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POINT: UB-18 (URINARY BLADDER-18) 

NAME: GANSHU

English: Liver Shu
Also Known As: Liver's Hollow

LOCATION:

  • 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the ninth thoracic vertebra
    Locate at the highest visible point of the paraspinal muscles

NEEDLING:

  • Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun
  • Transverse oblique insertion 1 to 1.5 cun
  • Caution: perpendicular needling or oblique needling away from the spine carries a substantial risk of pneumothorax
  • Straight insertion, slanted slightly toward the spine1 to 1.5 cun
    Sensation: local soreness and distention, sometimes extending between the ribs
  • Caution: Do not needle to deeply in order to avoid puncturing the Lung
  • Transverse insertion, pointed downward along the muscle1 to 2 cun
    Sensation: local distention and soreness
    Locate at the highest visible point of the paraspinal muscles
  • Puncture obliquely 0.5 to 0.7 cun
  • Moxibustion is applicable

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

  • Back Shu point of the Liver

ACTIONS:

  • Spreads Liver Qi
  • Regulates and nourishes Liver Blood
  • Pacifies Wind
  • Cools Fire
  • Clears Damp-Heat
  • Benefits the eyes
  • Benefits the sinews
  • Benefits the Liver and Gallbladder
  • Subdues Liver Yang

INDICATIONS:

  • Distention and pain of the lateral costal region
  • Epigastric pain
  • Abdominal masses
  • Focal distention
  • Hypogastric fullness and pain
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Skin disorders
  • Hemoptysis
  • Hematemesis
  • Spitting Blood
  • Epistaxis
  • Dizziness
  • Visual dizziness
  • Pain of the nose
  • Pain of the supraorbital region
  • Rigidity of the neck and spine
  • Pain of the spine
  • Pain of the neck and shoulders
  • Opisthotonis
  • Pain of the sinews
  • Chronic and acute hepatitis
  • Stomach diseases
  • Intercostal neuralgia
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Irritability
  • Seizures
  • Pancreatitis
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Sciatica
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Fullness in the chest
  • Cough with chest pain
  • Cough with fullness of the lateral costal region and inability to catch breath
  • Shortness of breath
  • Jaundice
  • Dry mouth
  • Much anger
  • Mania-depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Blurred vision
  • Redness of the eyes
  • Night blindness
  • Excessive lachrymation
  • Redness, pain and itching of the inner canthus
  • Superficial visual obstruction
  • Upward staring of the eyes
  • Lumbar pain
  • Lockjaw
  • Cramps
  • Tetany
  • Cholecystitis
  • Eye diseases
  • Neurasthenia
  • Pain of lumps in the chest and abdomen
  • Psychosis
  • Atrophy syndrome
  • Vertigo
  • Anorexia
  • Myopia
  • Optic nerve atrophy
  • Dream-disturbed sleep

COMBINATIONS:

UB-53
Baohuang

UB-20
Pishu
UB-52
Zhishi

ST-12
Quepen
UB-15
Xinshu
REN-14
Juque
REN-15
Jiuwei

fullness of the hypogastrium

Acute pain of both lateral costal regions

Coughing and spitting of Blood

SP-1
Yinbai
UB-20
Pishu
REN-13
Zhongwan

ST-36
Zusanli

GB-15
Toulinqi

Vomiting Blood

Spontaneous External bleeding

Liver Blood Deficiency with cloudy vision

Superficial visual obstruction

KI-3
Taixi
KI-6
Zhaohai
DU-20
Baihui
GB-21
Tianjing
LI-2
Erjian
LI-3
Sanjian
ST-45
Lidui

ST-33
Yinshi
KI-3
Taixi

M-HN-13
Yiming
LIV-4
Zhongfeng

 

Somnolence

Cold abdominal Shan (hernial) disorder

Acute or chronic hepatitis

REN-6
Qihai
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

UB-23
Shenshu
GB-39
Xuanzhong

UB-20
Pishu
LIV-14
Qimen
UB-16
Dushu
SP-10
Xuehai
SP-6
Sanyinjiao
GB-34
Yanglingquan

Amenorrhea

Acute leukemia

Cirrhosis of the Liver

DU-4
Mingmen

UB-20
Pishu
UB-52
Zhishi

UB-17
Geshu

Clears dull eyes

Acute pain in the flanks

Nourishes Liver Blood

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

NOTES:

  • This point is indicated for all diseases of the eyes pertaining to the Liver.
  • It is generally used for Liver Qi Stagnation or Retention of Damp-Heat in the Liver
  • when treating Liver Deficiency patterns, it should be needled using the reinforcing method or direct moxibustion should be applied.