GV-15 - Gate of Muteness

哑门 - Yǎ mén

Point Region: Neck

GV

Governing Vessel

督脉 - Dū mài

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: At the back of the neck, on the midline, in the hollow above the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2). It lies 0.5 cun below GV-16.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find GV-16, in the hollow just below the bump at the base of the skull
  2. Move half a thumb-width down the midline
  3. The point is in the hollow there
GV-15 (Gate of Muteness) acupressure point location: At the back of the neck, on the midline, in the hollow above the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2).

How to Apply Pressure

Treat GV-15 as a sensitive neck area: after locating it, use at most feather-light contact, with no kneading or neck manipulation. Avoid it with neck injury, instability, or a clotting disorder; stop immediately for headache or neurological symptoms.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Loss of voice
  • Stiffness of tongue
  • Headache
  • Neck pain
  • Mental disorders

Related Health Concerns

HeadacheNeck and Shoulder Pain

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Severe cervical spine disorders
  • Acute neck trauma
  • Severe hypertension
  • Blood clotting disorders

Take care:

  • Extremely sensitive area - use minimal pressure only
  • Avoid in patients with cervical instability
  • Discontinue immediately if severe headache or neurological symptoms occur
  • Never apply strong pressure to this point