Head Points

Question 1

Du 16: FENGFU Wind Treasury

Answer 1

This point lies just below the occiput. Run your index finger up the mid-line of the spine of the neck, until you reach the base of the occiput. With your other hand on your patient’s forehead, gently rock the patient’s head backwards and forwards. This rocking will highlight the joint between the head and the neck. The point lies here just under the occiput. This is roughly 1 cun superior to the natural hair-line.

Question 2

Du 20: BAIHUI One Hundred Meetings

Answer 2

On the top of the head, on the mid-line, 7 cun superior to the posterior natural hair-line, or 5 cun posterior to the anterior natural hair-line.
There are three methods for finding this point. Initially it is of great help to use the assistance of a piece of string. As you become more familiar with the position of the point you can just use your hands and eyes.

Question 3

Du 17: NAOHU Brain Door

Answer 3

11/2 cun superior to Du 16, just superior to the external occipital protruberance.

Question 4

Du 18: QIANGJIAN Unyielding Space

Answer 4

11/2 cun superior to Du 17.

Question 5

Du 19: HOUDING Posterior Vertex

Answer 5

11/2 cun superior to Du 18.

Question 6

Du 20: BAIHUI One Hundred Meetings

Answer 6

11/2 cun superior to Du 19.

Question 7

Du 21: QIANDING In Front of the Vertex

Answer 7

11/2 cun anterior to Du 20.

Question 8

Du 22: XINHUI Fontanel Meeting

Answer 8

11/2 cun anterior to Du 21.

Question 9

Du 23: SHANGXING Upper Star

Answer 9

1 cun anterior to Du 22.

Question 10

Du 24: SHENTING Shen Courtyard

Answer 10

1/2 cun anterior to Du 23, or 1/2 cun posterior to the mid-point of the anterior natural hair-line.

Question 11

St 8: TOUWEI Corner of the Head

Answer 11

The point is found at the lateral corner of the forehead, 41/2 cun from the mid-line, 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line. This is the place on the forehead where a ‘classical’ hair-line forms a distinct angled corner. The point will be 1/2 cun diagonally up into the hair from the corner. It is at the meeting point of 2 intersecting lines:
i) 1/2 cun posterior to the anterior hair-line, following round from DU 24 through
BL 3, 4, GB 15 and 13.
ii) A vertical line 1/2 cun posterior to the hair- line at the temple. Hence.
Bl3=3/4 cunfromDu24
Bl4=11/2 cunfromDu24
1/3 distance from Du 24 to St 8
GB 15 = 21/4 cun from Du 24 1/2 distance from Du 24 to St 8
GB 13 = 3 cun from Du 24
2/3 distance from Du 24 to St 8
St8=41/2 cunfromDu24
The easiest way to locate St 8 therefore is to locate GB 15 which is directly superior to the centre of the pupil of the eye, 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line, and then double the distance to locate St 8 at 4.5 cun
If the hair-line at the level of the upper part of the ear is vague and ill-defined, then trace up the pathway of the Stomach Channel from St 6 through St 7. Continue this vertical line to the corner of the forehead, curving very slightly to the posterior with the contour of the head.
On people who are bald you will need to use Du 24 and St 6 and St 7 to find your co-ordinates. On some bald heads it is possible to see a change in the quality of skin where the hair-line used to be.
Check that you are roughly in the right place by drawing an imaginary diagonal line from the corner of the person’s nose (LI 20), up over the lateral end of the raised arch of the eyebrow (directly superior to the outer canthus), and up to the hair-line at the corner of the forehead. This should coincide with the intersection of the two co-ordinates used for finding St 8.
Palpate for the hollow of the point, which tends to have a conspicuously characteristic feeling to it. Use the tip of one finger to probe the area for a place that is slightly softer, spongier, stickier and feels more alive than the surrounding area.
(As practice for getting to know the location of this point, observe people’s faces while you are watching TV, so that you start to recognise the position of St 8 in relation to the shape of the whole head of the person.)

