Bladder MeridianBL24

Qihaishu 氣海兪

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Low back (lumbar region), 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of L3.

Back-shu point of the Sea of Qi (Qihai)

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Qihaishu — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Qihaishu — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right — **Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right**
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.

Qihaishu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Vertebra l3 · Latissimus dorsi muscle · Posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia · Iliocostalis lumborum muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Qihaishu.

On this page

Where is Qihaishu?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Qihaishu?

Low back (lumbar region), 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of L3.

The level is set by the lower edge of the L3 spinous process.

Beneath the point

Vertebra l3 · Latissimus dorsi muscle · Posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia · Iliocostalis lumborum muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: level with the lower tip of the L3 spinous process, 1.5 cun (30.9 mm; 1 cun = 20.63 mm) from the back midline.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find L4 on the line joining the highest points of both iliac crests. The spinous process just above it is L3.
Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process.
Press 1.5 cun out from the midline. Use the same width as on the upper back: half of the 3-cun midline-to-shoulder-blade distance.

What is a “cun”?

A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.

📖 Words explained

posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia: The outermost layer of the tough sheet that wraps the muscles of the lower back. Latissimus dorsi starts from it, and it covers erector spinae from behind.
iliocostalis lumborum: The lower-back part of the outermost column of erector spinae. It runs from the back of the pelvis to the lower ribs.
spinous process: The bony spike sticking backward from the middle of each spine bone. The row of bumps you feel down the middle of the back is these, and they serve as the counting marks for back points.
latissimus dorsi: The broad muscle covering the lower back and sides. It runs from the lower back and pelvis, behind the armpit, to the humerus, and pulls the arm down and back, as in a pull-up.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Do not press this point during pregnancy.
Points over the low back and sacrum are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (WHO acupuncture safety guidelines, 1999).
Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

4How has it been used traditionally?

Named after Qihai (CV6, 'sea of qi') on the lower abdomen; a later addition to the back-shu line.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Qihaishu?

Low back (lumbar region), 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of L3. The level is set by the lower edge of the L3 spinous process.

How do I find Qihaishu?

Find L4 on the line joining the highest points of both iliac crests. The spinous process just above it is L3. Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process. Press 1.5 cun out from the midline. Use the same width as on the upper back: half of the 3-cun midline-to-shoulder-blade distance.

Can I press it during pregnancy?

Do not press this point during pregnancy.

What should I watch out for?

Do not press this point during pregnancy. Points over the low back and sacrum are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (WHO acupuncture safety guidelines, 1999). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousShenshu · BL23 Next →Dachangshu · BL25

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 111
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 17 — same location
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Not in the 1.5-cun back lists of Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3 or Qianjin Yaofang — a later addition (first source still to be confirmed)
Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20 — lumbosacral points in pregnancy

Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.