Atlas of Acupuncture

5 The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qi jing ba mai) with Points

Location

On the posterior midline, 1.5 cun superior to Du-17(directly

superior to the external occipital protuberance) or 3 cun inferior

to ➞Du-20(on the vertex).

How to find

First, locate ➞Du-17in a depression directly superior to the

external occipital protuberance (➞3.1.5), which forms a hump-

shaped projection on the posterior surface of the occipital bone.

From there, palpate 1.5 cun in a superior direction and there

locate Du-18on the posterior midline.

➞Du-20is located 3 cun in a superior direction, on the vertex.

Needling

Transversely (subcutaneously) 0.5–1 cun

Actions/Indications

● Dispels Wind, especially internal Wind

● Opens the channel

● Calms the shen

Du-18 Unyielding Space QIANGJIAN

Sagittal suture

Lambdoid suture

Occipitomastoid

suture

Parietal bone

Occipital bone

Mastoid

process

External occipital

protuberance

Du-16

BL-9 Du-17 BL-9

Du-18

Du-17

1.5 cun

Midline

3 cun

To Du-20

External

occipital

protuberance

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

Du-17

Du-16 1.5 cun

External

occipital

protuberance

Ch05b-F10028.qxd 2/22/08 9:55 PM Page 516