GB13 Benshen (Spirit Root)

Location

0.5 thumb widths within the hairline of the forehead 3 thumb widths lateral to the GV24.

Indications

Conditions for which GB13 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Protocols using GB13

The 50 best-sourced of 85, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

• Cerebral Palsy, Motor Dysfunction, Posture Abnormalities – LI04, LI11, ST02, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, HT07, SI19, BL01, BL17, BL18, BL23, BL40, BL60, BL62, KD01, KD03, KD06, PC06, PC08, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB13, GB14, GB19, LV03, CV06, CV10, CV12, CV13, CV14, CV23, GV17, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60074-1 ↗)
• Bedwetting, Restlessness, Mental Retardation, Slow Reaction, Glossolalia, Salivation, Feeble Neck – LI04, ST04, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL10, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, GB13, GB20, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60036-2 ↗)
• Neuralgia Trigeminal, Facial Trigeminal Pain – LI04, LI20, ST02, ST04, ST06, ST18, SI18, SI19, BL02, TB23, GB03, GB13, GB14, CV24, GV23 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60005-9 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Photophobia, Headache Migraine, Headache Unilateral, Phonophobia – LI04, ST44, SI03, BL60, PC06, TB05, TB20, GB08, GB13, GB20, GB34, GB40, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-25 ↗)
• Vomiting, Nausea, Head Pain, Headache Migraine Menstrual – LI04, ST29, ST44, SI03, BL60, KD12, PC06, TB05, TB20, GB08, GB13, GB20, GB34, GB40, LV03, CV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-374 ↗)
• Anxiety, Night Sweats, Infertility Female, Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness, Mood Swings, Amenorrhea Premature, Menopause Premature – ST25, ST28, ST29, ST36, SP06, BL32, KD03, GB13, LV03, CV03, CV04, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1155/2014/718675 ↗)
• Ischemic Stroke, Cognitive Impairment Mild – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB13, GB34, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-214 ↗)
• Hemiplegia, Cognitive Impairment, Ischemic Stroke – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST32, ST36, BL60, TB05, GB13, GB34, GB39, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007080 ↗)
• Cognitive Impairment Mild, Dementia Risk, Memory Decline – KD03, GB13, GB20, GB39, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0740-z ↗)
• Fatigue, Insomnia, Hyperarousal – SP06, HT07, PC06, GB13, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009594 ↗)
• Hemiplegia, Cognitive Impairment, Ischemic Stroke – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, SP06, TB05, GB13, GB34, LV03, GV20, GV24, MS06, MS07 (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1193-y ↗)
• Headache Migraine Chronic, Headache Shaoyang – TB05, GB08, GB13, GB20, GB34, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020653 ↗)
• Headache Migraine Chronic, Headache Yangming – LI04, ST44, GB08, GB13, GB20, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020653 ↗)
• Headache Migraine Chronic, Headache Taiyang – SI03, BL60, GB08, GB13, GB20, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020653 ↗)
• Headache Migraine Chronic, Headache Jueyin – GB08, GB13, GB20, GB40, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020653 ↗)
• Disability Musculoskeletal, Osteonecrosis Femoral Head Bilateral, Hip Bilateral Pain, Femoral Head Necrosis – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, GB04, GB05, GB06, GB13, GB14, GB20, GB30, GB31, GB34, LV03 (doi:10.15171/jlms.2018.28 ↗)
• Insomnia, Depression Post-stroke – HT07, GB13 (doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102899 ↗)
• Anxiety, Insomnia, Hyperarousal – SP06, HT07, PC06, GB13, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04612-0 ↗)
• Depression, Cognitive Dysfunction, Memory Impaired, Concentration Impaired, Executive Function Impaired – LU09, ST08, KD03, GB13, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 ↗)
• Infertility, Obesity, PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Hyperandrogenism, Ovulatory Dysfunction – ST25, SP06, BL23, BL32, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fendo.2024.1509152 ↗)
• Insomnia, Agitation, Disorientation, Sleep Disturbed, Traumatic Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury – LI04, LI11, ST08, HT07, BL07, KD07, GB08, GB13, GB34, LV02, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/s13256-025-05444-3 ↗)
• Infertility, Poor Ovarian Response, Diminished Ovarian Reserve – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL23, BL33, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1765527 ↗)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder, Repetitive Behavior, Social Communication Deficit – ST08, GB13, GB19, GV17, GV24 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000014880 ↗)
• Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Mild – GB13, GB20, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.942682 ↗)
• Brain Damage Prenatal, Developmental Delay Motor, Developmental Delay Cognitive, Developmental Delay Language – GB13, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1210537 ↗)
