胞肓 : Baohuang : Bladder's Vitals / Noble Womb

Classifications:

Master Tung's Three Rivers
Master Tung's Double Rivers

Location:

3 cun lateral to the midline, at the level of the second sacral vertebra (S2).

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

Classical Needling:

"The Taiyang usually has much Blood and little Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be bled.
"The foot Taiyang is to be pierced 5 fen deep and remain inserted for seven exhalations" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"Locate it with (the patient) prostrate. It is needled to a depth of five fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Benefits the lumbar region, activates the channel and alleviates pain
Regulates the Lower Jiao and benefits urination

TCM Indications:

• Pain and stiffness of the lumbar region, sciatica.
  
• Hardness and fullness of the hypogastrium, retention of urine, dribbling urination, oedema, inability to urinate or defecate.
  
• Borborygmus, abdominal distension, undigested food in the stool, aversion to wind.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Dorsal rami of S1 - S3

Dermatome Segment: S3

Deeper Structures: Neuromuscular junction of the superior gluteal nerve (L4 - S1) with the gluteus medius muscle

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Major Combinations:

• Pain of the lumbar region and aversion to cold:
    Baohuang Bl-53 with Ciliao Bl-32 and Chengjin Bl-56
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Retention of urine:
    Baohuang Bl-53 with Zhibian Bl-54
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Fullness of the hypogastrium:
    Baohuang Bl-53 with Ganshu Bl-18
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).

Notes:

The usual translation of this point as "Bladder's Vitals" does not match up with its individual characters:

胞 (Bao) means "womb, placenta, fetal membrane [or] blood (family relationship)"
肓 (Huang) means "the region between heart and diaphragm".

Han Trainer Pro translates it as "womb" and "noble" or "the residence of the noble organs sperms and womb (uterus)" which seems to make more sense although it seems strange that there are no reproductive functions given to this point. It may have been a use in early times which has been lost today or the characters have changed their meanings over time.

Master Tung's Three Rivers (San Jiang) are three lines of points, one along the midline below each spinous process from L1 to S2 with the another two either side 3 cun lateral to the midline from L2 to S2. They are pricked to bleed a spot of blood.
They relate to the water phase and Kidneys and are indicated for lumbar pain and conditions of the abdomen, bowels and uterus. Those 3 cun from the midline can also be used for sciatica and as distal points pain of arm, elbows or shoulders (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).

The Double Seas (Shuang He) are a set of 12 points bilaterally 3 cun lateral to the spine at the levels of L2 to S2. They are pricked in cases of pain in the upper extremities or pain and lack of strength in the upper back and shoulders (ibid.).

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here