Shenmai Point (BL-62 / Extending Vessel, also known as Yangqiao, Guiluo, Juyang)
Coordinates yin and yang, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the collaterals, calms the spirit and soothes the mind. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for foot valgus, ankle sprains, lumbar and leg pain, insomnia, and epilepsy.
Indications
Headache, dizziness, epilepsy, and lumbar and leg soreness with pain. (1) Cervical, shoulder, lumbar and leg pain: Stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, lumbar and back pain, sciatica, cold lower limb pain, lateral ankle pain, foot valgus, foot atrophy, heel pain. (2) Calming the spirit: Insomnia, excessive sleepiness, manic-depressive disorders. (3) Others: Red painful eyes, ptosis, ocular muscle spasm, headache, coldness of the body, etc.
Precise Location
Shenmai is located on the lateral side of the foot, in the depression directly below the lateral malleolus.
Location Method
Sit upright with feet on the floor. Move the foot slightly backward and to the side, lifting the heel. With the same-side hand, four fingers below and palm facing up, support the heel. Bend the thumb and place the pad in the depression directly below the lateral malleolus – that is the point.
Massage Method
Sit upright with feet on the floor, lift the heel. With the same-side hand, four fingers below and palm facing up, support the heel; knead with the thumb pad – apply to both sides for 1–3 minutes each. Therapeutic actions: Tonifies yang and benefits qi, guides water-damp, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the collaterals, calms the spirit and soothes the mind.
Compatibility
Vertigo: Combine with Kunlun (BL-60), Shenmai (BL-62), Fengchi (GB-20), and Tongtian (BL-7). Disease overview: Dizziness is a subjective sensory abnormality – rotational vertigo (vestibular/cerebellar dysfunction) and general dizziness (systemic diseases). Massage sequence: First massage Kunlun and Shenmai for 3 minutes each, then massage Fengchi for 3 minutes, finally massage Tongtian for 3 minutes. Repeat if symptoms persist. Epilepsy: Combine with Zutonggu (BL-66), Taichong (LR-3), Shenmai (BL-62), and Sizhukong (TE-23). Insomnia: Combine with Shenmen (HT-7), Shangwan (RN-13), Lidui (ST-45), and Shenmai (BL-62). Insomnia (reduce Shenmai, reinforce Zhaohai): Combine with Zhaohai (KI-6). Excessive sleepiness (reduce Zhaohai, reinforce Shenmai): Combine with Zhaohai (KI-6). Cold pain of the limbs: Combine with Waiguan (TE-5). Inner canthus, neck, and shoulder disorders: Combine with Houxi (SI-3). Vertigo and headache: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36) and Jinmen (BL-63). Heel pain: Combine with Chengshan (BL-57), Daling (PC-7), and Xiaguan (ST-7). Foot weakness and atrophy: Combine with Jiexi (ST-41). Epistaxis: Combine with Jinggu (BL-64). Axillary swelling and lateral ankle swelling with pain: Combine with Qiuxu (GB-40). Epilepsy: Combine with Dazhui (GV-14) and Fengchi (GB-20).
Efficacy & Actions
Shenmai belongs to the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and is one of the Eight Confluent Points, connecting to the Yang Qiao Vessel, and one of the Thirteen Ghost Points. It tonifies yang and benefits qi, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the collaterals, calms the spirit and soothes the mind. It is a specific point for insomnia, epilepsy, neck pain, and lumbosacral pain. First documented in Zhenjiu Jiayijing. "Shen" means to extend; "Mai" refers to blood vessels and sinews. This point treats sinew contracture – needling unblocks the blood vessels and extends the sinews – hence the name Shenmai (Extending Vessel). It is also known as "Yangqiao," "Guiluo," and "Juyang." The Yizong Jinjian contains a verse about Shenmai: "For lumbar, back, spinal stiffness and ankle wind, aversion to wind, spontaneous sweating or headache, hand-foot numbness, cold arms, thunder headache, red eyes, supraorbital pain, breast abscess, deafness, nosebleeds, epilepsy, and joint pain – needling Shenmai first yields miraculous effects." This verse describes Shenmai's therapeutic effects for ankle redness and swelling, hand-foot numbness, breast redness and swelling, and head sweating. (1) Common Point for Cervical, Shoulder, Lumbar and Leg Pain: As a Bladder Meridian point – which runs through the neck, back, lumbar, leg, and foot – according to "where the meridian passes, there it treats," it treats stiff painful neck, frozen shoulder, lumbar and back pain, lower limb flaccidity, ankle pain, and heel pain. Shenmai connects to the Yang Qiao – "qiao" means to lift the foot – making it especially effective for foot weakness and atrophy. The Yang Qiao has the function of unblocking and warming yang, thus treating cold-damp pain. (2) Calming the Spirit: As one of the Eight Confluent Points connecting to the Yang Qiao, needling coordinates yin and yang, calms the spirit – especially effective for insomnia. The Lingshu · Hanre Bing states: "When yang qi is excessive, eyes open; when yin qi is excessive, eyes close." The Yin and Yang Qiao Vessels nourish the eyes and control eyelid opening and closing. When these vessels lose harmony, sleep becomes disordered. Needling Shenmai and Zhaohai (KI-6) balances yin and yang. For insomnia – reduce Shenmai, reinforce Zhaohai; for excessive sleepiness – reduce Zhaohai, reinforce Shenmai. Also used for mania, epilepsy with daytime onset, and opisthotonos. A historical case: Wei Jingfu's four-year-old son developed convulsions with phlegm obstruction, staring eyes, and neck stiffness after fright. Multiple sedative herbs failed. Diagnosis revealed seizures with sinew spasms. Following the principle "epilepsy with convulsions – the qiao vessels treat it; daytime attacks use Yang Qiao Shenmai, nighttime attacks use Yin Qiao Zhaohai" – both points were moxibusted 14 cones each, combined with herbal therapy, and the patient recovered (Weisheng Baojian). (3) Specific Point for Foot Valgus: As the meeting point of the Yang Qiao, the Nanjing · 29 Difficult Question states: "Yang Qiao disorders present with yin-side relaxation and yang-side tension." This manifests as foot valgus – Shenmai provides specific efficacy.
Contraindications
Located in the depression at the edge of the lateral malleolus – ensure needling reaches the deep part of the depression for proper insertion. Moxibustion is permissible.
