腰俞 : Yaoshu : Lumbar Shu

Location Guides:

Classifications:

One of the "59 piercings" for clearing Heat in Su Wen Ch. 61
Master Tung's Rushing to Heaven points

Meetings:

Meeting of Governing Vessel with Destiny Cultivation Line (Xiuming Xian

Location:

On the midline, in the sacro-coccygeal haitus.

Needling:

Oblique superior insertion 0.5 - 1 cun

Classical Needling:

"It is needled to a depth of three fen, (the needle) is retained for a duration of seven exhalations, and it is moxaed with five cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Benefits the lumbar region and legs
Dispels Wind-Damp

TCM Indications:

• Pain of the sacrum, pain of the lumbar region and hips with inability to flex and extend, lumbar pain radiating to the foot, cold Painful Obstruction (痹, Bi) with numbness of the leg.
  
• Irregular menstruation, red and white leucorrhoea, dark urine, haemorrhoids.
  
• Warm Malarial (瘧, Nue) Disorders with absence of sweating, epilepsy, injury by cold with ceaseless heat in the four limbs.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Branch of the coccygeal nerve

Dermatome Segment: S3

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

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

Major Combinations:

• Stiffness and pain of the lumbar region:
    Yaoshu Du-2 with Weizhong Bl-40, Yongquan Kid-1, Xiaochangshu Bl-27 and Pangguangshu Bl-28
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Stiffness of the lumbar region and back with inability to bend on the side:
    Yaoshu Du-2 with Feishu Bl-13
    (Yang Jizhou, 杨继洲, 1601: Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, 針灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Cold Wind Painful Obstruction:
    Yaoshu Du-2 with Huantiao GB-30
    (Xi-Hong Fu, 席弘賦, Ode of Xi-Hong. First recorded in: Xu Feng, 徐鳳, 1439: Zhen Jiu Da Quan, 針灸大全, Complete Collection of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Numbness of the legs:
    Yaoshu Du-2 with Fengfu Du-16
    (Sun Simiao, 孫思邈, 625: Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方, Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold).
  
  
• Nue (Malaria):
    Yaoshu Du-2 with Dazhui Du-14
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

This point is also on the 3rd trajectory of the Chong mai connecting the Chong with the Du for Invigorating Yang in cases of Bi Obstruction due to Blood Stagnation (Yuen, 2005, The Extraordinary Vessels).

The Destiny Cultivation line (Xiuming Xian 修命線) is an internal line used in inner cultivation arts (Neigong Shu 內功術) that connects Qihai Ren-6 with the sacrum at this point or Shiqizhuixia (Wang, 2019, Daoist Internal Mastery ).

The "59 piercings" are named in the Su Wen Ch. 61 and mentioned in Su Wen Ch. 32 and Ling Shu Ch. 23 for treating Heat diseases. This point along with Yunmen Lu-2, Jianyu LI-15 and Weizhong Bl-40 clear Heat from the four limbs. It may refer to the Huatuojiaji of this point since without a pair the numbers do not add up.

From Yuen's school, this point along with Shangwan Ren-13, relate to the First Level of Manifestation of the Soul (Po).

The first Po is connected to birth and childhood and the Lung - Kidney dynamic, the first breath and the base foundation for life. The first seven years of life are characterised by unconditional love, dependence on others and their acceptance of our weaknesses. People stuck at this level show excessive dependence and inability to be autonomous beyond the first years of life.

Treatment typically involves the Po Activation points Changqiang Du-1 and Jiuwei Ren-15 which are the Luo of the Ren and Du channels, accessing emotion at the level of the Jing, followed by the points associated with the particular level of blockage.


Berardinis & Navarra (2017). The succession of Po in the ladder of life. https://www.acupuncturesida.com/The-succession-of-Po-in-the-ladder-of-life.aspx

Master Tung located three "Rushing to Heaven" points on the midline below the spinous processes of S3, S4 and S5 which were pricked to bleed in cases of headache, dizziness and neck pain from blood stasis or heat using the principle of treating the lower end of the Du to affect the upper (McCann, 2014, Pricking the Vessels).

In Tibetan medicine:
Bleeding point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings).

In the Vedic tradition the Svadhishthana chakra would be located between this point and Guanyuan Ren-4.

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