Geshu (BL17)
Geshu (BL17), “Diaphragm Shu”, is a point on the Bladder meridian. It is point 17 of the 67 on the channel. Influential point for Blood.
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the 7th thoracic vertebra (T7).
Functions according to tradition
Influential point for Blood. Nourishes and invigorates Blood, treats Blood stagnation syndromes, benefits the diaphragm.
Traditional indications
- Anemia
- Blood diseases
- Skin diseases
- Hiccups
- Vomiting
- Breathing difficulty
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
What its classification means
Located on the back, on the inner branch of the Bladder channel, at the level of the organ it relates to. Tradition prefers it for chronic disorders and disorders of the zang organs.
One of the eight points that tradition credits with a special influence over a tissue or substance: Qi, Blood, tendons, marrow, vessels, bones, zang organs or fu organs.
Precautions
Thoracic point (at the diaphragm level): needle obliquely and shallowly. Deep perpendicular needling may cause pneumothorax.
Points on other channels with similar indications
They share several traditional indications with this point. Comparing them helps understand why one or the other is chosen.
- SP10 Xuehai (Spleen): Anemia
- LI11 Quchi (Large Intestine): Skin diseases
Point profile
- Code
- BL17
- Pinyin name
- Gé Shū
- Characters
- 膈俞
- Translation
- Diaphragm Shu
- Meridian
- Bladder
- Element
- Water
- Classification
- Back-Shu, Influential point of Blood
- Topics
- Blood, Diaphragm, Skin
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
