Governing Vessel
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DU-20
Safety Warnings
- Dangerous point - requires extra caution
- Deep needling contraindicated - shallow insertion only
Needle Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needle Angle
10-15° (Transverse)
Body Area
Head — Vertex
Location
At the vertex, at the junction of a line connecting the apex of the ears and the midline, in the depression 7 cun above the posterior hairline and 5 cun behind the anterior hairline.
Main Actions
- Expels Interior Wind
- Subdues or Raises Yang
- Benefits the Brain and the senses Organs
- Clears Mind
- Regains consciousness
Indications
Epilepsy
Tinnitus
Headaches
Dizziness
Hemiplegia
Runny nose
Depression
Wind-stroke
Poor memory
Bloody nose
Opisthotonos
Blocked nose
Anus prolapse
Blurred vision
Uterus prolapse
Stomach prolapse
Bladder prolapse
Vaginal prolapse
Urinary retention
Frequent urination
Impaired consciousness
Feeling of bearing down
Commentary
Baihui DU-20 is located at the vertex of the head. This is where the body's energy is able to reach its maximum potential. It also happens to be the point many Yang Channels passes, thus it has a dual function at either subduing Excessive Yang from the head or raising Deficient or Sinking Yang to the head.
Liver Yang Rising agitates Interior Liver Wind, thus causes symptoms like Wind-stroke, hemiplegia, opisthotonos, loss of consciousness, epilepsy, headache, dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision. By applying Reducing method (inserting needle transversely towards the posterior) on Baihui DU-20, it subdues Liver Yang as well as clears Interior Wind.
On the other hand, some Organs such as Uterus, Stomach, vagina, Bladder or anus can prolapses, because Deficient or Sinking Qi fails to hold them in their original position. Other symptoms can happen due to Sinking Qi such as urine retention, frequent urination and the general feeling of bearing down in the lower abdomen.
Tonifying method on Baihui DU-20 is able to stimulate the raising of the Yang and Qi so as to ease above issues. It is especially effective in treating anus or vagina prolapse, as both of they lie on the Governing Vessel.
The effectiveness can be greater if moxa is used. However, practitioners have to make sure the patients have no excessive Heat or high blood pressure.
Another function of Baihui DU-20 is to benefit the Brain and sense Organs as it ascends the Yang to the head. Thus it is able to treat dizziness, brain noise, tinnitus, poor memory, nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, nosebleed and blurred vision.
Thanks to the same Yang raising effect, DU-20 also strongly lifts and clears the Mind so as to treat symptoms like depression.
Finally, it also stimulates resuscitation when the patients lose their consciousness.
Classical Sources
《针灸甲乙经》 (Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing - The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture): "Treats pain at the vertex, heavy head due to wind, eyes feeling like they will fall out, inability to turn the head left or right, and tinnitus."
《备急千金方》 (Beiji Qianjin Yaofang - Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold): "For mania and epilepsy where the patient does not recognize people, and dizziness with confusion."
《太平圣惠方》 (Taiping Shenghui Fang): "Head and eye dizziness and pain, lack of mental energy, forgetting the past and losing track of the present, mental confusion and absent-mindedness, and childhood rectal prolapse."
《会元针灸学》 (Huiyuan Zhenjiu Xue): "Baihui is where the Qi and blood of the five Zang, six Fu, extraordinary vessels, three Yang channels, and hundred vessels all converge, hence the name Hundred Convergences."
How to Locate
Apply the spreading hands technique to locate Baihui DU-20. First place the hands on both sides of the head, with the little fingers touching the apex of the ears. Join the thumbs on the midline and locate DU-20 in a shallow depression on the vertex of the head. Alternatively, apply a elastic tape between the apices of the ears, locate DU-20 which is the crossing points with the head midline.
Caution
Contraindicated for needling in infants whose fontanelle has not yet closed. Use caution with moxibustion in patients with high blood pressure, hypertension, or signs of excessive heat—these patients may benefit from reducing method or bloodletting rather than warming techniques. Apply pressure after needle removal to prevent bleeding due to the rich vascular network at the vertex. Avoid deep needling—transverse insertion only to prevent injury to underlying structures.
Needle Angle
10-15° (Transverse)
Depth Category
Shallow
Standard Depth
0.5–1.0 cun
Needling Directions
0.5–1 cun transversely towards the posterior (Reducing effect) or the anterior (Tonifying effect). Caution: Apply pressure to head points after needle removal to avoid bleeding.
Expected Deqi Sensation
Distending or tingling sensation locally at the vertex, sometimes radiating across the scalp. The sensation may feel like warmth or pressure spreading over the crown of the head. Some patients report a sense of clarity or lightness in the head, or a subtle pulling sensation.
Moxibustion
Particularly Recommended
Duration: 5–15 minutes
Cupping
Contraindicated
Bloodletting
Recommended
Gua Sha
Contraindicated
Four Seas Classification
Sea Type:
Sea of Marrow
Position:
Upper Point
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