Bladder Channel

Yuzhen BL-9

Chinese: 玉枕

Pinyin: Yù Zhěn

Location

First identify Naohu DU-17 which is on the superior border of the external occipital protuberance. 

Yuzhen BL-9 is 1.3 cun lateral to Naohu DU-17. 

How to locate

First identify Naohu DU-17 in the depression directly superior to the upper border of the external occipital protuberance. 

Then locate Yuzhen BL-9 by measuring 1.3 cun in a lateral direction. 

BL-9 is vertically above Tianzhu BL-10 which is on the lateral side of trapezius muscle. 

Main actions

  1. Expels Interior and Exterior Wind
  2. Subdues Liver Yang
  3. Calms the Mind
  4. Brightens the eyes

Indications

Fever Myopia Red face Eye pain Epilepsy Dizziness Neck pain Stiff neck Heavy head Body aches Manic behavior Aversion to cold Occipital headaches Impaired consciousness

Needling

Transversely 0.5–1 cun.

Commentary for Yuzhen BL-9

Yuzhen BL-9 is a major point of the Bladder Channel with various functions. 

First of all, it is able to expel Exterior Wind, characterized by symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever or body aches. 

It pacifies Interior Wind as well, especially if it happens due to Liver Yang Rising. Typical symptoms are occipital headache, dizziness, neck pain with inability to turn the head, feeling of head heaviness , red face or even epilepsy and loss of consciousness. 

The Liver opens to the eyes, thus BL-19 can also brightens the eyes by subduing Liver Yang. 

Finally, it treats manic behavior by opening the Mind's orifices.