Translating "中膂兪", acupuncture point BL-29
The reasoning for translating "中膂兪" as "Middle Spine Muscles Increase" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point BL-29 (Bladder 29).
Explanation of the point name
The effect of this point is mainly on the muscles next to the spine, around the middle of the spine. It makes the most sense that the point name reflects this.
However, the character 膂, can mean either 'spine' or 'physical strength,' according to appropriate dictionaries. These meanings don't quite satisfy, though. The effect is more on the muscles, which speaks for the meaning of 'physical strength,' but then the meaning of 中 becomes a bit problematic, as this seems to go better with the meaning 'spine.'
In the name of DU-6, which is 脊中, 脊 means 'spine' as well, so why is here a different character for 'spine?' Apparently, the meaning of 膂 is somewhat different.
A possible solution is to translate 膂 as 'muscles next to the spine' or something, which is actually in some texts and Japanese dictionaries. Since this does make more sense, I'm going with that.
1st character
Point names with 中
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LU-1 | 中府 | Central Storehouse |
| ST-17 | 乳中 | Center of the Nipple |
| SI-15 | 肩中兪 | Between the Shoulders Increase |
| BL-29 | 中膂兪 | Middle Spine Muscles Increase |
| BL-33 | 中髎 | Middle Bone Notch |
| BL-40 | 委中 | Yield to Within |
| KI-15 | 中注 | Pour into the Center |
| KI-26 | 彧中 | Inner Refinement |
| P-9 | 中衝 | Thoroughfare in the Middle |
| TB-3 | 中渚 | Between the Sandbars |
| GB-32 | 中瀆 | Middle of the Ditch |
| LIV-4 | 中封 | Between the Dikes |
| LIV-6 | 中都 | Between the Cities |
| REN-3 | 中極 | Balanced Fully |
| REN-12 | 中脘 | Middle Inside of the Stomach |
| REN-16 | 中庭 | Middle of the Courtyard |
| REN-17 | 膻中 | Center of the Chest |
| DU-6 | 脊中 | Halfway the Spine |
| DU-7 | 中樞 | Middle Pivot |
2nd character
No other point names with this character.
3rd character
Meaning
The character 兪 has often been left untranslated, rendering it as 'Shu.' However, the CJKV-English Dictionary has a perfectly fitting translation for it: 'Increase.'
Point names with 兪
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| SI-10 | 臑兪 | Upper Arm Increase |
| SI-14 | 肩外兪 | Side of the Shoulder Increase |
| SI-15 | 肩中兪 | Between the Shoulders Increase |
| BL-13 | 肺兪 | Lung Increase |
| BL-14 | 厥陰兪 | Body Yin Increase |
| BL-15 | 心兪 | Heart Increase |
| BL-16 | 督兪 | Supervision Increase |
| BL-17 | 膈兪 | Diaphragm Increase |
| BL-18 | 肝兪 | Liver Increase |
| BL-19 | 膽兪 | Gallbladder Increase |
| BL-20 | 脾兪 | Spleen Increase |
| BL-21 | 胃兪 | Stomach Increase |
| BL-22 | 三焦兪 | Triple Burner Increase |
| BL-23 | 腎兪 | Kidney Increase |
| BL-24 | 氣海兪 | Sea of Qi Increase |
| BL-25 | 大腸兪 | Large Intestine Increase |
| BL-26 | 關元兪 | Bar's Beginning Increase |
| BL-27 | 小腸兪 | Small Intestine Increase |
| BL-28 | 膀胱兪 | Bladder Increase |
| BL-29 | 中膂兪 | Middle Spine Muscles Increase |
| BL-30 | 白環兪 | White Ring Increase |
| KI-16 | 肓兪 | Breathing Increase |
| KI-27 | 兪府 | Increase Department |
| DU-2 | 腰兪 | Loins Increase |
Nearby points
Sometimes the names of consecutive points on a meridian are related. Being aware of nearby points can help to translate consistently in such a situation.
| BL-26 | 關元兪 | Bar's Beginning Increase |
| BL-27 | 小腸兪 | Small Intestine Increase |
| BL-28 | 膀胱兪 | Bladder Increase |
| BL-29 | 中膂兪 | Middle Spine Muscles Increase |
| BL-30 | 白環兪 | White Ring Increase |
| BL-31 | 上髎 | Upper Bone Notch |
| BL-32 | 次髎 | Second Bone Notch |