Girdling (dài) vessel

Abbreviation: GIV, GIR. One of the eight extraordinary vessels; the vessel that encircles the body at the waste.

Functions

Serves to bind all the channels running up and down the trunk, thus regulating the balance between the upward and downward flow of qì in the body.

Girdling Vessel Pathway

Overview

Lateral tip of 10th rib → pathway encircling body, riding over the hip, and dipping over the abdomen..

Description

The girdling (dài) vessel starts internally below the lateral tip of the tenth rib and descends obliquely to GB-26 (dài mài, Girdling Vessel), where it meets the external pathway that encircles the body. This pathway rides over the hip and dips downward obliquely to the lesser abdomen.

The girdling vessel intersects with three points on the foot lesser yáng (shào yáng) gallbladder channel: GB-26 (dài mài, Girdling Vessel), GB-27 (wǔ shū, Fifth Pivot), and GB-28 (wéi dào, Linking Path).

Acupoints on the Girdling Vessel

The girdling vessel has no points of its own but intersects with three points on the foot lesser yáng (shào yáng) channel: GB-26 (dài mài, Girdling Vessel), GB-27 (wǔ shū, Fifth Pivot), and GB-28 (wéi dào, Linking Path): These generally treat white vaginal discharge, prolapse of the uterus, abdominal distension and fullness, limp lumbus, and excessive weight around the waist.