GV 26 Acupuncture Point - Shui Gou - Governing Vessel Meridian

  • Chinese Name Shui Gou
  • English Name Water Trough

  • Location: At the junction of the upper and middle third of the philtrum.

  • Precautions: No Moxa.

  • Point Associations:
  • Ghost Point
  • Intersecting Point of the Governing Vessel, Large Intestine & Stomach Channels
  • Command Point

  • Actions & Effects:
  • One of two Command Points (with PC 6) added to the original four, for fainting, collapse. Main point for restoring consciousness, for shock, revivial from fainting, weakness, helps patient to awaken, use fingernail in an emergency.
  • Main point for acute low back sprain, helps relieve pain and restore motion, moves stagnation at the opposite end of the channel. After obtaining the Qi, have pateint bend then rotate the waist.

  • Governing Vessel Meridian Points (28):
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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
  • Harstein, 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:


(GV) Governing Vessel Meridian Links

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