Bladder Channel

Sanjiaoshu BL-22

Chinese: 三焦俞

Pinyin: Sān Jiāo Shū

Location

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra. 

How to locate

First identify the Tuffier's line which connects the highest points of the iliac crest. The spinous process  of the 4th lumber vertebra (L4) mostly falls on this line. Then identify the spinous process of the first lumber vertebra (L1) by counting three up.

Locate Sanjiaoshu BL-22 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of L1. Huangmen BL-51 is at the same level but 3 cun lateral to L1. 

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.

Main actions

  1. Regulates the Triple Burner and the Lessor Yang
  2. Regulates the water passages and resolves Dampness

Indications

Oedema Headaches Dizziness Turbid urine Blood in urine Abdominal mass Oedema of legs Urinary retention Painful urination Urinary difficulty Bitter taste in the mouth Alternation of hot and cold feeling

Needling

Obliquely 0.5–1.5 cun.

Caution: Kidneys.

Commentary for Sanjiaoshu BL-22

Sanjiaoshu BL-22 is a very important point. 

First of all, as the Back Transporting-Shu point of the Triple Burner, it helps regulating Qi and Body Fluids in the Upper, Middle and Lower Burner. BL-22 is locate right above Shenshu BL-23, the Back Transporting-Shu point of the Kidneys. It promotes the emerging of the Original Qi from the space between the Kidneys and its dispersing to the five Yin and six Yang Organs as well as their Channels through the Triple Burner.

The Triple Burner Channel belongs to Lesser Yang. Thus BL-22 is indicated for Lessor Yang Patterns according to the Six Stage Theory. Typical symptoms include alternation of hot and cold feeling, headaches, dizziness and bitter taste. 

Secondly, it is a major point to regulate water passages in the Lower Burner. It helps to transform and transport Body Fluids properly and excrete dirty Fluids. Thus it also resolves Dampness in the Lower Burner by regulating the Water Passage. When this function is impaired, the patients tend to suffer from Oedema and various urinary issues. 

Finally, it invigorates the Blood in the Lower Burner as well, since Blood is part of Body Fluids. From this point of view, BL-22's action is quite similar to the herb Ze Lan.