Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Location

At the lower border of the occipital bone, in the depression

between the origins of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius

muscles.

How to find

Patient’s position:Prone, sitting or supine (supported by a pil-

low, so that the occipital region is accessible). Starting at the

midline, glide with the palpating finger along the lower border

of the occiput, crossing the bulge of the origin of the trapezius

muscle, until you reach a depression the size of a finger pad.

Locate G.B.-20in its centre.

Located on the same level is ➞Du-16. ➞BL-10is located more

medially and inferiorly.

Needling

Needle with the patient’s head bent forward and the tip of the

needle pointing inferiorly. Depending on the position of the

head, insertion towards the tip of the nose or the contralateral

orbit, 0.5–1.2 cun. Caution: In slim patients, do not needle

deeper than 2 cm (the vertebral artery is located at a depth of

approximately 4 cm).

Actions/Indications

● Eliminates Wind, benefits the head, clears the sensory organs

● Opens the channel

● With tonifying needle technique: strengthens the Marrow and

the Brain (according to Maciocia)

Special features

Meeting point with the T.B. channel*, yang wei mai, yang qiao

mai. Major point for all ‘Wind disorders’, very important point

for disorders of the head and eyes.

G.B.-20 Wind Pool FENGCHI

*According to Deadman et al 1998.

External occipital protuberance

Sternocleidomastoid

Splenius capitis

Trapezius

Lower

border of

the occiput

BL-10

Du-14

Du-15

Occipital

bone

Atlas

Axis

1st palpable

spinous

process

Trapezius,

superior

fibres

Sternocleido-

mastoid

Du-16

G.B.-20

G.B.-20

S.I.-19T.B.-21

S.I.-17

S.I.-18 S.I.-16

G.B.-2

G.B.-12

T.B.-17

T.B.-16

Ma 7

G.B.-14

G.B.-8

G.B.-20

S.I.-18

ST-5 ST-6

ST-9

T.B.-20

G.B.-1Ex-HN-5

G.B.-11 G.B.-19

T.B.-23

Ex-HN(anmian)

Ren-23

G.B.-20

G.B.-12 Du-15

G.B.-19BL-9 Du-17

Du-20

BL-8

G.B.-8

Du-16

Du-19

Du-18

BL-10

Ch04.11-F10028.qxd 2/23/08 11:24 AM Page 418