GB13

Benshen

Star

本神 (Běnshén) — Root of the Spirit

Gallbladder channel · point 13

Not yet clinically reviewed

Meeting point of the Gallbladder channel with the Yang Wei Mai

Traditionally used for

Headaches
Dizziness
Eye health
Sleep
Mood & calm
Nerves & recovery
Pain & joints

Location

On the head, 0.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 3 cun lateral to the midline.

How to locate: With the patient seated or supine, find GV24 0.5 cun within the anterior hairline and ST8 at the corner of the hairline 4.5 cun lateral; the point is 3 cun from the midline on the line joining them, at the junction of its medial two-thirds and lateral third.

Regional anatomy: Skin and dense subcutaneous tissue, then the frontal belly of occipitofrontalis and the galea aponeurotica, into the loose subaponeurotic connective tissue.

Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.

Body map, front: GB13 · Head & face — Fig. — GB13 · Head & face After Albinus, 1747

The skull, from the front — Gray's Anatomy plate — The skull, from the front Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

3D view not available for this point: its position on the 3D model couldn't be checked against its location text, so it is not shown. The 2D maps above show it.

Needling

Cited needling

Transverse insertion

Depth 0.5–1.5 cun

skindeeper

Within the hairline: see the needling note at Hanyan GB4.

Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.

Sources (1)

Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 431 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.5–0.8 cun

Angle: Transverse

Functions

Calms the spirit and settles the mind
Expels wind and settles convulsions
Benefits the eyes

Indications

Anxiety, agitation and fearfulnessinsomniaepilepsy and convulsionsheadache and dizzinessstiff neck

Clinical Notes

Its name marks it as a spirit point: used where anxiety, obsessive thought or emotional overwhelm dominate, often with GB18 and GV24.

Combinations Using This Point

Sishencong, Shenting and Benshen

Sishencong, Shenting and Benshen on the vertex and front hairline — a scalp set for settling the spirit, clearing the head and supporting memory.

Sources

World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)

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