Relieve Back Pain with Acupressure Points

Bladder points on the sacrum help relieve back pain.

The Bladder meridian runs down both sides of the back. Because of its location, points on the Bladder meridian are always used to relieve back pain.

relieve back pain

The sacrum is located in the lower back at the base of the spine.

Acupressure points on the sacrum are great for relieving back pain!

I get great results using these four Bladder acupoints on the sacrum:

Bladder points to relieve back pain

Each point is located on one of the holes (foramen) of the sacrum. *Do not use these points during pregnancy

How to locate Bladder 31, 32, 33, 34*

Each point is located on one of the sacral foramen (holes in the sacrum).

  1. Feel for the center of the sacrum
  2. Slide light pressure out to the sides and feel for little dips in the sacrum
  3. Each dip is one of the holes in the sacrum (and the location of the acupoint)
  4. Take your time and feel for the four dips on both sides of the sacrum

How to activate these acupressure points:

  1. Ensure that you are on the point (I contact the points on the both sides of the sacrum simultaneously)
  2. Focus your awareness where you are physically contacting the point
  3. Slowly increase your pressure on the points
  4. Ask your client to tell you how much pressure feels the best to them
  5. Combine small movement and stillness on these points
  6. Move from one set of points (i.e. BL 31 on the left and right side) to the next
  7. After activating each of these points, gently press down the back of the legs to encourage the energy to flow down the legs

How acupressure points relieve back pain

We use acupressure points to activate the energy within the meridians. This energy is called Qi (“chee”) in Chinese medicine. Back pain is often the result of stuck or stagnant Qi in the meridian. By activating the acupoints, we stimulate the flow of Qi in meridians. Once the Qi is flowing smoothly again, the pain subsides.
I use these acupoints for relieving all types of back pain. In particular, these points are great for low back pain. Since the Bladder meridian travels down the neck, I also use these points to relieve neck pain.
*Please note that Bladder 31, 32, 33, 34 are contraindicated during pregnancy.  
Do not use these points during pregnancy.

Share your experience!

You can add these points into any type of massage that you practice. Experiment, explore, and let me know your results by writing in the comment box below.

To continue learning, check out the “Reduce Low Back Pain” video on demand.

Cindy Black

Cindy Black is the Founder of Big Tree School of Natural Healing and the author of Meridian Massage, Pathways to Vitality. She is appreciated for her ability to make the complex accessible, fun, and practical.

6 Comments

  1. Genesis M. Roy, LMT, ISHA on June 19, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    Having had two spinal surgeries, I find these points give me quick results … I call them my Magical Healing Points.

  2. […] 4 more points to relieve back pain […]

  3. Laureli Latimer on January 5, 2017 at 9:23 am

    Thanks. I usually start with the legs when working on someone with low back pain and get good results. Since most LB pain has a lot to do with the hamstrings I also work the BL points 36-40.
    Love your info. It supports what I teach in my shiatsu classeso and do with my clients.

    • Cindy Black, L.Ac., LMT on January 5, 2017 at 9:54 am

      Hi Laureli,
      Thanks for adding your experience so that we can expand the possibilities of this work together. 🙂

  4. […] Click here for a close up image of Bladder 31-34 […]

  5. EDITH CORRAL on June 4, 2016 at 9:51 am

    Thank your!! I often use these points during my therapies and they do work, but I hadn´t massaged the legs afterwards. I will give it a try. What I did massage after are the areas around the ankles and it helps hip and back problems

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