Ganshu (BL18)
Ganshu (BL18), “Liver Shu”, is a point on the Bladder meridian. It is point 18 of the 67 on the channel. Back-Shu of the Liver: spreads stagnant Liver Qi, nourishes Blood and benefits the eyes.
Location
On the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra (T9).
Functions according to tradition
Back-Shu of the Liver: spreads stagnant Liver Qi, nourishes Blood and benefits the eyes.
Traditional indications
- Eye disorders
- Hypochondriac pain
- Irritability
- Jaundice
- Dizziness
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.
Precautions
Pneumothorax and, on the right, liver injury risk: needle obliquely, never deeply.
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.
- GB24 Riyue (Gallbladder): Hypochondriac pain, Jaundice
- HT2 Qingling (Heart): Hypochondriac pain, Jaundice
- EX-HN5 Taiyang (Extraordinary points): Dizziness
- GB15 Toulinqi (Gallbladder): Dizziness
- GB17 Zhengying (Gallbladder): Dizziness
- GB19 Naokong (Gallbladder): Dizziness
Point profile
- Code
- BL18
- Pinyin name
- Gān Shù
- Characters
- 肝俞
- Translation
- Liver Shu
- Meridian
- Bladder
- Element
- Water
- Classification
- Back-Shu
- Topics
- Liver, Eyes
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.
