Gallbladder (special point)

胆囊Dǎn Náng

Anatomical location

1–2 cun distal to GB34 (Yanglingquan), at the point of maximum tenderness on palpation.

Same point as 152PC · Dǎn Náng — Curious Points catalog

Main function

Special point of the Gallbladder, drains Damp-Heat.

Special diagnostic and therapeutic point of the Gallbladder

Therapeutic indications

Cholecystitis
cholelithiasis
hypochondriac pain
sciatica

Name and classical tradition

Dannang, 胆囊, is the anatomical name for the gallbladder: 胆 (膽), bile; 囊, sac. It is a point found by palpation, one or two cun below GB34, Yanglingquan, at the most tender spot, and the name tells you which organ it is used for.

It is a modern, 20th-century point, and the vocabulary shows it: 胆囊 is a term from Western anatomy, not from classical medicine, which spoke of 膽. Its method of location, on the other hand, is the oldest there is: look for the point where it hurts, the principle of the Ashi point.

Location of point EX-LE6, Gallbladder (special point) — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-LE6 on the anatomy

Needling techniquePerpendicular insertion.

Depth1-1.5 cun

MoxibustionApplicable.

PrecautionsNone in particular.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.