Question 12

Bl 3: MEICHONG Eyebrow Surging

Answer 12

Bl 3 lies directly superior to Bl 2, 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line on the forehead, and on a horizontal level with Du 24. (Locate Bl 2 in the foramen at the medial end of the eyebrow).
Bl 3 lies on an imaginary horizontal line that circles the head from Du 24 to St 8. It lies at 1/6 of the distance from Du 24 to St 8, or midway between Du 24 and Bl 4, at 3/4 cun lateral to Du 24.

Question 13

Bl 4: QUCHA Crooked Turn

Answer 13

This point lies on the horizontal line that circles the head from Du 24 to St 8, at 11/2 cun from the mid-line. It is found at 1/3 of the distance from Du 24 to St 8, at 3/4 cun lateral to Bl 3, and 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line of the forehead.

Question 14

Bl 5: WUCHU Fifth Place

Answer 14

1/2 cun directly posterior to Bl 4.
1 cun posterior to the natural hair-line. 11/2 cun lateral to the mid-line (or Du 23).

Question 15

Bl 6: CHENGGUANG Receive Light

Answer 15

11/2 cun directly posterior to Bl 5.
21/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line. 11/2 cun lateral to the mid-line.

Question 16

Bl 7: TONGTIAN Heavenly Connection

Answer 16

11/2 cun directly posterior to Bl 6.
4 cun posterior to the natural hair-line. 11/2 cun lateral to the mid-line.
1 cun anterior to Du 20.

Question 17

Bl 8: LUOQUE Declining Connection

Answer 17

11/2 cun directly posterior to Bl 7.
51/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line. 11/2 cun lateral to the mid-line.

Question 18

Bl 9: YUZHEN Jade Pillow

Answer 18

21/2 cun superior to the natural hair-line of the neck.
2 cun superior to Bl 10 (level with Du 17). 1.3 cun lateral to the mid-line.
The point lies on the occiput in a depression on the lateral side of the superior border of the external occipital protruberance.

Question 19

Bl 10: TIANZHU Heavenly Pillar

Answer 19

The point lies here in a depression in the trapezius muscle, about 1.3 cun lateral to Du 15 and just inferior to the occiput. Start with your finger on Du 15. (Du 15 lies on the mid-line of the neck, between C 1 and C 2, at about 1/2 cun below Du 16 and roughly 1/2 cun above the natural hair line.) Roll your finger out on to the trapezius.
On a person with a well-defined hair-line, it lies roughly 1/2 cun superior to the natural hair-line of the neck, and 1.3 cun lateral to the mid-line.

Question 20

TB 17: YIFENG Wind Screen

Answer 20

Flatten the bottom of the person’s earlobe against his neck. Slip the tip of your index finger just under the tip of his earlobe. The tip of your finger should now be on TB 17. The point lies in the middle of the depression between the mandible and the mastoid process. If you apply pressure the person will feel a very uncomfortable sensation. In order to needle the point you must bend the earlobe forwards in order to get it out of the way. Needle insertion is upwards and forwards towards the face.

Question 21

TB 18: CHIMAI Spasm Vessel

Answer 21

On the mastoid process, 1/3 of the distance from TB 17 – TB 20 along the curve of the TB Channel

Question 22

TB 19: LUXI Skull Breathing

Answer 22

2/3 of the distance from TB 17 – TB 20 along the curve of the TB Channel. This is often on the border of the natural hair-line.

Question 23

TB 20: JIAOSUN

Answer 23

Angle Vertex Fold the person’s ear in half forwards, in order to highlight the topmost tip of the pinna. The point lies where the tip of the pinna touches the head, just superior to the natural hair-line.

Question 24

GB 4: HANYAN Forehead Fullness

Answer 24

1/4 of the distance from St 8 – GB 7 on a line that bows out slightly towards the face. When the patient chews, this is the highest place where you can you can feel some movement in the underlying musculature.

Question 25

GB 5: XUANLU Suspended Skull

Answer 25

1/2 of the distance from St 8 – GB 7 on a line that bows out slightly towards the face.

Question 26

GB 6: XUANLI Near Suspended Skull

Answer 26

3/4 of the distance from St 8 – GB 7 on a line that bows out slightly towards the face.

Question 27

GB 7: QUBIN Crooked Hair

Answer 27

at the Temples First find TB 20 at the apex of the ear. GB 7 lies anterior to, and on a horizontal level with TB 20. It lies at the posterior border of the temple, very slightly posterior to an imaginary vertical line that passes through TB 22.

