Yaoyan 腰眼
On the lower back, in the hollow about 3.5 B-cun lateral to the midline at the level just below the L4 spinous process.
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Vertebra l4 · Posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia · Iliocostalis lumborum muscle
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Yaoyan.
On this page
1Where is Yaoyan?
On the lower back, in the hollow about 3.5 B-cun lateral to the midline at the level just below the L4 spinous process.
There is one on each side, 2 B-cun further out than BL25.
Vertebra l4 · Posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia · Iliocostalis lumborum muscle
2How do I find it on my body?
- Put your hands on the highest points of both iliac crests; the line joining them is at the level of the L4 spinous process.
- From the dip just below it (GV3), go 3.5 B-cun sideways at the same level.
- Press the hollow the fingertip finds there.
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.
- 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.
3Before you press
- Do not press during pregnancy.
- WHO's 1999 safety guidelines note that needling and moxibustion on the lower back and sacral area are traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
- If numbness or weakness spreads into the leg after a back injury, see a clinician before pressing.
- 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?
- The name means 'waist eye': the hollows on each side of the lower back are likened to a pair of eyes.
- China's 1990 standard says 'about 3.5 B-cun' and Korea's KMCRIC says '3 to 4 B-cun' — the hollow matters more than the exact number.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Yaoyan?
On the lower back, in the hollow about 3.5 B-cun lateral to the midline at the level just below the L4 spinous process. There is one on each side, 2 B-cun further out than BL25.
How do I find Yaoyan?
Put your hands on the highest points of both iliac crests; the line joining them is at the level of the L4 spinous process. From the dip just below it (GV3), go 3.5 B-cun sideways at the same level. Press the hollow the fingertip finds there. it is 2 B-cun further out than BL25 (1.5 B-cun from the midline).
Can I press it during pregnancy?
Do not press during pregnancy.
What should I watch out for?
Do not press during pregnancy. WHO's 1999 safety guidelines note that needling and moxibustion on the lower back and sacral area are traditionally avoided in pregnancy. If numbness or weakness spreads into the leg after a back injury, see a clinician before pressing. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: Chinese national standard GB 12346-90 (Location of points), 'Standard location of extra points', p. 23
- Name and code: WHO, A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature (1991), pp. 15-16
- Current Chinese standard: interpretation of GB/T 40997-2021 (Nomenclature and location of extra points), SAMR 2022 — only Dagukong and Pigen had their locations revised
- Locating tips and Korean terms: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea), extra points
- Pregnancy caution: WHO, Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20
- 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.