2.1.11.1 Cyclical flowing and distribution The gallbladder meridian starts from the outer can-thus, ascends to the corner of the forehead, curves down-ward to the retroauricular region and runs along the side of the neck in front of the triple energizer meridian. Then it turns back, traverses and passes behind the triple ener-gizer meridian down to the supraclavicular fossa. From there it runs downward from the supraclavicular fossa, passes in front of the axilla along the lateral aspect of the chest and through the free ends of the floating ribs to the hip region where it meets the previous branch and de-scends along the lateral aspect of the thigh to the lateral side of the knee. Then it goes further downward along the anterior aspect of the fibula all the way to its lower end, reaching the anterior aspect of the external malleolus. Finally it runs along the dorsum of the foot to the lateral side of the tip of the fourth toe. The first branch stems from the retroauricular region and enters the ear. Emerging before the ear, it runs to the posterior aspect of the outer canthus. The second branch stems from the outer canthus and runs downward to Daying (ST 5 ) and meets with the triple energizer meridian in the infraorbital region. Then it runs over Jiache (ST 6) and descends to the neck and enters the supraclavicular fossa to meet with the main trunk of the meridian. Then it further descends into the chest, passes through the diaphragm to link with the liver and enters the gallbladder to which it pertains. Running inside the hypochondriac region, it emerges from the lat-eral side of the lower abdomen near the femoral artery at the inguinal region. Finally it runs superficially along the margin of the pubes and goes transversely into the hip region. The third branch stems from the dorsum of the foot and runs between the first and second metatarsal bones to the distal portion of the great toe and ends at its hairy re-gion and links with the liver meridian. (see Fig. 64)
Fig .64 Flowing route of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyan
Associated viscera: Gallbladder and liver. Associated organs: Eyes and ears. 2.1.11.2 Indications Disorders of the lateral side of the head, eyes, ears and throat as well as mental problems, febrile disease and other diseases involving the areas through which the me-ridian passes. 2.1.11.3 Commonly used acupoints 1.1.11.3.1 Tongziliao (GB 1) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the outer canthus and at the lateral side of the orbit (see Fig. 65)
Fig .65 Head acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang.
Indications: Redness, swelling and pain of eyes, cata-ract, glaucoma, epiphora with wind and headache. 2.1.11.3.2 Tinghui (GB2) Location: This acupoint is located anterior to the in-tertragic notch, at the posterior border of the condyloid process of the mandible and in the depression when the mouth is open (see Fig. 65). Indications: Tinnitus, deafness, otopyorrhea, tooth-ache, facial distortion, headache and swelling and pain of the cheeks. 2.1.11.3.3 Shangguan (GB 3) Location: This acupoint is located in front of the ear, directly above Xiaguan (ST 7) and in the depression at the upper border of the zygomatic arch (see Fig. 65). Indications: Tinnitus, deafness, facial distortion, lockjaw, toothache and migraine. 2.1.11.3.4 Xuanlu(GB5) Location: This acupoint is located on the hairline of the temporal region and at the midpoint of the line joining Touwei (ST 8) and Qubin (GB 7) (see Fig. 65). Indications: Migraine, redness, swelling and pain of eyes and toothache. 2.1.11.3.5 Qubin(GBT) Location: This acupoint is located on the midpoint on the junction of the vertical line at the posterior border of the pre-auricular hairline with the level line of the tip of the ear, above one finger-breadth anterior to Jiaosun (TE 20) (see Fig. 65). Indications: Migraine, toothache, lockjaw and su-dden loss of voice. 2.1.11.3.6 Shuaigu (GB8) Location: This acupoint is located 1.5 cun from the tip of ear straightly into the hairline, directly above Jiao-sun (TE 20) and two finger-breadth (the index and middle fingers closed together) directly above the ear tip when the ear is folded or the midpoint between Jiaosun (TE 20) and the parietale tubercle (see Fig. 65). Indications: Migraine, vertigo, acute and chronic in-fantile convulsion. 2.1.11.3.7 Wangu (GB 12) Location: This acupoint is located in the depression posterior and inferior to the mastoid process (see Fig. 65). Indications: Headache, stiffness and pain of neck, toothache, facial distortion, epilepsy and malaria. 2.1.11.3.8 Yangbai (GB 14) Location: This acupoint is located on the forehead, 1 cun directly above the midpoint of the eyebrow (see Fig. 66).