Question 28

GB 8: SHUAIGU Leading Valley

Answer 28

As with TB 20, fold the ear over forwards to find the apex of the ear. GB 8 is found superior to the apex of the ear 11/2 cun superior to the natural hair-line.

Question 29

GB 9: TIANCHONG Heavenly Surge

Answer 29

This point is found in relation to GB 8. Draw an imaginary vertical line at the posterior root of the ear. GB 9 lies just behind this vertical line, 1/2 cun posterior and slightly inferior to the horizontal level of
GB 8.

Question 30

GB 10: FUBAI Floating White

Answer 30

GB 10 lies on a horizontal level with the uppermost part of the root of the ear, 1/3 of the distance from GB 9 – GB 12, on the curved line of the GB Channel (see above).

Question 31

GB 11: TOUQIAOYIN Head Hole Yin

Answer 31

Find the bony mastoid process behind the ear. GB 11 lies superior and posterior to the prominence of the mastoid process, 2/3 of the distance from GB 9 – GB 12, on the curved line of the
GB Channel (see above).

Question 32

GB 12: WANGU Completed Bone

Answer 32

The point lies in the depression inferior and posterior to the tip of the mastoid process. Put your finger on the prominence of the mastoid process. Roll your finger off the back of the process where you will fall into a depression. Ask your patient to nod his head up and down and this will highlight the hollow or crevice that you are feeling between bone and muscle.
The point lies 1 cun superior to TB 16, and slightly inferior to the level with Du 16.

Question 33

GB 13: BENSHEN Shen Source

Answer 33

This point lies on the horizontal line that circles the head from Du 24 – St 8, at 3 cun from the mid-line. It is found at 2/3 of the distance from Du 24 – St 8, and 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line of the forehead.

Question 34

GB 14: YANGBAI Yang White

Answer 34

GB 14 is found on the forehead roughly 1 cun superior to the middle of the eyebrow and in line with the centre of the pupil of the eye. With the person looking staight ahead, locate the centre of the pupil. It lies at 1/3 of the distance from the middle of the eyebrow to the natural hair-line, or roughly 1 cun above the eyebrow.
If you look at the person’s head in profile, you will notice that the frontal bone of the forehead has a little dip between the first 1/3 and the last 2/3 above the eyebrow. From the centre of the eyebrow, feel up the forehead vertically in line with the centre of the pupil, to this dip, and then palpate for the slight hollow of the point.

Question 35

GB 15: TOULINQI Head Overlooking Tears

Answer 35

The point lies directly above GB 14, and on the horizontal line that circles the head from Du 24 – St 8. It is found midway between these two points. (It is also midway between Bl 4 and GB 13.) GB 15 is thus at 21/4 cun from the mid-line and 1/2 cun posterior to the natural hair-line of the forehead.

Question 36

GB 16: MUCHUANG Eye Window

Answer 36

11/2 cun posterior to GB 15.

Question 37

GB 17: ZHENGYING Adjusting Ying

Answer 37

11/2 cun posterior to GB 16.

Question 38

GB 18: CHENGLING Receiving Spirit

Answer 38

11/2 cun posterior to GB 17.

Question 39

GB 19: NAOKONG Impoverished Brain

Answer 39

On the back of the head, 11/2 cun superior to GB 20. It lies at 21/4 cun lateral to the mid-line on a level with
Du 17. Feel out from the bulge of the occipital protruberance to the bulge of the prominence of the mastoid bone: you will notice a trough that lies between them. The point is found in this trough midway between, and at the level of, the superior border of the occipital protruberance and the superior border of the prominence of the mastoid process.

Question 40

GB 20: FENGCHI Wind Pond

Answer 40

The point lies at halfway from the mid-line of the neck to the lower edge of the mastoid process, in a recess between the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Starting with your index finger on Du 16 (see location above) slide your finger out laterally over the trapezius muscle until you arrive at a large hollow (21/4 cun from the mid-line). The point is found here about 1 cun above the natural hair-line, and just below the base of the occiput. (It is worth rocking your patient’s head above your finger in order to be sure that you are below the occiput.)