Gallbladder meridian
GB-20 (Fēngchí, 风池) — Wind Pool
- Meridian
- Gallbladder (GB)
- Anatomical view
- lateral
- Point classification
- Meeting point of the Gallbladder and Triple Energizer channels and the Yang Linking and Yang Motility vessels.
- Depth reference
- No universal safe numeric depth is established; select direction and depth from individual posterior-neck anatomy. The checked 0.5–0.8 cun study protocol is not a general safety standard.
- Moxibustion
- Not established in checked point source; heat near hair requires strict burn and fire precautions.
- Reference aliases
- GB20; Fengchi; 风池; Wind Pool
Anatomical location
Below the occipital bone, in the hollow between the upper attachments of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, level with GV-16.
Traditional actions
Expels external wind; clears the head and senses; benefits the neck; settles internal wind.
Recorded indications
Primary: Occipital headache; dizziness or vertigo; stiff neck; eye or ear symptoms.
Secondary: Nasal congestion; insomnia; facial pain; febrile illness patterns.
How to read this reference
AcuAtlas separates anatomical location, traditional classification, recorded actions, indications, insertion-depth references, and moxibustion notes because these fields answer different study questions. The location statement is the orientation anchor. The classification and actions describe traditional reference categories, while indications summarize how checked educational sources associate the point with established teaching material. They are not a recommendation to select or stimulate the point.
Depth and moxibustion entries are reproduced as bounded reference notes rather than procedural instructions. Individual anatomy, technique, angle, clinical setting, and local professional standards can change what is appropriate. Review the cited documents and supervised training material before using any technical field. The normalized map coordinate is included only to place the point on the matching AcuAtlas body plate; it is not a substitute for palpation or anatomical assessment.
Sources
References displayed on this page were recorded with the point dataset.
- WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region GB20, p. 181
- Safety of different acupuncture manipulations for posterior circulation ischemia with vertigo GB20 safety discussion and needling method
- Acupuncture.Com Acupuncture Point Reference Gall Bladder 20: English translation, classification, indications, functions and needling
- Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature GB20 and deep posterior-neck needling in subarachnoid haemorrhage reports
- Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand, Safety in Clinical Practice Guidance Moxibustion burn and hirsute-area precautions, pp. 19–20
Frequently asked questions
Where is GB-20 located?
Below the occipital bone, in the hollow between the upper attachments of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, level with GV-16.
What reference actions and indications are recorded for GB-20?
Expels external wind; clears the head and senses; benefits the neck; settles internal wind. The dataset lists these primary indications: Occipital headache; dizziness or vertigo; stiff neck; eye or ear symptoms. Secondary indications are recorded as: Nasal congestion; insomnia; facial pain; febrile illness patterns.
Is GB-20 safe during pregnancy?
This dataset does not identify GB-20 as one of its five mandatory pregnancy-caution points. That is not a declaration of safety. Pregnancy-related point selection requires individualized assessment by a qualified clinician.