Gall Bladder Meridian
View all acupuncture points on this meridian and explore the channel pathway.
View meridian
GB-38
Fire-Huo
River-Jing Point
Needle Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Body Area
Lower Leg — Lateral, Ankle
Location
4 cun above and slightly anterior to the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula.
Main Actions
- Subdues Liver Yang
- Clears Heat
Indications
Commentary
Yangfu GB-38's main function is to subdues Liver Yang or Liver Fire, characterized by outer canthus eye pain or headache, especially migraine headache.
It is also able to clear Heat, especially in the Gall Bladder Channel. Typical symptoms are bitter taste, sighing, hypochondrial pain as well as feeling of Heat.
Classical Sources
Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot), Chapter 2 - Ben Shu: "The Gallbladder emerges at Qiaoyin... travels to Yangfu. Yangfu is anterior to the fibula above the lateral malleolus, at the end of the Juegu (fibula). It is the Jing-River point."
Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion): "Cold and heat, aching pain, inability to lift the four limbs, swelling in the axilla, scrofula and fistula, throat obstruction, shaking of the hip, knee, and lower leg bones, soreness, Bi syndrome and numbness—Yangfu governs these. Lumbar pain like a small weight in the center, sudden swelling and pain, inability to bend, coughing with sinew spasm, all joint pain moving without fixed location, cold and heat—Yangfu governs these."
Zhen Jiu Da Cheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion): "Treats lumbar pain as if sitting in water, swelling below the knee, sinew contracture. Pain in all hundred joints, the patient unaware of its location. All joints in pain, pain with no fixed place. Axillary swelling and atrophy, throat Bi, scrofula with goiter, soreness of knee and lower leg."
How to Locate
Identify the tip of the lateral malleolus as the reference point. Measure 4 cun from there and locate Yangfu GB-38 on the anterior border of the fibula. The borders of the fibula are deep to the peroneus brevis muscle and are often not easily palpable. For this reason, it is suggested to palpate the anterior border of the fibula just superior to the ankle and then locate the point on an imaginary line running to the head of the fibula.
Caution
The superficial peroneal nerve runs through this region. Excessive deep needling or strong stimulation may cause nerve irritation with numbness or tingling radiating to the dorsum of the foot. Patients with lower limb edema or compromised circulation should be needled with care.
Needle Angle
90° (Perpendicular)
Depth Category
Medium
Standard Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needling Directions
Vertically 0.5–1.5 cun.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Distending or aching sensation locally at the lateral lower leg, often radiating distally toward the ankle or proximally toward the knee along the Gallbladder channel. Some patients experience a dull heaviness or electrical sensation spreading along the fibula.
Moxibustion
Recommended
Duration: 5–15 minutes
Cupping
Recommended
Bloodletting
N/A
Gua Sha
Recommended
Five Element & Transporting Classification
Five Phase
Fire-Huo
Transporting Type
River-Jing Point
Mother-Child Role
Child (Reducing)
Related Resources
Browse All Points
Explore the complete collection of acupuncture points across all meridians.
View all meridians