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Alternate names: 合颅 hé lú, Skull Union; 会额 huì é, Meeting of the Forehead; 西风 xī fēng, West Wind; 匝风 zā fēng, Circumference Wind

Channel: GV, governing (dū) vessel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the head, immediately superior to the external occipital protuberance (eop), 1.5 cùn above the occipital ridge, on the midline.

Classical location: One and a half cùn directly above Wind Mansion (GV-16), on the pillow bone. From The Golden Mirror of Medicine (医宗金鑑 yī zōng jīn jiàn)

Local anatomy: The branches of the occipital arteries and veins of both sides. The branch of the great occipital nerve.

Action: Dispels wind and clears heat; disperses swelling and settles tetany; rouses the brain and opens the orifices.

Modern indications: Dizzy head; stiff nape; loss of voice; epilepsy.

Classical indications: Red facial complexion; yellow eyes; swelling of the face; swelling of the head; painful swelling of the neck; jaundice; bleeding from the root of the tongue; red eyes; eye pain with unclear vision; loss of voice; tugging and slackening.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3 cùn perpendicular insertion (see Warnings). Moxa: pole 2‒3 min.

Warning: Needling of this point is contraindicated in some texts and direct moxibustion is contraindicated in most.

Point groups: Intersection point (jiāo huì xué) of the bladder channel and the governing vessel.

Point name meaning:

• 脑 nǎo: brain
• 户 hù: door, household

GV-17 is located on the pillow bone (occipital bone), directly behind the brain. It is called Brain’s Door because of its location and its use in the treatment of epilepsy and dizziness, i.e., disorders of the brain. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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