DU15 (Yamen, “Yamen”) is the Window of Heaven point of the Governing Vessel Meridian. It is located on the posterior midline of the neck, in the depression 0.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline, located between the spinous processes of the first and second cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2). The point is found with the patient's head tilted back. It restores the voice and benefits the tongue, extinguishes internal wind and calms spasms, clears heat and opens the orifices.
On the posterior midline of the neck, in the depression 0.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline, located between the spinous processes of the first and second cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2). The point is found with the patient's head tilted back.
With the patient's head flexed forward, needle perpendicularly or slightly inferiorly to a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep needling toward the medulla oblongata is strictly forbidden.
Restores the voice and benefits the tongue, extinguishes internal wind and calms spasms, clears heat and opens the orifices.
Inability to speak, sudden loss of voice, tongue stiffness with difficulty speaking, flaccid tongue with inability to speak, stiff neck, head and brain pain, headache, head heaviness, nosebleed due to exuberant yang heat, alternating chills and fever, convulsions, epilepsy, opisthotonos, wind-stroke.
Yamen is a critical point for treating sudden loss of voice and severe speech impediments, particularly those arising from wind-stroke or other acute conditions affecting the tongue's function. Its ability to extinguish wind also makes it a key point for convulsions, epilepsy, and opisthotonos. Due to its location, extreme caution must be exercised during needling to avoid the spinal cord.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
一名舌厭，在後髮際宛宛中，入系舌本，督脈、陽維之會，仰頭取之，刺入四分，不可灸，灸之令人喑According to this text, DU15 (also called Sheyan) lies in the small hollow at the back hairline, connecting with the root of the tongue, a meeting point of the governor and yangwei vessels, located with the head tilted back; it is needled 0.4 cun and moxa must not be applied, as moxa would make the person mute.
《神應經》 Shényìng Jīng — Classic of Divine Response, Chen Hui, 1425 · 穴法图 · Source: Wikisource ↗
哑门 在项后入发五分宛宛中，仰头取之。 针三分，禁灸。 灸之令人哑According to this text, DU15 lies in the small hollow 0.5 cun inside the hairline at the back of the neck, located with the head tilted back; it is needled 0.3 cun and moxa is prohibited, as moxa makes a person mute.
《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 · 喑 · Source: Wikisource ↗
哑门∶在项后入发际五分，直针三分，莫深，深则令人哑。 泻之，不补，灸七壮According to this text, DU15 lies 0.5 cun inside the hairline at the back of the neck; it is needled straight 0.3 cun and not deeper, since deep needling is said to make a person mute; it is drained, not tonified, with 7 moxa cones.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 頭後髮際中央旁行凡五穴第六 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
啞門一穴，禁不可灸。 治舌強失音，諸陽熱盛，鼻衄不止，頭痛，項脊強，反折瘛瘲The text states that moxa is prohibited at DU15 and records its use for stiff tongue with loss of voice, exuberant heat in the yang channels, unstoppable nosebleed, headache, stiff neck and spine, and arching with convulsions.
DU15 is one of 28 points on the Governing Vessel Meridian. Nearby points:
DU15 (Yamen) is located on the posterior midline of the neck, in the depression 0.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline, located between the spinous processes of the first and second cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2). The point is found with the patient's head tilted back.
DU15 restores the voice and benefits the tongue, extinguishes internal wind and calms spasms, clears heat and opens the orifices. Common clinical indications include inability to speak, sudden loss of voice, tongue stiffness with difficulty speaking, flaccid tongue with inability to speak, stiff neck, head and brain pain, headache, head heaviness, nosebleed due to exuberant yang heat, alternating chills and fever, convulsions, epilepsy, opisthotonos, wind-stroke.
With the patient's head flexed forward, needle perpendicularly or slightly inferiorly to a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 cun. Deep needling toward the medulla oblongata is strictly forbidden. Caution: Close to the brainstem/spinal cord — never needle deeply or angle superomedially; direct the needle as standard (e.g. toward the opposite eye for GB20). Deep insertion can be fatal. Classical sources repeatedly state that moxibustion is forbidden as it will cause the patient to become mute. Deep needling is also warned against. Modern anatomy confirms that deep or superiorly angled needling risks puncturing the medulla oblongata, which can be fatal.
DU15 is a point on the Governing Vessel Meridian (Dū Mài).