GV-23 - Upper Star

上星 - Shàng xīng

Point Region: Head

GV

Governing Vessel

督脉 - Dū mài

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the head, on the midline, 1 cun behind the front hairline.

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 the middle of your front hairline
  2. Measure one thumb-width back along the midline
  3. The point is there
GV-23 (Upper Star) acupressure point location: On the head, on the midline, 1 cun behind the front hairline.

How to Apply Pressure

After locating GV-23, apply only comfortable fingertip pressure and avoid irritated or injured skin. Skip it during a febrile sinus infection or severe eye infection; persistent symptoms need medical assessment.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Headache
  • Nasal obstruction
  • Red eyes
  • Sinusitis
  • Frontal headache
  • Rhinitis
  • Mental disorders

Related Health Concerns

HeadacheAllergies

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Acute sinusitis with fever
  • Severe eye infections

Take care:

  • Avoid during acute sinus infections
  • Use gentle pressure only
  • Seek medical attention for persistent eye or sinus symptoms