Gall Bladder Channel

Fengchi GB-20

Chinese: 风池

Pinyin: Fēng Chí

Location

In the posterior aspect of the neck, below the occipital bone, in the depression between the upper portion of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscle. 

How to locate

Palpate from the midline along the lower border of the occiput. Cross the bulge of the origin of the trapezius muscle, until reaching a depression about the size of a finger pad. Fengchi GB-20 is in the center of this depression. 

Main actions

  1. Subdues Liver Yang
  2. Expels Exterior or Interior Wind
  3. Benefits the eyes and ears
  4. Nourishes the Marrow and Brain

Indications

Fever Iritis Vertigo Lockjaw Epilepsy Red eyes Eye pain Tinnitus Deafness Cataract Body aches Hemiplegia Wind-stroke Tearfulness Blocked ear Poor memory Eye deviation Blurred vision Occipital pain Mouth deviation Aversion to cold Outer canthus pain Occipital stiffness Optic nerve atrophy Outer canthus redness Diminished night vision

Needling

The patients should be in a prone, sitting or supine position with occipital region available for needling. 

Insert the needle 0.5-2 cun, towards the nose tip or the contralateral orbit. 

Caution: do not needle deeper than 2 cm in slim patient. 

Commentary for Fengchi GB-20

Fengchi GB-20 is an very important point. One of its major function is to subdue Liver Yang or Liver Fire, characterized by headache and dizziness. 

The Rising of Liver Yang triggers Interior Wind and causes symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, hemiplegia, lockjaw, deviation of eye and mouth or epilepsy. 

On top of that, it is also able to expel Exterior Wind. In fact, it is often used for strong Wind Invasion which cause profound headache or stiff neck. Together with Lieque LU-7, it eliminates Wind-Cold. While with Hegu LI-4 and Waiguan TB-5, it eliminates Wind-Heat. In order to expel Wind, GB-20 should be needled angled towards the opposite eye. 

This point can also be used for various eye disorders, especially caused by Liver Yang or Liver Fire. These are the Excess cases, characterized by red and painful eyes or outer canthus as well as excessive lacrimation. In this case, a Reducing Needling method should be applied here. In case of Deficient cases characterized by blurred vision or diminished night vision, a Tonifying Needling method should adopted to nourish Liver Blood. In order to effect the eye, GB-20 should be needled obliquely towards the eye of the same side. 

Furthermore, Liver Yang Rising gives rise to ears disorders such as tinnitus, deafness or blocked ear. These can be treated by Fengchi GB-20 as well. 

Finally it tonifies the Marrow and nourishes the Brain with Tonifying Needling Method. Thus it treats poor memory, dizziness and vertigo.