Shenting Point (GV-24 / Spirit Court, also known as Tianting)
Discover the exact location and acupressure method for Shenting (GV-24 / Spirit Court). Learn its benefits for insomnia, forgetfulness, headache, red eyes, and sinusitis – the meeting point of Governor Vessel, Bladder, and Stomach – plus classic combinations for comprehensive treatment.
Indications
Forgetfulness, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, sinusitis, epistaxis (nosebleed), nasal congestion, tearing (epiphora), red painful eyes, corneal opacity, headache (frontal headache, vertex headache), and manic disorders.
Precise Location
On the head, 0.5 cun directly above the anterior hairline on the midline.
Location Method
Sit upright or recline with head supported. On the anterior midline, measure 0.5 cun (approximately half a finger-width) upward from the midpoint of the anterior hairline into the hairline – that is the point.
Massage Method
① Massage: Press and knead with the thumb. ② Scraping therapy: Scrape from front to back. Press and knead Shenting with the thumb about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes daily, to treat headache, insomnia, and forgetfulness. Therapeutic actions: Calms the heart and settles the spirit, clears the head and brightens the eyes, unblocks the nose and opens the orifices, and revives the spirit and benefits intelligence.
Compatibility
Red painful eyes: Combine with Shangxing (GV-23), Jingming (BL-1), Qianding (GV-21), and Taiyang (EX-HN5). Headache and dizziness: Combine with Baihui (GV-20) and Fengchi (GB-20). Insomnia and forgetfulness: Combine with Shenmen (HT-7) and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Sinusitis and nasal congestion: Combine with Shangxing (GV-23) and Yingxiang (LI-20). Epistaxis: Combine with Yingxiang (LI-20) and Hegu (LI-4).
Efficacy & Actions
This point belongs to the Governor Vessel (Du Mai) and is the meeting point of the Governor Vessel, the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. It calms the heart and settles the spirit, clears the head and brightens the eyes, unblocks the nose and opens the orifices, and revives the spirit and benefits intelligence. It is a commonly used key point for treating mental, head-facial, and nasal disorders. First documented in Zhenjiu Jiayijing. "Shen" refers to the spirit and mind; "Ting" means court or hall. Located on the forehead, this point is the court where the spirit gathers – hence the name Shenting (Spirit Court). It is also known as "Tianting."
