Gall Bladder Meridian - Foot Shao Yang - General Information

  • Internal/External Pathways
    Originates at the outer canthus of the eye
    Loops down and up to the forehead within the hairline
    Descends behind the ear to the corner of the skull
    Returns to the forehead arcing across the side of the head
    Descends to the back of the head
    Down the side of the body
    Meets the Bladder Meridian at the sacrum
    Runs down the outside of the leg and ends on the 4th toe
  • Measurements Needed
    Nipple (ST 8) -to- Nipple (ST 8 = 9 cun
    Anterior Hairline -to- Posterior Hairline = 12 cun
    Glabella -to- Anterior Hairline = 3 cun
    Conception Vessel Meridian on Chest -to- LU 1 = 6 cun
    Conception Vessel Meridian on Chest -to- Acromial end of the Clavicle = 8 cun
    Greater Trochanter -to- Center of the Patella = 19 cun
    Center of Patella -to- External Malleolus = 16 cun
  • Precautions - [all]
    GB 1 - No Moxa
    GB 3 - No Deep Needle
    GB 9 - No Moxa
    GB 21 - No Needle During Pregnancy, No Needle with History of Heart Disease
    GB 22 - No Moxa
    GB 33 - No Moxa
    GB 42 - No Moxa
  • Additional Helpful Information
  • You must know the Governing Vessel Meridian head points.
  • To Find the Points on the Head:
    First find GV 20
    For Posterior points find GV 16 (6 cun below)
    Split in half and you have GV 18
    Split each remaining half for GV 17 and GV 19 respectively
    For Anterior points
    GV 24 is .5 cun posterior to the hairline
    GV 23 is .5 cun posterior to GV 24
    GV 22 is 1 cun posterior to GV 23
    Midway between GV 22 and GV 20 is GV 21

Sources and More Information

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were used within this section:

  • Ferro, Barbara: New England School of Acupuncture, Point Location Lecture Notes
  • Hartstein, Rachel: New England School of Acupuncture, Actions & Effects Lecture Notes

For a complete list of valuable resources, see our Acupuncture Theory Resources section. The most recommended texts are below:

Gall Bladder Meridian Links

Basic Information • Graphic • Locations Chart
Functions Chart
View All Meridians

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