GB39 (Xuanzhong, “Xuanzhong”) is the Eight Influential Point (Marrow) point of the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. It is located on the lateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus, in the depression between the posterior border of the fibula and the tendons of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles. It nourishes marrow and essence, benefits the sinews and bones, clears Gallbladder heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, assists the neck and head.
On the lateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus, in the depression between the posterior border of the fibula and the tendons of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun, towards the anterior border of the fibula.
Nourishes marrow and essence, benefits the sinews and bones, clears Gallbladder heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, assists the neck and head.
Abdominal fullness, infantile abdominal fullness with poor appetite, desire to vomit from heat illness, mad walking with irritability, hemiplegia, flaccidity and weakness of the leg, pain in the neck, chest, hypochondrium, thigh, shin, and all joints, pain in the lower leg that prevents standing, cold and heat sensations, malaria, axillary swelling, pain in the lumbar region, pain in the flesh that cannot be coughed, pain in the sinews from coughing, pain in the skin as if pricked by a needle, inability to bend, extend, or turn the head, foot pain, acid sensation in the feet, inability to eat, intestinal rumbling, coldness of the feet, epilepsy, pain in the lumbar region with a feeling of a small hammer inside and swelling, pain and numbness of the lower body, pain in the skin, cold sensation with sweating, pain in the lumbar region with a feeling of a wooden plank, urinary incontinence.
As the Influential Point of Marrow, Xuanzhong is a primary point for nourishing the brain, spinal cord, bones, and blood. It is therefore essential in treating conditions involving weakness, atrophy, and developmental issues, as well as post-stroke hemiplegia and various neurological and degenerative disorders. Its location on the lower leg also makes it a powerful distal point for stiffness and pain in the neck, a common clinical application. Furthermore, it addresses a wide range of channel-related pains along the entire Gallbladder meridian, from the head and chest down to the leg.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《黃帝內經》 Huángdì Nèijīng — The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, c. 2nd–1st c. BCE · ci-nve · Source: Wikisource ↗
䯒痠痛甚按之不可名曰胕髓病，以鑱鍼鍼絕骨出血，立已The text records that when the shin aches severely and cannot bear pressure, the condition is called fusui (marrow) illness, and that Juegu (GB39) was needled with a chisel needle to let blood, after which it is said to stop at once.
《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 ↗
懸鐘 二穴，在外踝上三寸宛宛中。 灸五壯。 主腹滿，中焦客熱，不嗜食，並腿胯連膝脛痹麻，屈伸難也According to this text, GB39 lies in the hollow 3 cun above the outer ankle, with 5 moxa cones. It records use for abdominal fullness, lodged heat in the middle burner, lack of appetite, and bi-numbness of the legs and hips extending to the knees and shins with difficulty bending and stretching.
《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 ↗
懸鐘二穴，在足外踝上三寸動脈中，足三陽之大絡，按之陽明脈絕乃取之。 針入六分，留七呼，灸五壯According to this text, GB39 lies at the pulse 3 cun above the outer ankle and is the great connecting vessel of the three foot yang; it is taken where pressing makes the yangming pulse disappear. Needling is 6 fen, retained for 7 breaths, with 5 moxa cones.
GB39 is one of 44 points on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
GB39 (Xuanzhong) is located on the lateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus, in the depression between the posterior border of the fibula and the tendons of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles.
GB39 nourishes marrow and essence, benefits the sinews and bones, clears Gallbladder heat, activates the channel and alleviates pain, assists the neck and head. Common clinical indications include abdominal fullness, infantile abdominal fullness with poor appetite, desire to vomit from heat illness, mad walking with irritability, hemiplegia, flaccidity and weakness of the leg, pain in the neck, chest, hypochondrium, thigh, shin, and all joints, pain in the lower leg that prevents standing, cold and heat sensations, malaria, axillary swelling, pain in the lumbar region, pain in the flesh that cannot be coughed, pain in the sinews from coughing, pain in the skin as if pricked by a needle, inability to bend, extend, or turn the head, foot pain, acid sensation in the feet, inability to eat, intestinal rumbling, coldness of the feet, epilepsy, pain in the lumbar region with a feeling of a small hammer inside and swelling, pain and numbness of the lower body, pain in the skin, cold sensation with sweating, pain in the lumbar region with a feeling of a wooden plank, urinary incontinence.
Perpendicular insertion 1.0 to 1.5 cun, towards the anterior border of the fibula.
GB39 is a point on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyáng Dǎnjīng).