Bladder Channel

Yanggang BL-48

Chinese: 阳纲

Pinyin: Yáng Gāng

Location

3 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra (T10). 

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 10th thoracic vertebra (T10) is ten spinous process below C7.

Or first locate the spinous process of T7, which is level with the inferior angle of the scapula, when the patient is seated with their arms hanging down. T10 is three thoracic vertebra below. 

Yanggang BL-48 is 3 cun lateral to the lower border of T10. Danshu BL-19 is at the same level but 1.5 cun lateral to T10.  

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 Gall Bladder and clears Damp-Heat
  2. Regulates the Middle Burner

Indications

Fever Jaundice Indolence Diarrhoea Dark Urine Borborygmi Yellow eyes Yellow face Poor appetite Abdominal pain Dysenteric disorder Difficult ingestion Abdominal distention Irregular defecation Lateral costal region pain

Needling

Obliquely 0.3–0.8 cun.

Caution: Pneumothorax. 

Commentary for Yanggang BL-48

Yanggang BL-48 is at the same level as Danshu BL-19, which is the Back Transporting-Shu point of the Gall Bladder. Therefore, it shares some BL-19's functions, despite that the point itself is much less important. 

First of all, BL-48 regulates the Gall Bladder and clears Damp-Heat, characterized by symptoms such as fever, jaundice, pain of the lateral costal region as well as dark and hesitant urination.

It also regulates Qi in the Middle Burner, so as to ease symptoms such as distention and pain in the abdomen, irregular defection and digestive issues.