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Channel: GV, governing (dū) vessel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the lower back, inferior to the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra.

Classical location: Below the sixteenth vertebra. From The Golden Mirror of Medicine (医宗金鑑 yī zōng jīn jiàn)

Local anatomy: The posterior branch of the lumbar artery. The medial branch of the posterior ramus of the lumbar nerve.

Action: Warms the blood chamber and the palace of essence; dispels cold damp in the lower burner.

Modern indications: Menstrual irregularities; seminal emission; impotence; lumbosacral pain; wilting-impediment (wěi bì) lower limbs.

Classical indications: Wind impediment (fēng bì) with insensitivity; amenorrhea; strangury-turbidity (lìn zhuó); enuresis; vomiting; diarrhea.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒0.8 cùn insertion slanting slightly to one side. Moxa: 3‒7 cones; pole 10‒20 min.

Point name meaning:

• 腰 yāo: lumbus, lower back; kidney; waist
• 阳 yáng: yáng, the complement of yīn
• 关 guān: pass, passageway; gate; joint

The yáng qì of the governing vessel travels up the spine, passing through GV-3 on its way to the life gate. Thus the point is called Lumbar Yáng Pass. The word lumbar is included in the name of this point simply to avoid confusion with another point also known as 阳关 (yáng guān), (Knee) Yáng Joint (GB-33).

GV-3 is situated between the two Large Intestine Transport (dà cháng shù) points; applying moxibustion at this point spreads yáng qì through the abdomen. The point functions, in these respects, as a passageway for yáng qì; thus its name could be rendered as Yáng Passageway.

Located on the back (yang) side of the body, GV-3 is used to treat the lumbar joints, allowing free movement of the lower back. Thus the name of this point could also be rendered, like its namesake (GB-33), as Lower Back Yáng Joint. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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