BL63 (Jinmen, “Metal Gate”) is the Xi-Cleft point of the Yang Wei Mai point of the Bladder Meridian. It is located on the lateral aspect of the foot, in the depression directly inferior to the anterior border of the lateral malleolus, anterior and inferior to Shenmai (BL62). This point is located in the depression between the cuboid, calcaneus, and talus bones. It opens the Yang Qiao and Yang Wei channels, pacifies internal wind, calms the spirit, opens the orifices, and alleviates pain and spasm.
On the lateral aspect of the foot, in the depression directly inferior to the anterior border of the lateral malleolus, anterior and inferior to Shenmai (BL62). This point is located in the depression between the cuboid, calcaneus, and talus bones.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
Opens the Yang Qiao and Yang Wei channels, pacifies internal wind, calms the spirit, opens the orifices, and alleviates pain and spasm.
Sudden death-like collapse (cadaveric syncope), epilepsy, infantile convulsions (horse epilepsy), mania, sudden hernia pain, cholera with muscle cramping, knee and lower leg soreness, body trembling and inability to stand for long, headache, head wind, ear deafness, infantile mouth gaping with head shaking and opisthotonus, malaria with predominant cold then heat.
As the Xi-cleft point of the Yang Wei Mai, Jinmen is a critical point for acute conditions involving external pathogens and the body's protective Qi, particularly sudden, severe disorders like seizures, syncope, and acute pain. Its ability to pacify internal wind makes it valuable for epilepsy, convulsions, and opisthotonus, especially in children. Clinically, it is often used in combination with Shenmai (BL62) to strongly open the lateral aspect of the body and treat headache, dizziness, and pain along the Bladder channel.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 足太陽及股並陽蹻六穴凡三十六穴第三十四 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
金門二穴，主屍厥暴死，脈動如故，癲癇，張口搖頭，身反若折，霍亂轉筋，膝脛痠痛，暴疝The text records that BL63 was used for corpse-like reversal and sudden collapse while the pulse still beats, epilepsy with open mouth and shaking head, arching of the body as if broken, cholera with cramps, aching knees and shins, and sudden hernia.
《醫學綱目·刺灸》 Yīxué Gāngmù · Cìjiǔ — Outline of Medicine: Needling and Moxibustion, Lou Ying, 1565 · 卷之八·陰陽臟腑部 · 穴法下 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
金門二穴，在足外踝，下足太陽之郄，陽維所別屬也。 針入一分，灸三壯According to this text, BL63 lies below the outer ankle as the cleft point of foot taiyang, where the yangwei vessel branches off; needle insertion is 0.1 cun with 3 moxa cones.
《扁鵲神應針灸玉龍經》 Biǎn Què Shényìng Zhēnjiǔ Yùlóng Jīng — Bian Que's Jade Dragon Classic of Divinely Responsive Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 1329 · 头胸痛 · Source: Wikisource ↗
金门申脉治头胸，重痛虚寒候不同。 呕吐更兼眩晕苦，停针呼吸在其中This verse records that BL63 and BL62 were used for head and chest complaints, with heavy pain of deficient-cold kind, vomiting and troublesome dizziness, and that the needle was retained while attending to the breathing.
BL63 is one of 67 points on the Bladder Meridian. Nearby points:
BL63 (Jinmen) is located on the lateral aspect of the foot, in the depression directly inferior to the anterior border of the lateral malleolus, anterior and inferior to Shenmai (BL62). This point is located in the depression between the cuboid, calcaneus, and talus bones.
BL63 opens the Yang Qiao and Yang Wei channels, pacifies internal wind, calms the spirit, opens the orifices, and alleviates pain and spasm. Common clinical indications include sudden death-like collapse (cadaveric syncope), epilepsy, infantile convulsions (horse epilepsy), mania, sudden hernia pain, cholera with muscle cramping, knee and lower leg soreness, body trembling and inability to stand for long, headache, head wind, ear deafness, infantile mouth gaping with head shaking and opisthotonus, malaria with predominant cold then heat.
Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
BL63 is a point on the Bladder Meridian (Zú Tài Yáng Páng Guāng Jīng).