GV6

Jizhong

Star

脊中 (Jǐzhōng) — Spinal Centre

Du (Governing) channel · point 6

Not yet clinically reviewed

Traditionally used for

  • Bowel health
  • Nerves & recovery
  • Liver & jaundice

Cautions & contraindications

  • No moxibustion

Location

On the back, on the posterior midline, in the depression below the spinous process of T11.

How to locate: With the arms at the sides, T7 lies level with the inferior angles of the scapulae; count down four spinous processes to T11, or up five from L4 on the iliac-crest line. The point is below the T11 spinous process, level with BL20.

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

Body map, back: GV6 · Upper back
Fig. — GV6 · Upper back After Albinus, 1747
Body map, back: GV6 · Upper back

GV6 · Upper back · Albinus, Tabulae sceleti et musculorum, 1747

The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate
The vertebral column Gray's Anatomy, 1918
The vertebral column — Gray's Anatomy plate

The vertebral column · Gray's Anatomy, 1918

3D view

Approximate placement, carried over from our 2D body map onto a single adult male model (BodyParts3D) and checked against the point's location text. Shown on one side of the body. Locate the point on your patient by the location text and palpation, not by this model.

Cun on this part of the body
Between the bilateral medial borders of the scapula: 6 B-cun; this scale is half of the 6 B-cun between the two medial borders (posterior midline to one border), 3 B-cun (WHO 2008, General Guidelines, Proportional Bone (Skeletal) Measurements, p. 12).
Needle angle and depth
  1. Perpendicular-oblique (about 70° to the skin), 0.5–1 cun, superior. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K, p. 539

3D anatomy: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (licence). Subset, simplified and recoloured by Verscienta — changes and licence details.

Needling

Cited needling

  1. Perpendicular-oblique insertion — superior
    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)
  1. Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 539 Supports: techniques (names this point)

Site notes · not cited

  • No moxibustion
Depth: 0.5–1.0 cun
Angle: Oblique, directed superiorly
⚠ Cautions: Moxibustion is classically contraindicated here.

Functions

  • Strengthens the Spleen and resolves dampness
  • Benefits the spine
  • Raises prolapse
  • Settles epilepsy

Indications

Diarrhoea and dysenteryprolapse of the rectumjaundiceepilepsyback stiffnesshaemorrhoids

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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