BL 23 — Shèn Shū (肾俞) — Kidney Back-Transporting Point

BL 23 (Bladder 23; Shenshu, “Kidney Back-Transporting Point”) is the Back-Shu point of the Kidney and one of the most important acupuncture points in the body for tonifying the Kidney. Located 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of L2, it strengthens the lower back, nourishes Kidney Essence (Jing), tonifies Yin and Yang, and is central to treatment of chronic low back pain, male and female infertility, sperm quality, tinnitus, menopause and the general weakness of Kidney deficiency.

On this page

1. Overview
2. Location
3. Actions
4. Indications
5. Needling
6. Clinical notes
7. Common point combinations
8. Treatment at my clinic
9. Frequently asked questions about BL 23

1. About BL 23 (Shenshu)

BL 23 — Shèn Shū (肾俞) — is an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Its English name, Kidney Back-Transporting Point, identifies it as the Back-Shu point of the Kidney — the point on the back where the Kidney’s Qi gathers and through which it can be most directly accessed and influenced. It is one of the most clinically important points in acupuncture practice for low back pain, fertility, sperm quality and the chronic depletion patterns of Kidney deficiency.

I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a member of the British Acupuncture Council with over 25 years of clinical experience. I use BL 23 as part of individually tailored acupuncture prescriptions at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.

2. BL 23 location

1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2). To find it: locate the crest of the hip (iliac crest), trace the horizontal line connecting both crests — this crosses the spine at roughly L4. Count two vertebrae up. BL 23 sits about two finger-widths out from the spine at that level, in the soft muscle of the erector spinae.

3. Actions

1. Tonifies the Kidneys — Yin, Yang and Essence
2. Nourishes Jing (Essence) and strengthens the bone and marrow
3. Benefits the ears and eyes
4. Strengthens the lower back
5. Promotes urination and resolves Dampness
6. Back-Shu point of the Kidney

4. Indications

1. Low back pain and weakness from Kidney deficiency — the most important point for Kidney-related back pain
2. Infertility, impotence and sexual dysfunction from Kidney deficiency
3. Tinnitus and hearing loss from Kidney Essence deficiency
4. Urinary disorders including frequent urination and incontinence
5. Premature ageing, fatigue and bone weakness
6. Menopausal symptoms from Kidney Yin deficiency
7. Sperm quality — tonifies Kidney Jing to improve spermatogenesis

5. Needling

Perpendicular insertion 0.5–1.0 cun. Moxibustion is heavily used at BL 23 — this is one of the most important moxibustion points on the body, particularly for Kidney Yang deficiency with cold low back, infertility and chronic fatigue. Strong De Qi often achieved, sometimes radiating into the lower abdomen or down the leg.

Important: Acupuncture should only be performed by a fully qualified practitioner. Never attempt self-needling. All needles I use are sterile, single-use and disposed of immediately after treatment in a clinical sharps container.

6. Clinical notes

BL 23 is the Back-Shu point of the Kidney — the “direct access” point through which the Kidney’s Qi can be most powerfully influenced. The Kidney in TCM holds the body’s reserve (Jing, Essence) and governs the bones, bone marrow, the brain, reproduction, hearing and the lower back. Decline in any of these systems — from chronic back pain to infertility to age-related hearing loss to the depletion of perimenopause — points to the Kidney as a root, and BL 23 as one of the primary points for addressing that root.

In male fertility practice, BL 23 is central to protocols aimed at improving sperm quality, motility and count — the Kidney governs sperm production and BL 23 directly tonifies the Kidney’s essence-producing function. In female fertility, it is paired with KD 3, SP 6 and CV 4 to nourish the deep reproductive reserve. Moxibustion at BL 23 is one of the warmest and most reliably effective home-care interventions for Kidney Yang deficiency with cold low back, and is a feature of many clinical fertility plans.

