Geshu Point (BL-17 / Diaphragm Shu, Blood Hui Point)
Soothes the chest and opens the diaphragm, descends rebellious qi and harmonizes the stomach, nourishes and activates blood, regulates blood and resolves stasis. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for diaphragmatic spasm, nausea, vomiting, gastric distension, stomach pain, respiratory disorders, and skin diseases.
Indications
Hemoptysis, epistaxis (nosebleeds), hematochezia, heart pain, palpitations, chest pain, chest tightness, vomiting, hiccups, night sweats, and urticaria. (1) Various bleeding disorders: Hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, hemoptysis, metrorrhagia. (2) Digestive disorders: Nausea, vomiting, hiccups, stomach pain. (3) Allergic disorders: Urticaria, pruritus, acne. (4) Heart and lung disorders: Cough, asthma, chest tightness, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, arrhythmia. (5) Blood regulation and qi-blood nourishment: Qi-blood deficiency, tidal fever, night sweats, consumptive disorders, anemia. (6) Others: Cervical lymphadenopathy, schizophrenia, jaundice, back pain, etc.
Precise Location
In the spinal region, below the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
Location Method
The point is at the level of the inferior angle of the scapula intersecting with the spine – 2 finger-widths (approximately 1.5 cun) lateral to the lower edge.
Massage Method
Massage: Press and knead with the thumb. Press and knead Geshu with the thumb about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes daily, to treat various blood disorders. Therapeutic actions: Soothes the chest and opens the diaphragm, descends rebellious qi and harmonizes the stomach, nourishes and activates blood, regulates blood and resolves stasis.
Compatibility
Vomiting and hiccups: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6). Stomach pain and hiccups: Combine with Zhongwan (RN-12) and Neiguan (PC-6). Consumptive disorders and qi-blood deficiency (Four Flower Points): Combine with Danshu (BL-19) – especially effective with moxibustion. Blood deficiency: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Pishu (BL-20). Blood stasis: Combine with Taichong (LR-3), Xuehai (SP-10), and Diji (SP-8). Blood heat: Combine with Xingjian (LR-2) and Laogong (PC-8). Hemoptysis: Combine with Kongzui (LU-6). Epistaxis: Combine with Shangxing (GV-23). Hematochezia: Combine with Chengshan (BL-57) and Kongzui (LU-6). Throat obstruction, dysphagia, throat swelling with inability to eat: Combine with Tianding (LI-17) and Qishe (ST-11). Abdominal distension with sudden epigastric pain: Combine with Yingu (KI-10). Manic disorders: Combine with Ganshu (BL-18). Phlegm retention: Combine with Gaohuang (BL-43). Anemia: Combine with Weishu (BL-21), Dazhui (GV-14), Xuehai (SP-10), and Zusanli (ST-36). Urticaria and pruritus: Combine with Quchi (LI-11) and Sanyinjiao (SP-6).
Efficacy & Actions
Geshu belongs to the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and is the Blood Hui point among the Eight Influential Points. It harmonizes and regulates blood, removes stasis and promotes blood circulation, opens the diaphragm and descends rebellious qi. It is a commonly used point for treating diaphragmatic disorders and a key point for blood disorders. First documented in Lingshu · Beishu. "Ge" refers to the diaphragm. This point internally corresponds to the diaphragm – diaphragm qi is connected to the back, and as the point is close to the diaphragm membrane, it serves as its Shu point – hence the name Geshu (Diaphragm Shu). It is also known as "Qijiao Zhijian." (1) Opens the Diaphragm and Descends Rebellious Qi: Located close to the diaphragm, the diaphragm's function is to separate the upper and lower, preventing qi and food from interfering with each other. Qi in the diaphragmatic region descends smoothly, and the esophagus also passes through the diaphragm – thus needling opens the diaphragm, descends rebellious qi, and harmonizes the stomach. Clinically used for vomiting, hiccups, difficulty swallowing, and abdominal distension – especially effective for hiccups. (2) Key Point for Blood Disorders: As the Blood Hui point, it activates, supplements, and regulates blood – treating all blood-related disorders. Reinforcing nourishes and supplements blood – often combined with Zusanli (ST-36), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), and Pishu (BL-20). Reducing activates blood and resolves stasis – often combined with Taichong (LR-3), Xuehai (SP-10), Ganshu (BL-18), and Zhigou (TE-6). It is also used for various bleeding disorders such as hemoptysis, hematochezia, hematuria, and metrorrhagia. The Xunjing Kaoxue Bian states: "Geshu treats all bleeding disorders." The Yizong Jinjian states: "It treats all blood-loss conditions." (3) Common Point for Skin Disorders: TCM holds that skin diseases are mostly caused by wind pathogens invading the skin. As the Blood Hui point, Geshu promotes blood circulation – "treat wind by treating blood first; when blood circulates, wind naturally extinguishes." Its principle is similar to Xuehai (SP-10), and the two are often combined for enhanced effects – used for urticaria, eczema, and pruritus, with bloodletting being most suitable. (4) Treats Heart and Lung Disorders: Located close to the heart and lungs, according to "where the point is located, there it treats," it is used for cough, asthma, bronchitis, tachycardia, cardiomegaly, and pericarditis. (5) Other Therapeutic Effects: Also used for digestive disorders such as epigastric pain, gastritis, gastric ulcer, liver disease, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer; as well as for qi-blood deficiency and consumptive disorders.
Contraindications
As the deep layer of Geshu contains the lungs, needling should not be too deep – pay attention to needling angle and depth, generally 0.5–0.8 cun, to avoid penetrating the pleural cavity and causing pneumothorax. Prick bleeding is commonly used in clinical practice. Moxibustion is permissible.
