Taodao Point (GV-13 / Pottery Path)
Discover the exact location and acupressure method for Taodao (GV-13 / Pottery Path). Learn its benefits for chills, fever, cough, headache, and colds – the meeting point of Governor Vessel and Bladder – plus classic combinations for comprehensive treatment.
Indications
Chills, fever, and cough, wheezing, stiff painful head and neck, fever with headache, malaria, spinal and back stiffness with pain, and common cold.
Precise Location
In the spinal region, in the depression below the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra, on the posterior midline.
Location Method
Bend the head down. From the most prominent point at the back of the neck (the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra, Dazhui GV-14), move down 1 vertebra to the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra – the point is in the depression below this spinous process.
Massage Method
Massage: Press and knead with the thumb. Press and knead Taodao with the thumb about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes, to treat cough and wheezing. Therapeutic actions: Clears heat and releases the exterior, disperses lung qi and stops cough, relieves wheezing and regulates qi, and dispels wind and dissipates cold.
Compatibility
Headache (exterior headache): Combine with Dazhui (GV-14), Quchi (LI-11), and Hegu (LI-4). Chills, fever, and cough: Combine with Dazhui (GV-14), Fengmen (BL-12), and Feishu (BL-13). Wheezing: Combine with Tiantu (RN-22) and Danzhong (RN-17). Malaria: Combine with Dazhui (GV-14) and Jianshi (PC-5). Spinal and back stiffness with pain: Combine with Shenshu (BL-23) and Weizhong (BL-40). Common cold: Combine with Fengchi (GB-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 and the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. It clears heat and releases the exterior, disperses lung qi and stops cough, relieves wheezing and regulates qi, and dispels wind and dissipates cold. It is a commonly used key point for treating exterior patterns and lung-related disorders. First documented in Zhenjiu Jiayijing. "Tao" refers to a pottery mound or vessel; "Dao" means path or channel. Located on the back, where the spine rises like a pottery mound, this point serves as the channel for Governor Vessel qi – hence the name Taodao (Pottery Path).
