Meeting point of bone. Zhenjiu Dacheng: "Yuan said: The shoulders can bear heavy loads because the meeting point of bone is Dazhu (BL11)."

Intersecting point: foot taiyang and hand taiyang;

• Suwen-Qixue Lun Wang Bing's annotation: A branch of governor vessel and the meeting point of hand and foot taiyang meridians."
• Waitai Miyao states: intersecting point of foot taiyang and hand shaoyang.
• Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing states: intersecting point of foot taiyang and shaoyang.
• Zhenjiu Juying states: A branch of governor vessel and the meeting point of hand and foot taiyang and shaoyang.
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian states: A branch of governor vessel and the meeting point of hand foot shaoyang and foot taiyang.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Da" (大), big; "Zhu" (杼) refers to shuttle (weaving tool). The transverse processes on either side of the spine resemble a shuttle, hence the ancient name "Zhu Bone". The point is located near the first thoracic vertebra, hence the name. It is also the first of the back transport points, hence its alternative name, "Dashu" (大腧, great transport point). Lingshu-Beishu: "The great transport point on back is at the end of Zhu bone." Ma Shi's note: "The big transport point is Dazhu (BL11)."

bubble_chart Location

Dazhu (BL11) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Lingshu-Beishu: "The great transport point is at the end of Zhu bone, 3 cun lateral to spine";
• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the depression 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of first thoracic vertebra";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "2 cun lateral to the midline at Taodao (GV13), slightly lower by 0.2 cun".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: trapezius, rhomboids, serratus posterior superioris, the deepest layer is longissimus muscle (inside thoracic cavity lies lung).
• Nerve: the medial cutaneous branch of posterior branch of first or second thoracic nerve, and the deep layer is lateral branch of posterior branch.
• Vessels: dorsal branches of first intercostal artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert obliquely downward or toward spine, 0.5~0.8 cun. Avoid deep insertion to prevent entering thoracic cavity and damaging lungs. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispel wind, clear heat, pacify counterflow of qi, soothe sinew and bone.

• Classical: headache, chills and fever, neck pain with inability to bend or lift head, low back pain, shoulder and back pain, pharyngitis, cough, chest fullness, wheezing, malaria, spasm and convulsion, wind injury without sweating, fever, knee pain with inability to bend or stretch, abdominal pain, stiffness and tension in lower back and spine, depressive psychosis, irritability in chest, susceptibility to wind-cold due to weak defensive qi, cold pain in bone marrow, bone-steaming tidal fever.
• Modern: bronchitis, common cold, fever, pleurisy, pneumonia, epilepsy, rheumatic pain in back muscle, vertebral nerve syndrome, bone tuberculosis, heatstroke, tender points in cervical spondylosis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Depression and fullness in chest: Dazhu (BL11), Xinshu (BL15).
• Wind-induced Bi-syndrome, atrophy, and reversal cold: Dazhu (BL11), Ququan (LR8).
• Cold pain in bone marrow: Dazhu (BL11), Jue Gu, Fuliu (KI7), Shenmai (BL62), Lidui (ST45), Shenshu (BL23).
• Dampness warm disease: Dazhu (BL11), Jianshi (PC5), Lieque (LU7), Hegu (LI4), Zhongwan (CV12), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Muscular rheumatism (back muscle): Dazhu (BL11), Shenzhu (GV12), Jianzhongshu (SI15 ), Jianwaishu (SI14), Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Geshu (BL17).
• Common cold: Dazhu (BL11), Fengchi (GB20), Fengmen (BL12), Feishu (BL13).