[Research progress of Shenshu (BL 23)]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Acupuncture
• Anatomy
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Shenshu (BL 23) is a crucial acupoint in the bladder meridian.
• Accurate acupoint location is vital for acupuncture efficacy and safety.
• Rat spinal anatomy differs significantly from human anatomy, posing challenges for direct application of human acupoint location methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To accurately locate the Shenshu (BL 23) acupoint in rats.
• To provide guidelines for safe and effective acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) in clinical practice.
• To improve the reliability of animal experiments involving acupuncture.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of acupoint function, anatomical structure, experimental research, and clinical application.
• Development of a specific method for locating Shenshu (BL 23) in rats using vertebral landmarks (tuber coxae, thoracic vertebrae).
• Analysis of safe needle insertion depth and angles for clinical application in humans.

Main Results:

• A detailed method for locating Shenshu (BL 23) in rats is proposed, starting from the tuber coxae and using vertebral counts.
• Recommended safe needle insertion depth for Shenshu (BL 23) in humans ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 cun (2.00 to 3.10 cm), with a maximum of 1.6 cun (4.30 cm).
• Specific needle insertion techniques (gentle, vertical or 45° towards spine, avoiding outward/oblique insertion) are advised to prevent kidney damage.

Conclusions:

• Precise anatomical landmarking is essential for accurate acupoint location in animal models like rats.
• Adherence to recommended needling depths and techniques is critical for patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.
• This study provides valuable information for both preclinical research and clinical acupuncture practice concerning Shenshu (BL 23).