(191) DU3 (Lumbar Yang Gate)

[HB KIM]

Clinical indication of DU3 (Yao Yang Guan)

1. Name
There are two YANG GUAN (Yang gate). DU3 is Yao Yang Guan (Lumbar Yang gate) and GB33 is Xi Yang Guan (Knee Yang gate).  When DU3 has pain, you can needle or moxa GB33, or vice versa. When GB33 has pain, you can do "5 moxa cones" around DU3. (one at DU3, and one each at 1 cun to top, bottom, left, and right)

2. Location
This point is located on the midline of the lower back, in the depression below the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra.  It is approximately opposite side of RN5.  This level of intervertebral space is the most spacious space among the others, especially when a person bending the body forward.  That's why this location is used for puncture or injection in hospital, i.e., spinal tap.  Yet, this is also the most popular location of herniated disk in the lower back.

3. Lower Back Pain
This point is very effective in treating lower back pain.  You can confirm if the patient have lower back pain by pressing DU3.  For lower back pain patients, they must feel pain when you press DU3.  This is a very important point for lower back pain with spinal disorder. Spinal nerves pass DU3 and go to genital area.  It's also good for simultaneous disorder with the lower back and legs.

4. Moxa > Acupuncture
Moxa treatment at this point is better than acupuncture.  After you moxa DU3 with the patient lying down, moxa DU3 again on the patient in sitting position.  Such technique provides better result. However the point location maybe different while lying down and sitting down.  Moxa DU3 is not only for pain of lower back, but also for weakness of lumbar.

5. Bleeding for lumbar sprain
For sprain of lumbar, bleeding on DU3 or lower-DU3 (Shi Qi Zhu Xia) will speed up the process of healing. DU3 is at L4, Lower-DU3 is at L5.  If pain is severe, bleed UB40 when patient lie down. 1-2 drops of blood is enough.  For lumbar sprain, you can also needle UB40 while the patient is in standing position, needle DU26 and RN24 as well. This means "tuning" Yin and Yang.  Instruct the patient to bend forward and extend backward for 15-30 minutes during the treatment, this is called MST (Motion Style Treatment).