Dazhui Point (GV-14 / Great Vertebra, also known as Jingbailao, Shangzhu)
Unblocks the Governor Vessel and calms the spirit, unblocks yang and regulates qi, releases the exterior and reduces fever. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for fever, colds, malaria, cervical spondylosis, and skin disorders.
Indications
Fever with chills, stiff painful head and neck, shoulder and back pain, rubella, cough with wheezing, and infantile convulsions. (1) Mental disorders: Manic-depressive disorders, hysteria, infantile convulsions, insomnia. (2) Skin disorders: Urticaria, acne, rubella. (3) Neck disorders: Stiff neck, cervical spondylosis, shoulder and back pain. (4) Exterior patterns: Colds, fever, cough, wheezing. (5) Others: Malaria, night sweats, bone-steaming with tidal fever, consumptive disorders, chest pain, dizziness, etc.
Precise Location
In the spinal region, in the depression below the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra, on the posterior midline.
Location Method
Bend the head down – the point is in the depression below the most prominent point at the back of the neck (the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra).
Massage Method
① Massage: Press and knead with the thumb. ② Cupping: Apply retained cupping with a fire cup. ③ Scraping therapy: Scrape from the center outward. ④ Bloodletting: Prick with a three-edged needle to release 1–2 mL of blood. Press and knead Dazhui with the thumb about 200 times, or for 3–5 minutes daily, to treat neck pain. Therapeutic actions: Unblocks the Governor Vessel and calms the spirit, unblocks yang and regulates qi, releases the exterior and reduces fever.
Compatibility
Headache: Combine with Quchi (LI-11) and Hegu (LI-4). Malaria: Combine with Taodao (GV-13), Jianshi (PC-5), and Houxi (SI-3). Epilepsy: Combine with Yaoqi (EX-B9) and Baihui (GV-20). Exterior fever and colds: Combine with Quchi (LI-11), Hegu (LI-4), and Fengchi (GB-20). Febrile disease with dizziness: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Zhongchong (PC-9). Cervical spondylosis: Combine with Fengchi (GB-20) and Jingjiaji (EX-B2). Spinal and back pain: Combine with Fengchi (GB-20), Jinsuo (GV-8), and Houxi (SI-3). Spinal and back stiffness: Combine with Changqiang (GV-1). General body pain: Combine with Quchi (LI-11) and Zusanli (ST-36). Skin disorders: Combine with Feishu (BL-13), Geshu (BL-17), and Quchi (LI-11).
Efficacy & Actions
Dazhui belongs to the Governor Vessel (Du Mai) and is the meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the three yang meridians of the hand and foot. It regulates the yang qi of the entire body, strengthens the body and dispels pathogens, releases the exterior and reduces fever, and unblocks yang and stops malaria. It is a specific point for treating exterior fevers, malaria, and cervical spondylosis, with extensive clinical applications. Reducing technique or pricking bleeding is most commonly used. First documented in Suwen · Qifu Lun. "Da" means great or large; "Zhui" refers to the vertebra. Located below the 7th cervical vertebra – the largest and most prominent vertebra of the spine – hence the name Dazhui (Great Vertebra). It is also known as "Jingbailao" and "Shangzhu." (1) Specific Point for Fever and Colds: As the meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the three yang meridians, the Governor Vessel governs all yang, Taiyang governs the exterior, Shaoyang governs the half-exterior-half-interior, and Yangming governs the interior. Dazhui dispels pathogens from the three yang meridians, releases the exterior, and reduces fever – effective for all types of colds and exterior fevers, whether wind-cold, wind-heat, qi-deficiency, or yang-deficiency. Clinical methods include needling, bloodletting, cupping, and moxibustion – bloodletting with cupping for heat patterns, moxibustion for cold patterns. The Suwen · Gukong Lun states: "For moxibustion treating chills and fever, first moxibust Dazhui, with the number of cones corresponding to the patient's age." (2) Used for Skin Disorders: As a Governor Vessel point and meeting point of the three yang meridians, it treats febrile diseases. Needling clears lung heat, dispels wind, and resolves stasis – often with pricking and cupping to enhance heat-clearing, blood-activating, and stasis-resolving effects, used for rubella, urticaria, eczema, acne, and other skin disorders. (3) Key Point for Cervical Spondylosis: As the meeting point of yang qi, needling regulates yin and yang, activates blood and resolves stasis, dispels pathogens and unblocks collaterals. It is a commonly used effective point for stiff painful neck, stiff neck, shoulder-back pain, and spinal-back pain. The Great Compendium states: "Dazhui treats shoulder and back tension, stiff neck with inability to turn." Needling should be directed upward, preferably with multi-directional insertion, or with pricking and cupping. (4) Specific Point for Malaria: As the meeting point of all yang, it unblocks yang qi, expels pathogens, and stops malaria – an effective point for all types of malaria. (5) Calms the Spirit: As a Governor Vessel point, the Du Mai enters the brain and connects to the heart – it calms the spirit and stops fright, used for mental and brain disorders such as manic-depressive disorders, hysteria, intellectual disability, infantile convulsions, and insomnia. (6) Other Therapeutic Effects: Also used for deficiency patterns (night sweats, bone-steaming with tidal fever, consumptive disorders) and lung disorders (cough, asthma).
Contraindications
The deep layer contains the spinal cord – needling depth must be carefully controlled. The patient should sit upright with the head slightly bent forward, needling upward obliquely, generally 0.5–1 cun, avoiding excessive depth to prevent spinal cord injury. If resistance suddenly disappears with a hollow sensation at approximately 1 cun depth, indicating the needle tip has entered the epidural space, do not advance further. If limb twitching or an electric shock sensation occurs, withdraw the needle immediately. Moxibustion is permissible.
