Atlas of Acupuncture

4.11 Gall Bladder Channel System – Foot shaoyang(zu shao yang jing luo)

Location

At the highest point of the shoulder, at the midpoint of a line

connecting the 7th cervical vertebra (C7) and the lateral extrem-

ity of the acromion.

How to find

First, locate C7 (➞3.4.1) and the lateral extremity of the

acromion (➞3.3.1). Next, locate G.B.-21at the midpoint of a

line connecting these two reference points, on the highest point

of the trapezius muscle on the sagittal plane.

➞T.B.-15is located 1 cun inferior to G.B.-21, midway between

G.B.-21and ➞S.I.-13(medial to the supraspinous fossa).

Needling

Vertically approximately 0.3–0.5 cun (lift the muscle). An alter-

native, safer method: Lift the muscle and insert the needle approx-

imately 1 cun anteriorly or posteriorly into the muscle belly.

Caution: Contraindicated during pregnancy! Pneumothorax.

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel

● Descends the Qi

● Regulates the Qi flow, transforms Phlegm, dissipates nodules

● Promotes labour, benefits the breasts

Special features

Meeting point with the yang wei maiand the T.B. and ST* chan-

nels. Important local point. Trigger point for the shoulder with a

distal effect on the Uterus.

Shoulder Well JIANJING G.B.-21

Spinous process C7 1/2

Spinous process T4

G.B.-21

T.B.-15

S.I.-13 Tip of the

acromion

1/2

Highest point

of the shoulder

Du-14 Acromion

1/2

1/2

*According to Deadman et al 1998.

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