GB19 (Naokong, “Brain Hollow”) is the Meeting point of GB, UB, & Yangwei point of the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. It is located on the head, 1.5 cun posterior to GB18 (Chengling), in a depression on the superior aspect of the external occipital protuberance. This is 2.25 cun lateral to the posterior midline. It expels wind, calms the spirit, clears the head and brightens the eyes, alleviates pain.
On the head, 1.5 cun posterior to GB18 (Chengling), in a depression on the superior aspect of the external occipital protuberance. This is 2.25 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
Subcutaneous insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
Expels wind, calms the spirit, clears the head and brightens the eyes, alleviates pain.
Headache, dizziness, wind-dizziness, eye pain, dimness of vision, neck stiffness, epilepsy, heart palpitations, mental confusion, nasal pain, body heat with jaw tension, emaciation from epilepsy, head wind.
Naokong is a significant point for treating occipital headaches, dizziness, and neck stiffness, particularly when associated with wind. Its name, 'Brain Hollow,' and its classical indications for epilepsy, palpitations, and mental confusion highlight its capacity to calm the spirit and clear the mind. The famous story of Hua Tuo successfully treating Cao Cao's severe headaches and dizziness with this point underscores its historical importance for acute and chronic head disorders.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《黃帝明堂灸經》 Huángdì Míngtáng Jiǔjīng — The Yellow Emperor's Bright Hall Moxibustion Classic, Tang · 卷中 · 側人形第一 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
腦空 二穴，在承靈穴後一寸半，玉枕骨下陷者中。 灸七壯。 主頭暈目瞑，癲狂病，身寒熱引項強急，鼻衄不止，耳鳴耳聾According to this text, GB19 lies 1.5 cun behind Chengling, in the depression below the occipital bone, with 7 moxa cones. It records use for dizziness with darkened vision, madness, chills and fever with stiff nape, unceasing nosebleed, tinnitus and deafness.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 頭直目上入髮際五分卻行至腦空凡十穴第四（足少陽經） · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
腦空二穴，主腦風頭痛，目瞤眩瞑，項強不得回顧，心悸癲風，勞疾羸瘦The text records that GB19 was used for brain-wind headache, twitching eyes with dizziness, a stiff nape preventing turning the head, palpitations, epileptic wind, and wasting consumptive illness.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷07 · Source: Wikisource ↗
頭痛身熱，引兩頷急（一作痛），腦空主之The text records that GB19 was used for headache with body heat that pulls and tightens both sides of the jaw.
GB19 is one of 44 points on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
GB19 (Naokong) is located on the head, 1.5 cun posterior to GB18 (Chengling), in a depression on the superior aspect of the external occipital protuberance. This is 2.25 cun lateral to the posterior midline.
GB19 expels wind, calms the spirit, clears the head and brightens the eyes, alleviates pain. Common clinical indications include headache, dizziness, wind-dizziness, eye pain, dimness of vision, neck stiffness, epilepsy, heart palpitations, mental confusion, nasal pain, body heat with jaw tension, emaciation from epilepsy, head wind.
Subcutaneous insertion 0.3-0.5 cun.
GB19 is a point on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyáng Dǎnjīng).