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POINT: UB-31 (URINARY BLADDER-31)  

NAME: SHANGLIAO

English: Upper Crevice
Also Known As:

LOCATION:

  • Over the first posterior sacral foramen.
  • On the sacrum, at the midpoint between the posterosuperior iliac spine and the posterior midline, just at the first posterior sacral foramen.

NEEDLING:

  • Perpendicular insertion 0.5 to 1 cun.
  • 1.5 to 2 cun through the foramen. Needling the foramen is facilitated by a slightly oblique medial and inferior insertion.
  • Puncture perpendicularly 0.8 to 1.2 cun.
  • Moxibustion is applicable.
  • Straight insertion 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: distention and soreness in the sacral region, sometimes extending to the legs.
    Note: when locating the foramen, the fingers can be used to find the hole into which the needle is inserted. If the foramen cannot be found, withdraw the needle slightly and try a different angle.

COMMAND FUNCTIONS:

  • Meeting point with the Gall Bladder channel

ACTIONS:

  • Regulates the Lower Jiao
  • Benefits the lumbar region and legs
  • Regulates the Lower Jiao
  • Nourishes the Kidneys

INDICATIONS:

  • Difficult urination
  • Difficult urination due to infection
  • Dysuria
  • Difficult defecation
  • Vomiting
  • Epistaxis
  • Malarial chills and fever
  • Lumbar pain
  • Cold and pain of the back and knees
  • Impotence
  • Orchitis
  • Prostatitis
  • Knee pain and weakness
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Urinary retention
  • Lower back and foot numbness
  • Lower extremity paralysis
  • Pain and stiffness of the lower back
  • Sciatica
  • Difficult labor
  • Delayed labor
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Infertility
  • Leukorrhea
  • Incessant white leukorrhea
  • Red and white leukorrhea
  • Seminal emission
  • Impotence
  • Itching and pain of the genitals
  • Skin irritation in the genital area
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Ovarian pain and inflammation
  • Uterovaginal inflammation
  • Peritonitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Anal fissures
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Vaginal prolapse
  • Morbid leukorrhea
  • Sequelae of infantile paralysis

COMBINATIONS:

UB-32
Ciliao
UB-33
Zhongliao
UB-34
Xialiao

LU-6
Kongzui

UB-32
Ciliao
UB-33
Zhongliao
 UB-34
Xialiao
 SP-6
Sanyinjiao
REN-4 joined to REN-3
Guanyuan joined to Zhongji

Moxa bilaterally for difficult urination and defecation

Febrile disease

Dysmenorrhea

UB-32
Ciliao
UB-33
Zhongliao
UB-34
Xialiao
ST-36
Zusanli
SP-6
Sanyinjiao
SP-10
Xuehai
M-CA-18
Zigong
REN-6
Qihai
REN-4
Guanyuan

UB-32
Ciliao
UB-33
Zhongliao
UB-34
Xialiao
DU-1
Changqiang
UB-57
Chengshan

UB-32
Ciliao
LI-4
Hegu
SP-6
Sanyinjiao

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Anal fissures

Inducing labor

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

  • Some classical texts forbid moxibustion at this point.

NOTES:

  • UB-31, Shangliao, UB-32 Ciliao, UB-33 Zhongliao and UB-34 Xialiaoare considered a group of points known as the Eight Crevices (Eight Seams) Baliao. They share the characteristics of regulating the urinary system, (UB-32 Ciliao and to a lesser extent UB-33 Zhongliao are the strongest), the Intestines (UB-34 Xialiao has the widest effect), gynecological disorders (UB-34 Xialiao has the strongest effect) and moving Qi and Blood in the channels and collaterals of the local area and the lower limbs (UB-32 Ciliao and UB-33 Zhongliao are the strongest).
  • All four of these points tonify the Kidneys.
  • They are specific for genital disorders.
  • They tonify the whole body.
  • These points can induce labor.