• Cognitive Dysfunction Postoperative, Memory Impairment Postoperative, Attention Deficit Postoperative – LI04, GB13, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1637566 ↗)
• Anxiety, Sweating, Depression, Insomnia, Hot Flashes, Menopause Perimenopause, Mood Disturbance – ST24, ST25, SP06, SP15, HT07, BL62, KD06, GB13, GB26, LV03, LV14, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV10, CV12, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1726927 ↗)
• Anxiety, Sweating, Depression, Insomnia, Hot Flashes, Menopause Perimenopause, Mood Disturbance – SP06, HT07, PC06, GB13, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1726927 ↗)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Communication Disorder, Stereotyped Behavior, Restricted Interests – GB13, GB19, GV17, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/s44424-025-00042-y ↗)
• Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Anxiety Stress-related Gut Dysfunction – ST25, ST36, ST37, SP04, PC06, GB13, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.023168 ↗)
• Menstrual Irregularity, Premature Ovarian Failure – ST25, ST29, ST36, SP10, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV03, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.024054 ↗)
• Insomnia, Restlessness Insomnia, Infertility Diminished-ovarian-reserve – ST36, SP06, HT07, BL23, BL25, BL32, BL62, KD03, KD12, KD16, GB13, GB26, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.2147/IJWH.S553524 ↗)
• Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Mild – BL15, GB13, GV20, GV24, XH03 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.942682 ↗)
• Palpitations, Insomnia, Anxiety Generalized – LI04, SP06, HT07, PC06, GB13, GB20, LV03, GV20, GV24, XH03 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.023178 ↗)
• Infertility, Ovarian Cysts, PCOS, Insulin Resistance – ST25, ST36, ST40, KD12, GB13, GB26, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1730714 ↗)
• Delirium Postoperative, Perioperative Cognitive Disorder – HT07, GB13, GB20, LV03, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20250119 ↗)
• Stroke, Facial Pain, Neuralgia Trigeminal – LU05, LI04, ST36, ST37, ST39, SP06, SP09, BL02, BL03, BL04, TB23, GB13, GB14, GB15, GB41, LV03, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03, XH04 (doi:10.1186/s13256-026-05957-5 ↗)
• Poor Memory, Dementia Vascular, Cognitive Impairment – GB13, GV24 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20251048 ↗)
• Insomnia Chronic, Sleep Quality Poor – SP06, HT07, GB13, GV20 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240613-k0006 ↗)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder – ST36, BL15, GB13, GB19, GV17, GV24 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240911-k0001 ↗)
• Infertility Female, Poor Ovarian Response, Infertility Ivf, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Response Ovarian Poor – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL23, BL33, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1765527 ↗)
• Infertility, Infertility Female, Implantation Failure, Endometrium Thin – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL23, BL32, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1811023 ↗)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Problems, Delay Language, Behavior Stereotyped – HT05, HT07, BL09, BL10, PC06, GB13, GV15, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1849124 ↗)
• Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome – ST25, KD12, GB13, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240108-k0004 ↗)
• Depression, Cognitive Impairment, Depression Major – LU09, ST08, KD03, GB13, LV03, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.12688/f1000research.146897.4 ↗)
• Obesity, Infertility Female, PCOS, Hormonal Imbalance, Hormonal Imbalance Lh/fsh Ratio – ST25, SP06, BL23, BL32, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.3389/fendo.2024.1509152 ↗)
• Infertility Female, Hormonal Imbalance, Menstrual Irregularity, Diminished Ovarian Reserve – ST25, SP06, BL23, BL33, KD03, KD12, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.2147/IJWH.S580821 ↗)
• Absent Periods, Infertility Female, Hormonal Imbalance, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency – ST25, ST36, SP06, BL20, BL23, BL25, BL32, BL33, BL52, GB13, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV10, CV12, GV20, GV24, XC01 (doi:10.2147/IJWH.S586584 ↗)
• Dementia Senile – LI11, ST40, SP03, HT07, BL58, KD03, GB13, GB20, LV03, CV04, CV17, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60071-6 ↗)
• Fatigue, Insomnia, Insomnia Primary, Cognitive Impairment – SP06, HT07, PC06, GB13, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20221120-0001 ↗)

Most often selected alongside GB13

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GB13. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• GV24Spirit Court73 protocols
• GV20100 Convergences69 protocols
• LV03Great Surge40 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection34 protocols
• ST36Leg Three Miles28 protocols
• KD03Great Stream25 protocols
• HT07Spirit Gate24 protocols
• CV04Original Qi Gate23 protocols
• GB20Wind Pool21 protocols
• ST25Celestial Pivot21 protocols
• CV12Stomach Centre20 protocols
• XH01AFour Spirit Brightness20 protocols

Other points on the Gallbladder Meridian