The Jade Pillow — a point on the back of the head that clears the eyes, calms headaches and opens the nose. Where the skull meets the neck, BL-9 stands like a quiet guardian of the senses.
Contraindications
As with all scalp and occipital points, needling is kept shallow and transverse. No special contraindications are noted in the sources.
Name & story
The name 玉枕 Yuzhen means "Jade Pillow" — and the image is immediately beautiful. Jade in Chinese culture is the most precious and refined of stones, associated with purity and Heaven. A pillow, of course, is where the head rests in sleep. The point sits at the back of the skull, just where the head presses into a pillow when you lie down. It is as if the ancients noticed this exact spot of contact — the place where the head is cradled — and gave it the most elegant name they could imagine.
Point family & character
BL-9 belongs to the Bladder Meridian (BL), the longest channel in the body, which runs from the inner corner of the eye all the way up and over the skull, then down the back and the leg to the little toe. Yuzhen sits on the upper, cranial portion of this great channel, in the occipital region of the head.
Location
BL-9 is found on the back of the head, in the occipital region. It sits 1.3 Cun lateral to the midline and 2.5 Cun above the posterior hairline, roughly level with the upper border of the external occipital protuberance. It lies just lateral to BL-8 and above BL-10 (Tianzhu).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the occipital region, over the occipital bone, in the area of the superior nuchal line. Beneath it lie the occipital belly of the occipitofrontalis muscle and the occipital bone itself.
Needling
The needle is inserted horizontally (transversely along the scalp), angled beneath the skin. As with all points on the skull, care is taken to keep the needle flat and not to penetrate deeply.
Safe depth
0.3–0.5 Cun, transversely.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle acupressure or massage with the fingertips on the occipital ridge around BL-9 can help ease tension headaches and neck stiffness. Warmth in the area — for instance, a warm pack placed at the base of the skull — can be soothing when symptoms are aggravated by Cold or Wind.
Functions
Clears Wind and relieves pain in the head and occiput. Benefits and brightens the eyes. Opens the nasal passages. Relaxes stiffness in the neck and back of the head.
Indications
Headache, especially at the back of the head and occiput. Visual disturbances, poor eyesight, short-sightedness. Stuffy or blocked nose. Stiffness and pain in the neck and upper back. Nasal congestion.
Point combinations
With BL-10 (Tianzhu) — the neighbouring point just below and slightly lateral — for headache at the back of the head, neck stiffness and nasal congestion, as both points sit in the same occipital region and share similar territory. With nearby occipital points for visual problems and eye disorders.
Clinical spotlight
BL-9 is a regional specialist — its value lies in its precise location on the occiput, making it a natural choice for occipital headache, neck tension and problems of the eyes and nose. The Bladder Meridian (BL) passes through the inner corner of the eye before travelling over the crown and down to the occiput, which explains why a point at the back of the skull can have such a clear influence on vision and the sense of smell. In practice it is often used together with BL-10 (Tianzhu) just below it, the two points working as a pair to clear the head and release the occipital region.
The golden tip
For tension or heaviness at the back of the head, try pressing gently with your fingertips along the base of the skull — BL-9 is roughly 1.3 Cun either side of the midline, in the soft area just above where the neck muscles meet the skull. Small, firm circular movements for a minute or two can ease occipital tension and the feeling of pressure behind the eyes. A warm pack at the base of the head is also comforting, especially when the discomfort is brought on by Cold or a draught.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.