Fig .66 Head acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications. Pain of eyes, blurred vision, twitching of eyelids, facial distortion, headache and facial pain. 2.1.11.3.9 Toulinqi (GB 15) Location: This acupoint is directly above the pupil and 0.5 cun from the anterior hairline and on the midpoint between Shenting (GV 24) and Touwei (ST 8) (see Fig. 66). Indications. Headache, vertigo, redness, swelling and pain of eyes, epiphora, cataract, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, tinnitus, deafness and infantile convulsion. 2.1.11.3.10 Fengchi (GB 20) Location: This acupoint is located below the occipital bone, parallel to Fengfu (GV 16) and in the depression between the upper portion of m. sternocleidomastoideus and m. trapezius or at the midpoint between Yifeng (TE 17) and Fengfu (GV 16) or at the upper part of the trape-zius on both sides with the thumb and index finger parallel to the external occipital protuberance. (see Fig. 66) Indications: Headache, vertigo, redness, swelling and pain of eyes, nearsightedness, epiphora with wind, night blindness, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, epistaxis, tinnitus, deafness, epilepsy, apoplexy, stiffness and pain of neck, common cold, febrile disease, malaria and goiter. 2.1.11.3.11 Jianjing (GB21) Location: This acupoint is located on the shoulder and at the midway between Dazhui (GV 14) and the acro-mion (see Fig. 67).
Fig .67 Shoulder acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Fig .68 Chest acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications: Stiffness and pain of neck, shoulder and back, paralysis of upper limbs, breast abscess, agalactia, dystocia and scrofula. 2.1.11.3.12 Riyue (GB 24) Location: This acupoint is located on the upper abdo-men, directly below the nipple, in the seventh intercostals space and 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline (see Fig. 68). Indications: Jaundice, hypochondriac pain, vomiting and acid regurgitation. Note. Front-Mu acupoint of the gallbladder. 2.1.11.3.13 Jingmen (GB25) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the waist, 1.8 cun posterior to Zhangmen (LR 13) and on the lower border of the free end of the twelfth rib (see Fig. 69).
Fig .69 Chest and rib-side acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Fig .70 Hip acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications: Dysuria, edema, lumbago, hypochondri-ac pain, abdominal distension and diarrhea. Note: Front-Mu acupoint of the kidney. 2.1.11.3.14 Daimai (GB26) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the abdo-men, 1.8 cun below Zhangmen (LR 13), directly below the free end of the eleventh rib and at the level with the umbilicus (see Fig. 69). Indications: Amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, hernia, abdominal pain and pain in the loins and hypochondria. 2.1.11.3.15 Juliao (GB29) Location. This acupoint is located on the midpoint between the anterosuperior iliac spine and the great tro-chanter (see Fig. 70). Indications. Lumbago, flaccidity and obstruction syn-dromes of lower limbs and hernia. 2.1.11.3.16 Huantiao (GB 30) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the thigh. When the thigh is flexed, the acupoint is at the junction of the lateral 1/3 and medial 2/3 of the distance between the most protruding point of the great trochanter and the hiatus of the sacrum (see Fig. 71).
Fig.71 Hip acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Fig .72 Lower limb acupoints on tje gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications. Pain in the loins and legs, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs, sprain of waist and urticaria. 2.1.11.3.17 gengshi (GB 31) Location: This acupoint is located on the midline lat-eral to the thigh, 7 cun above the transverse popliteal crease. Or when the patient stands erect with the hands close to the sides, the point is where the tip of the middle finger touches (see Fig. 72). Indications: Flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs, general pruritus and beriberi. 2.1.11.3.18 Xiyangguan (GB 33) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the knee, 3 cun above Yanglingquan (GB 34) and in the depression above external epicondyle of the femur (see Fig. 72). Indications. Swelling, pain and spasm of knees and numbness of shank. 2.1.11.3.19 Yanglingquan (GB 34) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank and in the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula (see Fig. 73).
