Shentang (BL44)
Shentang (BL44), “Spirit Hall”, is a point on the Bladder meridian. It is point 44 of the 67 on the channel. Outer window of the Heart: calms the Shen, unbinds the chest and soothes anxiety.
Location
In the upper back, level with the lower border of the T5 spinous process, 3 cun lateral to the posterior median line.
Functions according to tradition
Outer window of the Heart: calms the Shen, unbinds the chest and soothes anxiety.
Traditional indications
- Palpitations
- Anxiety
- Chest oppression
- Cough
- Back stiffness
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
Precautions
Needle obliquely towards the spine: deep perpendicular insertion reaches the lung.
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.
- CV15 Jiuwei (Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)): Anxiety, Chest oppression, Palpitations
- KI20 Futonggu (Kidney): Chest oppression, Cough, Palpitations
- KI23 Shenfeng (Kidney): Anxiety, Chest oppression, Cough
- GV11 Shendao (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Anxiety, Palpitations
- KI24 Lingxu (Kidney): Chest oppression, Cough
- KI25 Shencang (Kidney): Anxiety, Cough
Point profile
- Code
- BL44
- Pinyin name
- Shén Táng
- Characters
- 神堂
- Translation
- Spirit Hall
- Meridian
- Bladder
- Element
- Water
- Topics
- Heart, Mental, Chest
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.
