bubble_chart Etymology

"Yao" (腰), waist; "shu" (俞), acupoint. The point is located on back at lumbosacral junction (sacral hiatus), hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Located on the midline of sacrum, below 4th sacral vertebra, corresponding to sacral hiatus. In a prone position, slightly elevate sacrococcygeal region and internally rotate legs (bringing big toes closer together). Locate the point above the space between two sacral cornua. In females, it generally forms an equilateral triangle with two posterior superior iliac spines.

• Suwen‧Mouci Lun: "At lumbosacral junction";
• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Below 21st vertebral interspace";
• Donggong Anmo Mijue: "Lie prone, stretch body, support forehead with crossed hands, and locate the point after relaxing limbs".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: sacrococcygeal ligament.
• Nerve: branches of coccygeal nerve, above sacral canal lies sacral nerve.
• Vessels: posterior branches of median sacral artery and vein, interspinal venous plexus.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert obliquely upward 1~2 cun. Generally, there is no need to penetrate sacral hiatus. If necessary, first palpate sacral cornua about 4~5 cm above coccyx, then locate sacral hiatus between two sacral cornua. Insert perpendicularly 0.5~0.8 cun or obliquely upward 0.5~1 cun.

To penetrate sacral canal, assume an elbow-knee position. After piercing the tough sacrococcygeal ligament (a loss of resistance will be felt), insert slowly at an angle of 15°~30° for adult males and 30°~45° for females.

Note: The lower end of subarachnoid space ends at the level of 2nd sacral vertebra, so the depth should not exceed 1 cun.

Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa sticks for 10 to 20 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Fortify lumbosacral region, regulate blood, stop diarrhea.

• Classical: Stiffness and pain in waist and spine, cold-Bi-syndrome in waist and legs, leg cramps, numbness of feet, diarrhea, bloody stool, hemorrhoids, epilepsy, stranguria and turbid urine, enuresis, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea.
• Modern: acupuncture anesthesia for anal and rectal surgeries, hemorrhoids, prolapse of lumbar disc herniation.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Numbness of feet: Fengfu (GV16), Yaoshu (GV2).
• Stiffness and pain in waist with inability to turn: Feishu (BL13), Yaoshu (GV2).
• Cold wind and cold-Bi-syndrome: Yaoshu (GV2), Huantiao (GB30).