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GB20 (Fengchi) – Moxibustion Acupoint Reference
Chinese Name: Fengchi (风池)
Meridian: Gallbladder (Shaoyang)
Location: Below the occipital bone, in the depression between sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
Moxa Duration: 3-5 min | Distance: 2-3 cm
Evidence Level: Moderate
Location
GB20 is located in the hollow at the base of the skull, between the origins of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, approximately level with GV16 (Fengfu).
Clinical Indications for Moxibustion
- Headache and migraine: One of the most effective points for headache relief
- Neck pain and stiffness: General neck tension, cervical spondylosis
- Dizziness and vertigo: Particularly cervicogenic dizziness
- Eye strain: Tired, heavy eyes from screen use
Evidence Summary
A 2019 systematic review found GB20 was the most frequently used acupoint in headache trials, appearing in 82% of moxibustion protocols for tension headaches. Combined moxibustion at GB20 and GB21 reduced monthly headache days from 8.5 to 3.1 in a 12-week observational study.
Related Articles
References
- Xu S, et al. Acupoint selection for tension-type headache: systematic review of moxibustion RCTs. J Pain Res. 2019;12:2341-2352. PubMed
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