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POINT: UB-20 (URINARY BLADDER-20) 

NAME: PISHU

English: Spleen Shu
Also Known As: Spleen's Hollow

LOCATION:

  • 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra
    Locate at the highest visible point of the paraspinal muscles
  • 1.5 cun lateral to DU-6 Jizhong at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra

NEEDLING:

  • Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • Transverse oblique insertion 1 to 1.5 cun.
  • Caution: perpendicular needling or oblique needling away from the spine carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax.
  • Straight insertion, slanted slightly toward the spine1 to 1.5 cun
    Sensation: local soreness, numbness and distention extending to the lumbar region
  • Caution: Do not needle to deeply in order to avoid puncturing the Kidneys or Liver.
  • Locate at the visible highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
  • Puncture obliquely 0.5-0.7 cun
  • Moxibustion is applicable

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

  • Back-Shu (Associated) (Transporting) point of the Spleen

ACTIONS:

  • Tonifies Spleen Qi
  • Regulates the Qi of the Spleen and assists its transportive and transformative functions
  • Tonifies Spleen Yang
  • Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach
  • Regulates the Stomach, especially Yin
  • Resolves Dampness
  • Trasnsforms Dampness, Spleen and Stomach Damp-Heat, Damp-Phlegm and Xold-Phlegm
  • Warms Cold
  • Raises Spleen Qi
  • Holds the Blood
  • Nourishes and harmonizes the Blood
  • Tonifies Ying Qi and Blood
  • Regulates and harmonizes the Qi of the Middle Jiao
  • Reduces digestive Stagnation
  • Softens hard masses
  • Expedites lactation

INDICATIONS:

  • Disention and pain of the abdomen
  • Focal distention
  • Abdominal masses
  • Lack of appetite
  • Remains thin despite much eating
  • Spleen Qi Cold
  • Undigested food in the stools
  • Diarrhea
  • Dysenteric disorder
  • Chronic childhood fright Wind
  • Childhood nutritional impairment
  • Drum distention
  • Deficiency-taxation
  • Jaundice (Yin-type)
  • Yellow body with abdominal fullness and vomiting
  • Pain in the lateral costal region
  • Gastritis
  • Ulcers
  • Nervous vomiting
  • Hepatitis
  • Anemia
  • Chronic hemorrhagic diseases
  • Weakness in the limbs
  • Lumps in the chest and abdomen
  • Tiredness
  • Hemafecia with dysentery
  • Vomiting
  • Epigastric pain
  • Backache
  • Atrophy disorder due to Damp-Heat
  • Ascites
  • Stomach ache or epigastric pain due to Stomach Qi Deficiency and Cold
  • Anxiety and palpitations due to Qi and Blood Deficiency
  • Constipation
  • Insufficient lactation due to Deficiency
  • Hemafecia
  • Hematuria
  • Hematemesis
  • Menorrhagia
  • Chronic hemorrhage
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Edema
  • Somnolence
  • Lassitude
  • Heaviness of the body with no desire to move
  • No desire to move the four limbs
  • Malarial diseases with alternating chills and fever
  • Lumbar pain
  • Pain of the shoulder and back
  • Skin pain
  • Turbid white urine
  • Clonic spasm
  • Prolapsed Stomach
  • Indigestion
  • Enteritis
  • Hepato-Splenomegaly
  • Urticaria
  • Constriction of the esophagus inhibiting swallowing
  • Loose stools
  • Deficiency bleeding
  • Dysphagia
  • Neurasthenia
  • Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting
  • Qi-type painful urinary dysfunction (Lin)
  • Pancreatitis
  • Borborygmus
  • Stomach dysfunction with insomnia
  • Dizziness and vertigo due to Phlegm
  • Cough with profuse sputum
  • Lymphadenitis

COMBINATIONS:

UB-28
Pangguanshu

UB-21
Weishu

SI-19
Tinggong

Spleen Deficiency with undigested food in the stool

Much eating but remains thin

Abdominal pain with no pleasure in eating

Sadness below the Heart

SP-1
Yinbai
UB-18
Ganshu
REN-13
Shangwan

HT-1
Jiquan
GB-24
Riyue

UB-18
Ganshu
UB-52
Zhishi

Hematemesis and spontaneous external bleeding

Loss of use of the four limbs

Acute pain of both lateral costal regions

UB-18
Ganshu
REN-13
Shangwan

UB-17
Geshu
M-BW-12
Yishu
UB-23
Shenshu
N-BW-20
Pirexue

DU-14
Dazhui
ST-36
Zusanli
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

Epistaxis with spitting of Blood

Diabetes

Leukopenia (moxa)

UB-23
Shenshu

 

 

Nourishes Blood

 

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

NOTES:

  • This point is specifically indicated for remaining thin despite much eating.
  • this is a very important point for nearly all chronic diseases when the person is very depleted of energy.