GV-17 - Brain's Door

脑户 - Nǎo hù

Point Region: Head

GV

Governing Vessel

督脉 - Dū mài

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the head, on the midline, in the hollow just above the bump at the back of the skull (the external occipital protuberance). It is level with BL-9.

How to Locate:

  1. Find the bump at the back of your skull
  2. Move up over its top edge
  3. The point is in the hollow just above it, on the midline
GV-17 (Brain's Door) acupressure point location: On the head, on the midline, in the hollow just above the bump at the back of the skull (the external occipital protuberance).

How to Apply Pressure

Having located GV-17, make gentle fingertip contact without pressing on an injured or tender area. Avoid it after head trauma or during an acute headache; stop if discomfort or other symptoms increase.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Dizziness
  • Mental disorders
  • Blurred vision
  • Neck stiffness
  • Amnesia

Related Health Concerns

HeadacheInsomniaFeeling FaintNeck 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 mental illness
  • Acute head trauma
  • Severe hypertension

Take care:

  • Use gentle pressure only
  • Avoid during acute headache episodes
  • Discontinue if symptoms worsen