UB-23 Shenshu - Kidney Correspondence
More Spirit Names: Kidneys Correspondence, Kidney's Hollow
| English: | Kidney Shu |
| Also Known As: | Kidney's Hollow |
Location
- 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra.
- Locate at the visible highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
- 1.5 cun lateral to DU-4 Mingmen at the level of lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra.
Needling
- Oblique or perpendicular-oblique insertion towards the spine 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Caution: deep perpendicular needling carries a risk of injuring the Kidney.
- Straight insertion pointed slightly toward the spine, 1.5 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention in the lower back or an electric, numb sensation extending toward the buttocks and lower extremities.
- Caution: Care should be taken not to insert the needle too deeply, or away from the spine, to avoid puncturing the Kidneys.
- Puncture perpendicularly 1 to 1.2 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Back-Shu point of the Kidneys
- Crossing point of the (Dai) channel.
Actions
- Tonifies the Kidneys
- Fortifies Yang
- Benefits Jing
- Nourishes Kidney Yin
- Regulates Kidney Qi
- Strengthens the Kidneys' function of receiving Qi
- Firms Kidney Qi
- Regulates the water passages
- Regulates the Lower Jiao
- Benefits urination
- Resolves Dampness
- Benefits and warms the uterus
- Benefits the ears and eyes
- Strengthens the lumbar region
- Nourishes Blood
- Benefits bones and marrow
- Tonifies Yuan Qi
- Expels urinary stones
Indications
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Combinations
| UB-11 | UB-15 | |
Cold in the lower extremities | Cold and pain in the bone marrow | Weakness of the Kidneys and lumbar region accompanied by seminal emission |
DU-4 | ||
Lumbar pain | Lumbar pain due to Kidney Deficiency | Lumbar pain in the elderly Incontinence of urine a feces in the elderly (moxa) |
LIV-13 | UB-25 | UB-21 |
Invasion by Cold or Damp diarrhea containing undigested food in the stool | Cold or Damp diarrhea with undigested food in the stool | Vomiting or Cold in the Stomach with distention and much eating but remains thin |
LIV-3 | ||
Deficiency-taxation edema (moxa) | Seminal emission White turbidity | Impotence |
Genital pain | Irregular menstruation | Ceaseless uterine bleeding |
GB-2 Or | SI-19 | |
Deafness due to Kidney Deficiency | Deficiency tinnitus | Tinnitus |
ST-3 | REN-3 | |
Fullness of the chest and lateral costal region radiating to the abdomen | Chest and diaphragm obstructed by Blood Stasis Congealed Blood in the chest and abdomen | Nephritis |
Urinary tract infection | Diabetes | Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao |
LIV-13 | UB-20 | |
Cold diarrhea with undigested food in the stool | Promotes the formation of Blood to treat Blood Deficiency |
Contraindications
Notes
- This is the main point to tonify the Kidneys.
- This is one of the principle points to strengthen the Kidneys, fortify Yang, nourish Yin and benefit Jing.
- It tonifies the mind, stimulates initiative, liftss depression and strengthens will power.
- As a Back-Shu point of a Yin organ, it is mainly used to tonify. It is the basic point for lower back pain.
Five Elements Spirit Perspective
| Spirit of the Point | Kidney Correspondence connects directly with the Kidney, the powerhouse that holds our potential and guards the Essence. Essence is the ground of mind and consciousness; when it is weak there is negativity, lack of drive and depression, and the person cannot begin things or act with wisdom and power. It strengthens a person who seems to fold in on themselves in body and mind. |
|---|---|
| Worsley | Opens to the Kidney Official a direct, immediate and free channel to the energy the Bladder Official holds in reserve, and that store underpins the basic workings of the Official who controls the Waterways.
Location: 2½ ACI from the midline of the low back, level with the dip between L2 and L3. |
| When to Consider |
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| Notes |
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From Class
- BL-23 + BL-18 with LV-14 + GB-25 (shu-mu pairs): Perimenopausal insomnia RCT: 10 sessions over 3 weeks at bilateral BL-23, BL-18 with unilateral LV-14, GB-25 (vs sham); shu-mu pairing treats kidney-liver yin deficiency.
- BL-23 Shenshu / BL-32 Ciliao (e-stim): For stagnant PCOS-type infertility: e-stim BL-23 to BL-32 (thread into the foramen) from after bleeding until ovulation, plus lower-abdominal and femoral massage. (Lewis)
- BL-23 to BL-32 e-stim / ear Shenmen & Sympathetic: E-stim BL-23→BL-32 before IVF transfer (not after) to reduce sympathetic holding; ear Shenmen and Sympathetic calm sympathetic overdrive, which blocks conception. (Lewis)
- LV-14 Qimen: Combination LV-14, ST-36, SP-6, ST-25, BL-23 for liver-qi stagnation causing low hematocrit and hemoglobin. (Yuen)
- Ren-4, BL-22, BL-23, BL-52 (needle + moxa): To root kidney yang, support the adrenals and reduce stress in perimenopause; modify with yin tonics, clear liver heat, resolve damp, calm shen. (Lewis)
- Du-3, BL-23, BL-40, KI-3 + low back ashi (standardized low back pain protocol): Standardized chronic low back pain protocol: Du-3, bilateral BL-23, a low-back ashi point, bilateral BL-40 and KI-3; 20 min, twirling at 10 min and before removal. (Cherkin)
- E-stim BL-23 to BL-32 before implantation: Regulate the cycle and improve qi/blood to reproductive organs; follicular phase sets up, luteal phase focuses on Earth banking the embryo. (Lewis)
- Interrupted pregnancy — low back pain: Low back pain = Kidney essence or Liver yin deficiency; gently warm the low back: BL-23, BL-52, moxa over Ren-4. (Lewis)
- Month 4 (Water/San Jiao): SI-19, BL-22, BL-23, BL-52: Month 4: fear is damaging; SI-19 turns listening inward; BL-22, BL-23, BL-52 strengthen Water and Zhi — don't needle the San Jiao channel. (Lewis)
- Urinary issues/fetal drop: BL-23, Du-4, BL-63, KI-3, KI-7, Du-20; damp-heat: BL-22, BL-28, BL-32, BL-53, BL-63, SP-9: Kidney weakness: Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan with these points; Spleen sinking: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, BL-20, Du-20, ST-36, BL-28; damp-heat: Zi Shen Tang. (Lewis)
- Bladder & Kidney divergent channels: Bladder divergent begins at BL-40; Kidney divergent begins at KI-10, goes to BL-40, up to the low back, then loops into the Dai Mai (BL-32). (Yuen)
- Bladder–Kidney divergent (1st confluence) & Dai Mai: Kidney divergent from KI-10 to BL-40, up to BL-23, wraps into the Dai Mai connecting Ren, Du and Kidney; frequent UTIs or hemorrhoids may be displaced latency. (Yuen)
- Du Mai in children: Governor Vessel (esp. Mingmen) is considered contraindicated before puberty as it may affect growth — use the Bladder channel (BL-10 to BL-23) instead. (Yuen)
- Fennel: Oil that resonates with BL-23 Shenshu; apply a drop on the point. (Yuen)