is because the Lungs house the Corporeal Soul (Po), which is a physical soul with a centripetal movement, constantly materializing and constantly separating into different constituent. It has a relationship with 'Ghost' or 'Spirits of the death'. Both Feishu BL-13 and Pohu BL-42 (both are at the same level of the back) are indicated for suicidal thoughts.
Classical Sources
Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) - Chapter on Back-Shu Points: First described as the Back-Shu point of the Lung, where the Qi of the Lung infuses into the back.
Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion): "Lung Heat with inability to breathe while lying down, rebellious Qi with vomiting of foam, wheezing breath following one after another, fullness of the chest with urgent sensation in the lateral chest and sternum, difficult breathing... Feishu governs these."
Sheng Yu Ge (Song of Victorious Jade): "If there is phlegm and cough, one must apply moxibustion to Feishu."
Baizheng Fu (Ode of One Hundred Patterns): "Cough with continuous sounds, Feishu must meet Tiantu."
How to Locate
First locate the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra (C7), which is still palpable when the neck is being flexed and extended, while the 6th cervical vertebra (C6) starts to slide anteriorly and gradually disappears. The spinous process of the 3nd thoracic vertebra (T3) is three spinous process below C7. Or directly locate the spinous process of the 3th thoracic vertebra (T3), which is generally on the level of the medial end of the scapular spine, when the patient is seated with their arms hanging down. Feishu BL-13 is 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of T3. Pohu BL-42 is at the same level but 3 cun lateral to T3. Points located between Fufen BL-41 and Zhibian BL-54 are in the lateral branch of the Bladder Channel, while these between Fengmen BL-12 and Baihuanshu BL-30 are in the medial branch.
Caution
This point lies directly over the lungs, with the pleural cavity approximately 1.4 cun (4.3 cm) beneath the skin surface. Perpendicular deep needling carries substantial risk of pneumothorax. Always needle obliquely at 45-60° angle toward the spine, not exceeding 0.8 cun depth. Avoid in patients with emphysema, COPD, or other conditions with enlarged lungs. Use extra caution in thin patients where the distance to the pleura is reduced.
Needle Angle
45° (Oblique)
Depth Category
Shallow
Standard Depth
0.5–0.8 cun
Needling Directions
0.5–1 cun obliquely towards the spine. Or 1 to 1.5 cun transversely towards the spine. This method applied more often as it allows the patients to lie in a supine position easily during needling retention.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Localized distension and soreness spreading across the upper back. Deqi may radiate toward the spine or laterally along the ribs. Some patients report a sensation of warmth or opening in the chest. The sensation is typically mild to moderate in intensity.
Moxibustion
Particularly Recommended
Duration: 10–15 minutes
Cupping
Recommended
Bloodletting
Recommended
Gua Sha
Recommended
Organ & Tissue Associations
Back-Shu Point for:
Lungs
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