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Channel: BL, foot greater yáng (tài yáng) bladder channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the buttocks, level with the sacrococcygeal joint, 3 cùn lateral to the midline.

Classical location: In the depression three cùn either side of the spine, below the twentieth vertebra. The point is found in prostrate posture. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The inferior gluteal artery and vein. The inferior gluteal nerve, the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and sciatic nerve.

Action: Courses the channels and network vessels; strengthens the knee and lumbus.

Modern indications: Inhibited urination; constipation; hemorrhoids; lumbosacral pain; wilting-impediment (wěi bì) of the lower limbs.

Classical indications: Inhibited urination; genital pain.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 1.0‒1.5 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3‒7 cones; pole 20‒50 min.

Needle sensation: Distension and numbness, spreading down the legs.

Point name meaning:

• 秩 zhì: sequence, order
• 边 biān: side; border, limit, edge; close by

BL-54 is the last outer branch point before the channel path runs down the back of the leg. It is therefore the lower limit (边 biān) of that sequence (秩 zhì) and is appropriately named Sequential Limit. Although 秩 (zhì), sequence, is certainly a reference to the outer branch, 边 (biān), if it is taken to mean side, may be a way of indicating that BL-54 treats diseases affecting the side of the body. This is a clinically relevant idea because BL-54 is important in the treatment of sciatic pain, and sciatica often involves the lateral aspect of the legs. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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