BL-18Gān Shū 肝俞
Back-Shu of the Liver 肝. Front-Mù pair: LR-14 Qī Mén.
Location
1.5 cùn lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of T9.
Actions
- Spreads Liver Qi and resolves stagnation
- Nourishes Liver Blood and brightens the eyes
- Clears Liver Fire and Damp-Heat
- Benefits the sinews
Indications
Eye disorders, irritability, flank pain, jaundice, hypochondriac pain, dizziness.
Palpated tightness reflects Liver Qi stagnation; use with LR-3 for a classic four-gates variant.
Needling technique
Oblique toward the spine, 0.5–0.8 cùn.
Moxibustion
Use sparingly — Liver patterns often involve Heat or Yīn deficiency. Suitable for Liver Blood deficiency with cold signs.
Cautions
Pneumothorax risk with deep perpendicular needling.
Classical pairings
- LR-3 Tài Chōng — Yuán-source, spreads Liver Qi
- LR-14 Qī Mén — Front-Mù of the Liver
- BL-19 Dǎn Shū — combined for Shào Yáng and biliary disorders
Open in the point database
View live location diagrams, additional research citations and full needling metadata for BL-18.
Open BL-18 in the point database →Educational reference for licensed practitioners and students. Not medical advice — always correlate with a full TCM assessment and Western clinical judgement.