Patients often ask why I am needling their back when they are here to address issues like digestion, sleep, or mental health. Typically, it is because I am needling an incredible group of points called the back shu’s.
These points follow each side of your spine, parallel to the vertebra in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Each point is related to a different organ- there is a point for the lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidneys, pericardium, gall bladder, liver, and diaphragm to name a few.
In theory, these points should be tender to the touch when there is an imbalance in that organ. We often use back shu points to treat chronic issues, like heart or respiratory disease, diabetes, cancer, or chronic pain.
Another use of back shu points is to do cupping therapy along each line for PTSD. This is effective because each organ has an associated emotion, for instance, the lungs are connected to grief and the heart is connected to joy. When we treat the back shu points, we are able to address each of these emotions, especially ones that are repressed. PTSD is multi-faceted, and often presents in many different emotions, sometimes all at once, which is why addressing them all is so effective. Patients often report feeling wiped out, tired, or have a large emotional release after back shu treatments.
Some of my favorite back shu’s:
BL-42: Window to the Corporeal Soul- frees breathing and calms the mind, for grief and worry. Allows one to be comfortable in their own skin.
BL-44: Hall of the Mind- Mental clarity, calms the mind.
BL-47: Door of the Ethereal Soul- Ability to plan/complete projects, executive functioning, vulnerability.
BL49: Hut of the Intellect- Clears mind, strengthens intellect, relieves obsessive thoughts and ruminating.
BL-52: Room of the Will Power- Strengthens will power, drive, and initiative.
Please reach out if you have any questions about this therapy!
With Love,
Charlotte Morgan, M.S. L.Ac.