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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; shared point on the yáng linking (yáng wéi) vessel

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

Classical 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. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 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.

Classical 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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