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GV-24 Spirit Court
神庭 〔神庭〕 shén tíng
Alternate names: 发际 fà jì, Hairline
Channel: GV, governing (dū) vessel
Modern location: An acupoint located on the superior aspect of the head, 0.5 cùn within the anterior hairline on the midline.
Classical location: Directly above the nose, five fēn within the hairline. From
Local anatomy: The branches of the frontal artery and vein. The branch of the frontal nerve.
Action: Calms the liver and extinguishes wind; quiets the heart and spirit.
Modern indications: Headache; dizzy vision; insomnia; deep-source nasal congestion; epilepsy.
Classical indications: Dizziness and headache; swelling of the eyes; eye screens; tearing; nosebleed; arched-back rigidity; protrusion of the tongue; withdrawal disease; wind epilepsy; hemiplegia.
Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.2‒0.3 cùn backward transverse insertion (see Warnings). Moxa: 3‒5 cones; pole 5‒10 min.
Needle sensation: Localized distension and heaviness.
Warning: Some classical texts say that needling of this point is contraindicated and that mania or damage to the eyesight may result from needling here.
Point groups: Intersection point (jiāo huì xué) of the governing vessel and the bladder and stomach channels.
Point name meaning:
The face is the court of the spirit
(续博物志: 面者, 神之庭也
). Because this point is located above the face and is utilized in treating various disorders of the head, forehead, eyes, and nose, its name may be rendered as Spirit Court. A further validation for this rendering refers to the fact that the center of the brain, where the original spirit is stored, is called the upper cinnabar field
(上丹田) and, alternately, the upper court
(上庭). Thus Spirit Court is located near the brain and treats spirit disorders.
The Comprehensive Roots and Grasses (本草纲目) states that the brain is the palace (府 fǔ) of the original spirit.
This point is used to treat the brain, and, because the characters 府 (fǔ) and 庭 (tíng) are sometimes synonymous, its name may be translated as Spirit Palace.
If 庭 (tíng) is taken in its sense of courtyard,
then there is a connection between