Baohuang 胞肓
Buttock, 3 cun out from the median sacral crest, level with the second posterior sacral foramen.
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Gluteus maximus muscle · Gluteus medius muscle · Hip bone
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Baohuang.
On this page
1Where is Baohuang?
Buttock, 3 cun out from the median sacral crest, level with the second posterior sacral foramen.
It is level with Pangguangshu (BL28) and Ciliao (BL32).
Gluteus maximus muscle · Gluteus medius muscle · Hip bone
2How do I find it on my body?
- Find the bony point under the dimple above each buttock: the posterior superior iliac spine.
- A line joining the lower edges of the two spines crosses the midline at the S2 spinous process.
- Midway from the posterior superior iliac spine to the S2 spinous process, feel for a dip: the second posterior sacral foramen (Ciliao).
- At that height, press 3 cun out from the median sacral crest — the same as the midline-to-shoulder-blade width.
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.
- median sacral crest
- The bumpy vertical ridge down the middle of the back of the sacrum. It is made from the spinous processes of the sacral bones that fused together.
- gluteus medius
- A fan-shaped muscle on the side of the pelvis, above and outside gluteus maximus. It keeps the pelvis level when you stand on one leg.
- 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.
- gluteus maximus
- The large, thick muscle that forms the buttock. It swings the leg back and gives power for climbing stairs and standing up.
- hip bone
- The large, wide bone on each side of the pelvis, formed when the ilium, ischium and pubis grow together. The ridge you feel at belt level (iliac crest) is its top edge.
3Before you press
- 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?
- Level with BL28 and BL32; bao here means the bladder, and the name points to the deep region beside it.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Baohuang?
Buttock, 3 cun out from the median sacral crest, level with the second posterior sacral foramen. It is level with Pangguangshu (BL28) and Ciliao (BL32).
How do I find Baohuang?
Find the bony point under the dimple above each buttock: the posterior superior iliac spine. A line joining the lower edges of the two spines crosses the midline at the S2 spinous process. Midway from the posterior superior iliac spine to the S2 spinous process, feel for a dip: the second posterior sacral foramen (Ciliao). At that height, press 3 cun out from the median sacral crest — the same as the midline-to-shoulder-blade width.
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.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 126
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 19 — same location
- Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
- Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- Classical record: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 9
- Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20 — lumbosacral points in pregnancy
- 3D: computed on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS
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.