Bladder Meridian
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BL-55
Needle Depth
1.0–1.5 cun
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Body Area
Lower Leg — Posterior
Location
2 cun directly below Weizhong BL-40, between the medial and lateral bellies of gastrocnemius muscle, on the line joining Weizhong BL-40 and Chengshan BL-57.
Main Actions
- Removes obstructions from the Chananel
- Stops Uterus bleeding
- Stops genitalia pain
Indications
Hot knee
Back pain
Knee pain
Heavy knee
Leukorrhea
Shan disorder
Genitalia pain
Uterus bleeding
Inner thigh heat
Difficult walking
Commentary
Heyang BL-55 is not a major point of the Bladder Channel.
Its main action is to remove the obstructions from the Channel, so as to treat back pain, especially if it radiates to abdomen, knee, and thigh.
On the other hand, it also treats Uterus bleeding and stop genitalia pain.
Classical Sources
The classical sources provide limited specific references to BL-55. The name Heyang (合陽) means "Confluence of Yang" or "Yang Union," indicating that this is the location where the yang qi of the Bladder channel converges after the two branches reunite below the knee.
The point lies at the junction where the two main branches of the Bladder channel (the medial and lateral lines that traverse the back) merge back together after passing through the popliteal fossa, hence the name "confluence" or "union" of yang energy.
How to Locate
First identify Weizhong BL-40 in the middle of the popliteal crease. From there, measure 2 cun in an inferior direction and locate Heyang BL-55 in a depression between the medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius muscle.
Caution
Avoid needling into the small saphenous vein which runs superficially in this region. Deep needling should be performed carefully to avoid the tibial nerve and popliteal vessels that lie deeper in the popliteal fossa. Patients should be positioned prone or with knee slightly flexed for optimal access.
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Depth Category
Medium
Standard Depth
1.0–1.5 cun
Needling Directions
Vertically or obliquely 1–1.5 cun.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Local soreness and distension in the calf, with possible sensation radiating down toward the heel or up toward the popliteal fossa. Strong stimulation may produce numbness extending down the posterior leg.
Moxibustion
Recommended
Duration: 10–15 minutes
Cupping
Recommended
Bloodletting
N/A
Gua Sha
Recommended
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