Shenshu Point (BL-23 / Kidney Shu, Back Transporting Point of the Kidney)
Tonifies the kidney and cultivates the root, strengthens the sinews and supports the lumbar region, brightens the eyes and sharpens hearing, supplements deficiency and repairs damage. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for male and female reproductive system disorders, urinary system diseases, lumbar soreness and pain, tinnitus, and deafness.
Indications
Spermatorrhea, impotence, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, infertility, enuresis, difficult urination, edema, lumbar and knee soreness with pain, tinnitus, and deafness. (1) Male and female reproductive disorders: Spermatorrhea, impotence, premature ejaculation, infertility, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea. (2) Urinary disorders: Frequent urination, urinary urgency, enuresis, urinary incontinence. (3) Lumbar and back pain: Lumbar pain, lumbar soreness, lumbar weakness. (4) Deficiency tonification and health preservation: Cough and wheezing due to the kidney failing to receive qi, kidney-deficiency tinnitus and deafness, five-watch diarrhea, dizziness and fatigue, and other kidney qi deficiency conditions.
Precise Location
In the spinal region, below the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
Location Method
The point is at the level of the umbilicus intersecting with the spine – 2 finger-widths (approximately 1.5 cun) lateral to the lower edge.
Massage Method
① Massage: Press and knead with the thumb. ② Moxibustion: Apply mild-warm moxa stick. Press and knead Shenshu with the thumb about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes daily, to treat spermatorrhea, impotence, and irregular menstruation. Therapeutic actions: Tonifies the kidney and cultivates the root, strengthens the sinews and supports the lumbar region, brightens the eyes and sharpens hearing, supplements deficiency and repairs damage.
Compatibility
Irregular menstruation: Combine with Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation: Combine with Qihai (RN-6), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Zhishi (BL-52). All kidney deficiency disorders: Combine with Guanyuan (RN-4), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Taixi (KI-3). Five-watch diarrhea: Combine with Mingmen (GV-4), Tianshu (ST-25), and Zusanli (ST-36). Leukorrhea: Combine with Guanyuan (RN-4) and Daimai (GB-26). Frequent urination, enuresis, difficult urination: Combine with Zhongji (RN-3), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Pangguangshu (BL-28). Tinnitus and deafness: Combine with Taixi (KI-3), Yemen (TE-2), and Tinggong (SI-19). Kidney-deficiency cough and wheezing: Combine with Qihai (RN-6), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Feishu (BL-13), and Taiyuan (LU-9). Vulvar leukoplakia: Combine with Pishu (BL-20). Childhood enuresis: Combine with Lieque (LU-7). Stomach cold with distension, excessive eating with emaciation, vomiting: Combine with Weishu (BL-21). Lumbar and knee soreness with pain: Combine with Yinmen (BL-37) and Weizhong (BL-40).
Efficacy & Actions
Shenshu belongs to the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and is the Back Transporting Point where kidney qi is transported to the back, internally corresponding to the kidney. It nourishes kidney yin, warms kidney yang, and has the function of dual tonification of yin and yang. It is a key point for tonifying the kidney – all disorders of kidney qi deficiency can be treated with this point. Reinforcing technique is commonly used, and moxibustion is particularly suitable. First documented in Lingshu · Beishu. As it internally corresponds to the kidney and is where kidney qi is transported, it is a key point for treating kidney disorders – hence the name Shenshu (Kidney Shu). (1) Key Point for Male and Female Reproductive System Disorders: As the Back Transporting Point of the kidney, where kidney qi is transported – the kidney stores essence and is the "root of prenatal constitution." This point can both tonify yang and nourish yin, regulating both yin and yang simultaneously – whether there is excess or deficiency of yin or yang, or deficiency of both. It treats spermatorrhea, impotence, premature ejaculation, oligospermia, low sperm motility in males, and menstrual disorders, infertility, adnexitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease in females. A case from the Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing: A young man suffered from severe nocturnal emissions and consulted Wang Zhizhong – pressing Shenshu caused marked soreness, so moxibustion was applied, and he recovered after several treatments. (2) Effective Point for Lumbar Pain: The waist is the residence of the kidneys – Shenshu is especially effective for lumbar pain, particularly kidney-deficiency lumbar pain, and is the first choice. The Jingyue Quanshu states: "Lumbar pain that is lingering and recurrent is due to kidney deficiency." The Zhubing Yuanhou Lun states: "The kidney governs the waist and feet... overwork injures the kidney and damages the meridians, combined with wind-cold invasion and qi-blood conflict, causing lumbar pain." A case from the Great Compendium: In the 41st year of Jiajing (1562), Minister Xu suffered severe lumbar pain. Yang Jizhou diagnosed excess damp-heat with a deep, rapid, forceful chi pulse. As the patient feared needling, Yang pressed Shenshu with reducing technique – the pain immediately lessened, and after one dose of herbal medicine, the pain resolved. (3) Primary Point for Urinary Disorders: Clinically used as the main point for nephritis, renal colic, frequent urination, urinary urgency, enuresis, urinary retention, urinary tract infections, and urinary stones. As the Back Transporting Point of the kidney – zang disorders are treated with corresponding Back Transporting Points. The kidney governs water – when water metabolism is disrupted, needling the Back Transporting Point tonifies the kidney, consolidates the root, transforms qi, and moves water. (4) Treats Tinnitus and Deafness: The kidney opens to the ear – normal ear function depends on kidney qi nourishment. Kidney qi deficiency causes marrow depletion, leading to tinnitus, deafness, and dizziness – for such cases, Shenshu is the first choice, replenishing essence and marrow to sharpen hearing and brighten vision. (5) Other Therapeutic Effects: Also used for deficiency patterns such as consumptive disorders, wheezing with shortness of breath, and five-watch diarrhea – moxibustion is often preferred, based on the principle of the kidney governing the reception of qi.
Contraindications
Shenshu may be needled vertically, but should not be too deep – generally 0.5–1 cun to avoid internal organ injury. This point is most suitable for moxibustion and is a commonly used moxibustion point in clinical practice.
