(GV) Governing Vessel Meridian - Point Locations Chart
You may click on a specific acupuncture point for more detailed information including the location, functions, precautions and the chinese and english names.
Points | Locations |
| GV 1 | Midway between the tip of the coccyx bone and the anus |
| GV 2 | In hiatus of sacrum between the sacrum and the coccyx (you will feel a superior ridge where S4 & S5 bones were as a child) |
| GV 3 | Below the spinous process of L4 |
| GV 4 | Below the spinous process of L2 ** No Moxa in males under 20 ** |
| GV 5 | Below the spinous process of L1 |
| GV 6 | Below the spinous process of T11 ** No Moxa ** |
| GV 7 | Below the spinous process of T10 |
| GV 8 | Below the spinous process of T9 |
| GV 9 | Below the spinous process of T7 |
| GV 10 | Below the spinous process of T6 |
| GV 11 | Below the spinous process of T5 |
| GV 12 | Below the spinous process of T3 |
| GV 13 | Below the spinous process of T1 |
| GV 14 | Below the spinous process of C7 |
| GV 15 | .5 cun above the midpoint of the posterior hairline in a depression below the spinous process of C1 ** NDN & No Moxa ** |
| GV 16 | 1 cun directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline directly below the occipital protruberance ** No Moxa & NDN ** |
| GV 17 | Midway between GV 16 & GV 18, 1.5 cun above GV 16 |
| GV 18 | Midway between GV 16 and GV 20, 1.5 cun above GV 17 |
| GV 19 | Midway between GV 18 & GV 20, 1.5 cun anterior to GV 18 |
| GV 20 | 7 cun above midpoint of posterior hairline, 5 cun above midpoint of anterior hairline, miway on a line connecting the apex of both ears in a depression slightly anterior to a larger depression |
| GV 21 | Midway between GV 20 & GV 22, 1.5 cun anterior to GV 20 |
| GV 22 | 1 cun posterior to GV 23 ** No Needling & No Moxa in infants with metopism |
| GV 23 | 1 cun posterior to the anterior hairline, .5 cun posterior to GV 24 ** No Moxa & No Needling in infants with metopism ** |
| GV 24 | Midway between anterior hairline and GV 23, .5 cun above the midpoint of the anterior hairline |
| GV 25 | On tip of nose ** No Moxa ** |
| GV 26 | At junction of the upper and middle third of philtrum ** No Moxa ** |
| GV 27 | At junction of upper lip and philtrum ** No Moxa ** |
| GV 28 | At junction of gum and frenulum of upper lip ** No Moxa ** |
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:
