Bladder Channel

Fengmen BL-12

Chinese: 风门

Pinyin: Fēng Mén

Location

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd thoracic vertebra (T2). 

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 2nd thoracic vertebra (T2) is two spinous process below C7. 

Fengmen BL-12 is 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of T2. while Fufen BL-41 is at the same level but 3 cun lateral to the lower border of T2. 

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. Expels Exterior Wind
  2. Strengthens the Defensive Qi
  3. Descends Lung Qi
  4. Benefits the nose

Indications

Fever Cough Sneezing Stiff neck Runny nose Lumbar pain Bloody nose Blocked nose Cough of blood Breathlessness Aversion to cold Allergic rhinitis Occipital headaches Tendency to get colds Profuse nasal discharge

Needling

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. 

Caution:Pneumothorax.

Commentary for Fengmen BL-12

Fengmen BL-12 is a very important and effective point in expelling Exterior Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat when the Pernicious Factors start to attack the body. With the Reducing Needling method, it is able to treat various common cold symptoms such as blocked nose, sneezing, aversion to cold, fever, body aches and headache. 

It can also be used with Tonifying Needling method or cupping to strengthen the Defensive Qi in the space between the skin and muscles, so as to fight off the Exterior Wind. Therefore, the patient is less likely to catch colds. 

Furthermore, it stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung Qi. This function helps to expel Wind and benefits the nose. Typical manifestation is chronic allergic rhinitis with sneezing and profuse clear watery nasal discharge. In this case, it is often used together with other Qi tonifying points such as Feishu BL-13, Zusanli ST-36 and Qihai REN-6.