Governor Vessel (督脉)

Meridian: Governor Vessel   

International Code: GV (Governor Vessel)   

Source: Suwen · Gukong Lun (Plain Questions · Discourse on Bone Cavities)

Brief Introduction   

The Governor Vessel is one of the eight extraordinary meridians. It runs over the head, face, and the posterior midline. It has 29 points, the first being Changqiang (GV1) and the last Yinjiao (GV28). It governs all Yang Qi and the Yang meridians. It mainly treats Zang-Fu disorders, mental disorders, head, face, and sensory organ disorders, febrile diseases, and conditions along its pathway.

Point Descriptions

1.   Changqiang (GV1) – Luo-Connecting point – diarrhea, dysentery, bloody stool, constipation, hemorrhoids, prolapse of the rectum, manic-depressive epilepsy, low back and sacrococcygeal pain

2.   Yaoshu (GV2) – irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, severe low back pain, flaccid paralysis of the lower limb, epilepsy, diarrhea, dysentery, bloody stool, constipation, hemorrhoids, prolapse of the rectum

3.   Yaoyangguan (GV3) – lumbosacral pain, flaccid paralysis of the lower limb, irregular menstruation, red and white leukorrhea, seminal emission, impotence

4.   Mingmen (GV4) – severe low back pain, flaccid paralysis of the lower limb, irregular menstruation, red and white leukorrhea, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, infertility, seminal emission, impotence, cold sperm with infertility, frequent urination, lower abdominal cold pain, diarrhea

5.   Xuanshu (GV5) – severe low back pain, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, undigested food in stools, diarrhea, dysentery

6.   Jizhong (GV6) – epilepsy, jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, prolapse of the rectum, bloody stool, severe low back pain, infantile malnutrition

7.   Zhongshu (GV7) – jaundice, vomiting, abdominal fullness, stomach pain, poor appetite, low back and back pain

8.   Jinsuo (GV8) – manic-depressive epilepsy, sinew disorders, convulsions, spinal rigidity, inability to retract the limbs, sinew spasm and tightness, stomach pain, jaundice

9.   Zhiyang (GV9) – jaundice, chest and hypochondriac fullness, cough, dyspnea, low back and back pain, spinal rigidity

10. Lingtai (GV10) – cough, dyspnea, back pain, stiff neck, boils

11. Shendao (GV11) – cardiac pain, palpitations, severe palpitations, mental disorders, insomnia, poor memory, aphasia due to stroke, epilepsy, cough, dyspnea, severe low back pain, shoulder and back pain

12. Shenzhu (GV12) – generalized heat, headache, cough, dyspnea, convulsions, manic-depressive epilepsy, severe low back pain, boils on the back

13. Taodao (GV13) – febrile disease, malaria, chills and fever, cough, dyspnea, bone steaming and tidal fever, mania, spinal rigidity

14. Dazhui (GV14) – febrile disease, malaria, chills and fever, cough, dyspnea, bone steaming and tidal fever, manic-depressive epilepsy, infantile convulsions, stiff neck, back pain, urticaria, acne

15. Yamen (GV15) – sudden loss of voice, slow tongue with aphasia, manic-depressive epilepsy, hysteria, headache, stiff neck

16. Fengfu (GV16) – meeting point of the Foot Taiyang, Governor, and Yangwei Meridians – stroke, manic-depressive epilepsy, hysteria, headache, dizziness, stiff neck, sore throat, loss of voice, eye pain, epistaxis

17. Naohu (GV17) – meeting point of the Governor and Foot Taiyin Meridians – dizziness, stiff neck, loss of voice, epilepsy

18. Qiangjian (GV18) – headache, dizziness, stiff neck, mania

19. Houding (GV19) – headache, dizziness, manic-depressive epilepsy

20. Baihui (GV20) – meeting point of the Governor, Foot Taiyang, Hand and Foot Shaoyang, and Foot Jueyin Meridians – dementia, stroke, aphasia, skin disorders, insomnia, poor memory, manic-depressive epilepsy, hysteria, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, prolapse of the rectum, prolapse of the uterus, gastroptosis, nephroptosis

21. Qianding (GV21) – headache, dizziness, sinusitis, manic-depressive epilepsy

22. Xinhui (GV22) – headache, dizziness, sinusitis, manic-depressive epilepsy

23. Shangxing (GV23) – sinusitis, epistaxis, headache, eye pain, febrile disease, malaria, mania

24. Shenting (GV24) – meeting point of the Governor, Foot Taiyang, and Yangming Meridians – manic-depressive epilepsy, insomnia, palpitations, headache, dizziness, red eyes, corneal opacity, sinusitis, epistaxis

25. Suliao (GV25) – coma, convulsions, neonatal asphyxia, shock, respiratory failure, nasal disorders, sinusitis, epistaxis

26. Shuigou (GV26) – meeting point of the Governor, Hand and Foot Yangming Meridians – coma, syncope, stroke, heatstroke, shock, respiratory failure (one of the emergency points), hysteria, manic-depressive epilepsy, acute and chronic convulsions, nasal obstruction, epistaxis, facial swelling, mouth deviation, toothache, trismus, acute lumbar sprain

27. Duiduan (GV27) – coma, syncope, mania, hysteria, mouth deviation, trismus, halitosis, toothache

28. Yinjiao (GV28) – meeting point of the Governor, Conception, and Foot Yangming Meridians – mouth deviation, trismus, halitosis, gum bleeding, toothache, epistaxis, red face and cheek swelling, hemorrhoids, mania

29. Yintang (GV29) – dementia, epilepsy, insomnia, poor memory, headache, dizziness, epistaxis, sinusitis, infantile convulsions, postpartum fainting, eclampsia