7. Common point combinations

1. BL 23 + KD 3 (Taixi) — the Yuan-Shu pair, the deepest Kidney tonification combination in acupuncture. Used for chronic low back pain, infertility, premature ageing and the broad pattern of Kidney deficiency.
2. BL 23 + GV 4 (Mingmen) — the “Gate of Life” combination, the strongest warming and Yang-tonifying pair on the back. Used for Kidney Yang deficiency, cold low back, infertility and low libido.
3. BL 23 + BL 52 (Zhishi) — the inner-outer Bladder line pair, supports Kidney Essence and the “will” (Zhi). Used for chronic depletion, post-illness recovery and the loss of vitality with chronic stress.
4. BL 23 + BL 28 (Pangguangshu) — the Kidney plus Bladder back-shu combination for urinary frequency, incontinence and chronic urinary tract infections.
5. BL 23 + CV 4 (Guanyuan) — the back plus front pair for the lower jiao; tonifies the reproductive reserve, central to fertility protocols.
6. BL 23 + SP 6 (Sanyinjiao) — supports Kidney Yin and regulates menstruation; widely used in perimenopause and female infertility from Kidney Yin deficiency.

8. Treatment at my clinic

I use BL 23 as part of tailored acupuncture prescriptions for conditions including chronic low back pain, fertility, male fertility and sperm quality, menopausal symptoms, urinary disorders, tinnitus and chronic fatigue. Each treatment is individually designed following a full TCM assessment.

I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Visit the prices page for consultation fees. Return to the acupuncture points directory or the acupuncture main page.

9. Frequently asked questions about BL 23

What are the acupuncture points BL23 used for?

The acupuncture points BL23 (Shenshu) are used primarily to tonify the Kidney and treat chronic low back pain, male and female infertility, sperm quality, urinary frequency, tinnitus, menopausal symptoms and the general weakness of Kidney deficiency. BL 23 is the Back-Shu point of the Kidney — the most direct route into Kidney function in acupuncture. Acupuncture points BL23 are central to most fertility and Kidney-related treatment plans.

Where do you press acupressure points BL23?

To find the acupressure points BL23: locate the crests of both hips and trace a horizontal line between them, which crosses the spine at roughly L4. Count two vertebrae up the spine to reach L2. BL 23 sits about two finger-widths out from the spine at that level, in the soft muscle of the lower back. Press firmly with thumbs — one on each side — for 1–3 minutes. Self-applied warmth (a hot water bottle or moxa stick under qualified guidance) is also helpful at BL 23.

Can BL 23 help with low back pain?

Yes — BL 23 is the single most important acupuncture point for chronic low back pain, particularly the dull, persistent ache that worsens with fatigue, is relieved by warmth and rest, and is often accompanied by low energy and weak legs. It addresses the underlying Kidney deficiency that drives most chronic low back complaints. Paired with KD 3 (Taixi) for the deepest effect.

Can BL 23 help with male infertility and sperm quality?

Yes. BL 23 is one of the core points in acupuncture protocols for male fertility, sperm count, motility and morphology. The Kidney in TCM governs sperm production, and BL 23 is the most direct access point to Kidney function. A typical male-fertility course combines BL 23 with KD 3, SP 6 and CV 4 over 12–16 weeks — the timeline matching one cycle of sperm production.

Can BL 23 help with frequent urination?

Yes — BL 23 is regularly used for urinary frequency, incontinence and nocturia (waking to urinate) when these result from Kidney deficiency. The Kidney in TCM controls the lower orifices, and BL 23 directly strengthens that controlling function. Combined with BL 28 (Pangguangshu) for the strongest urinary effect.

What does BL 23 mean in Chinese?

BL 23 is called Shèn Shū (肾俞) in Chinese, which translates as “Kidney Back-Transporting Point”. Shen means “Kidney” and Shu refers to the back-transporting points where the Qi of each organ “transports through” to the surface and can be most directly accessed.

Is BL 23 safe during pregnancy?

BL 23 is generally avoided in the first trimester. It is sometimes used carefully in later pregnancy for low back ache under qualified supervision, but is not a routine pregnancy point. Direct moxibustion over the lower back is also generally avoided in pregnancy.