GV18

Qiangjian

Star

強間 (Qiángjiān) — Unyielding Space

Du (Governing) channel · point 18

Not yet clinically reviewed

Traditionally used for

Headaches
Dizziness
Sleep
Mood & calm
Pain & joints

Location

On the head, on the posterior midline, 4 cun above the posterior hairline, 1.5 cun above GV17.

How to locate: Find GV17 in the depression just above the external occipital protuberance and measure 1.5 cun up the midline; the point is also 3 cun behind GV20.

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

Body map, back: GV18 · Nape of neck — Fig. — GV18 · Nape of neck After Albinus, 1747

The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate — The vertebral column Gray's Anatomy, 1918 Marker hidden while its position on this plate is re-checked.

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 cun

skindeeper

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. 551 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

Depth: 0.3–0.5 cun

Angle: Transverse

Functions

Extinguishes wind, especially internal wind
Activates the channel
Calms the spirit and clears the head

Indications

Headache and dizzinessstiff neckinsomnia and agitationmania

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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