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Alternate names: 曹溪 cáo xī, Cao's Ravine; 鬼林 guǐ lín, Ghost Forest; 鬼穴 guǐ xué, Ghost Hole; 鬼枕 guǐ zhěn, Ghost Pillow; 舌本 shé běn, Tongue Root; 思本 sī běn, Root of Thought; 惺惺 xīng xīng, Clearheadedness

Channel: GV, Governing (dū) Vessel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the neck, immediately inferior to the occipital bone on the midline.

Classic location: One cùn above the hairline at the back of the neck; in the depression between the two large sinews. The flesh at the point rises when the patient speaks and sinks back when he ceases talking. (Zhēn Jiǔ Dà Chéng)

Local anatomy: The branch of the occipital artery. The branches of the third occipital nerve and the great occipital nerve.

Action: Dispels wind evils and disperses cold; clears the spirit-mind; disinhibits the joints and drains fire.

Modern indications: Headache; stiff nape; dizzy vision; painful swollen throat; loss of voice; mania and withdrawal; wind stroke.

Classic indications: Headache with aversion to cold; loss of voice; jaundice; running amok; head wind and dizziness; wind-cold exterior patterns; lack of sensation in the legs.

Needle stimulus: Needling: With the head tilted back, 0.4‒0.6 cùn perpendicular (level, from back to front) insertion. Moxa: pole 3‒5 min.

Needle sensation: Localized distension and heaviness, sometimes extending upward or downward, sometimes causing a sensation of numbness throughout the body.

Warning: Direct moxibustion contraindicated.

Point groups: Intersection point (jiāo huì xué) of the governing and yáng linking vessel (yáng wéi mài)s; one of the thirteen ghost points.

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