Fig .73 Lower limb acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications: Hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, jaundice, vomiting, pain in the loins and legs, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs, acute and chronic sprain of waist and stiffness of neck. Note: He-Sea acupoint of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang and one of the eight confluent acupoints as-sociating with tendons. 2.1.11.3.20 Yangjiao (GB 35) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank, 7 cun above the tip of the external malleolus and on the posterior border of the fibula (see Fig. 73). Indications. Distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondria, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs and depressive psychosis and manic psychosis. Note: Xi-Cleft acupoint of yang link vessel. 2.1.11.3,21 Walqiu (GB 36) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank, 7 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula and parallel to Yangjiao (GB 35) (see Fig. 73). Indications, Distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondria, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs and depressive psychosis and manic psychosis. Note, Xi-Cleft acupoint of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang. 2.1.11.3.22 Guangmlng (GB 37) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank, 5 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula (see Fig. 73). Indications: Pain of eyes, night blindness, nearsight-edness, epiphora with wind, distending pain in the breast and flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs. Note: Luo-Connecting acupoint of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang. 2.1.11.3.23 Yangfu (GB38) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank, 4 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, slightly anterior to the anterior border of the fibula (see Fig. 73). Indications. Migraine, pain of the outer canthus, swelling and pain in the axillary region, distending pain in the chest and hypochondria, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of lower limbs, sore throat, scrofula and beriberi. Note: Jing-River acupoint of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang. 2.1.11.3.24 Xuanzhong (GB 39) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the shank, 3 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula (see Fig. 73). Indications: Stiffness of neck, distending pain in the chest and hypochondria, flaccidity and obstruction syn-dromes of lower limbs, sore throat, beriberi and hemor-rhoids. Note: One of the eight confluent acupoints associa-ting with marrow. 2.1.11.3.25 Qluxu (GB40) Location. This acupoint is located anterior and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of m. extensor digitorum lon-gus. (see Fig. 74)
Fig .74 Foot acupoints on the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang
Indications: Distending pain in the chest and hypo-chondria, swelling in the axillary region, flaccidity and obstruction syndromes of the lower limbs, swelling and pain of the external malleolus, redness, swelling and pain of eyes, cataract and malaria. Note: Yuan-Source acupoint of the gallbladder meri-dian of foot-shaoyang. 2.1,11.3.26 Zulinqi (GB41) Location: This acupoint is located lateral to the dor-sum of foot, posterior to the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint and in the depression lateral to the extensor muscle tendon of the small toe (see Fig. 74). Indications: Hypochondriac pain; flaccidity of foot; pain of foot dorsum; numbness of toes; irregular menstru-ation; multi-coloured leukorrhagia; redness, pain and swelling of eyes; breast abscess; scrofula and malaria. Note: Shu-Stream acupoint of the gallbladder meridi-an of foot-shaoyang and one of the convergent acupoints associating with the belt vessel. 2.1.11.3.27 Xlaxl (GB43) Location: This acupoint is located laterally on the foot dorsum, between the 4th and 5th toes and posterior to the red and white margin behind the toe web (see Fig. 74). Indications: Headache, vertigo, redness, swelling and pain of the eyes, tinnitus, deafness, pain in the hypo-chondria, breast abscess and febrile disease. Note: Ying-Spring acupoint of the gallbladder meridi-an of foot-shaoyang. 2.1.11.3.28 Zuqlaoyin (GB 44) Location: This acupoint is located on the lateral side of the fourth toe, about 0.1 cun latero-posterior to the comer of the nail (see Fig. 74). Indications: Headache, redness, swelling and pain of eyes, deafness, sore throat, hypochondriac pain, apo-plexy, syncope, insomnia, febrile disease and cough. Note: Jing-Well acupoint of the gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang.
