43. Gall Bladder and Liver points
Gall Bladder points (Table 43.1)
The primary pathway of the Gall Bladder channel
The Gall Bladder channel begins at the outer canthus at the corner of the eye. It then travels across the temple and ascends in front of the ear to the corner of the forehead. Next it doubles back and descends behind the ear, only to zigzag once more over the side of the head to the forehead and back to the rear of the head. From here it travels down the neck to cross to the front of the shoulder and then on to the axilla. It then zigzags forwards and down across the side of the chest and then backwards and down to the person’s side at the level of the waist. From here it moves forwards and down again to the front of the anterior iliac crest of the hip bone and backwards and down to the hip. It then continues down the lateral side of the thigh, knee and lower leg, in front of the lateral malleolus of the ankle and over the top of the foot. It ends at the lateral side of the fourth toe at GB 41 where it connects to Liv 1.
| Yuan source point | Gall Bladder 40 |
| Luo junction point | Gall Bladder 37 |
| Tonification point | Gall Bladder 43 |
| Sedation point | Gall Bladder 38 |
| Back shu point | Bladder 19 |
| Outer Back shu point | Bladder 48 |
| Horary point | Gall Bladder 41 |
| Xi cleft point | Gall Bladder 36 |
| Entry point | Gall Bladder 1 |
| Exit point | Gall Bladder 41 |
| Window of the Sky | None |
Gall Bladder 1 Tong Zi Liao, Pupil Foramen: Entry point
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This is the point of Entry, which is linked to the point of Exit of the Triple Burner channel at TB 22. A block between these two channels can cause local problems, such as temporal headaches, neuralgia and eye problems. Releasing this block can transform patients’ minds and spirits and give them greater insight or vision as well as calm their anger and irritability.
Gall Bladder 9 Tian Chong, Heaven Rushing
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
Ma Shi, a Ming dynasty physician, thought there was a mistake in Ling ShuChapter 2 which states that Small Intestine 17 is a Window of the Sky. This was because SI 17 was given as a point on the shao yang or Gall Bladder channel. As this point has tian in its name some people assume that it is really the Window of the Sky described in the Ling Shu. Whether this is true or not, the name Heaven Rushing marks this point out as a spirit point. In contrast, neighbouring points on the channel generally have topographical names.
Situated on the head, this point has a powerful effect on the mind and spirit when the Gall Bladder is either full or deficient. It can help patients to have greater clarity of mind and spirit and to improve their ability to make decisions. It is also indicated if a patient is fearful and timid if it is a result of Gall Bladder deficiency.
Gall Bladder 12 Wan Gu, Mastoid Process
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This point can be used for insomnia arising from the Gall Bladder and Liver especially if combined with Bl 18 and 19 (Maciocia, 1989, p. 445).
Gall Bladder 13 Ben Shen, Root of the Spirit
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
Ben Shen is the name of Chapter 8 of the Ling Shu, the chapter with the fullest discussion on the spirit in the Nei Jing. The shen is regarded as the ‘root’ of the person and it is also essential that the shen is properly rooted in a person. This point along with GB 15 and 16 has a powerful effect on the mind and spirit. As it is located over the upper dan tian, it can be reduced to calm a person if the shen is agitated. This is especially effective when anger has made the qi ‘rise’, creating too much heat or recurring angry thoughts. It is also indicated when a patient has persistent and unreasonable jealousy, anxiety or worry (Maciocia, 1989, p. 446).
Ben Shen can also enable a person to become more assertive, creative or decisive if a person’s Gall Bladder is deficient.
Gall Bladder 15 Tou Lin Qi, Head above Tears
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This point is used to stabilise the mind and spirit when a patient has emotional swings. It can also be tonified to strengthen the spirit when the Gall Bladder is deficient.
It is sometimes combined with GB 41, Zu Lin Qi, Foot above Tears.
Gall Bladder 16 Mu Chuang, Eye Window
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
As well as treating afflictions of the eyes, this point can also be used to expand a person’s insight and vision.
An elderly patient had suffered from severe migraines, which affected his vision, for many years. He was of an irascible temperament and thought that his migraines were largely the result of his intense feelings of frustration. Using this point on two consecutive occasions made an enormous difference to the intensity, duration and frequency of his migraines and he became less bad-tempered over the same period of time.
Gall Bladder 17 Zheng Ying, Upright Living
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
Zheng Ying can mean fear or solitude and this may be an indication for the use of this point for calming the spirit (Ellis et al., 1989, p. 267).
Gall Bladder 18 Cheng Ling, Receiving Spirit
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This point affects the person’s ling, the yin counterpart to the shen. It is one of the best points to use to treat people’s spirits, especially if they are troubled by obsessional thoughts or dementia. This point is also said to connect a person’s spirit to the universal qi (College of Traditional Acupuncture, 2000). It is located lateral to Du 20, which is at the highest point on top of the head.
Gall Bladder 20 Feng Chi, Wind Pond
Needle depth 0.5–0.8 cun; moxa cones 7–10
This is a powerful point that can be used for its local effect, as well as for problems in the head and eyes.
Gall Bladder 24 Ri Yu, Sun and Moon: front mu point of Gall Bladder
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 5–7
The name refers to the expression ‘clear as the sun and moon’, which indicates a clear and decisive mind. The combined characters for ‘sun’ and ‘moon’ form the word ming, which means ‘intelligent’, ‘clear’ or ‘understand’. These are the qualities that people strive to achieve when their Gall Bladder is deficient.
This point is mentioned in Su Wen (along with the back shu point) for the treatment of indecisiveness resulting from Gall Bladder deficiency. As the sun represents yang and the moon yin, the name of the point implies a balancing of yin and yang in the Gall Bladder. It is probably the most important point for people who are struggling with indecision, confusion or excessive rigidity due to an imbalanced Gall Bladder.
There may also be a link in the name to the eyes, the sense organ associated with the Wood Element, as the left eye is known as the sun and the right eye is known as the moon. It is also the front mu point.
Gall Bladder 25 Jing Men, Capital Gate: front mu point of Kidneys
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 7–10
This is the front mu point of the Kidneys but it is often used to treat the Gall Bladder. This point is situated on the side of the body in the region of the Gall Bladder and it can strongly move qi that is stuck in or around the Gall Bladder Organ.
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