GB21 Jianjing (Shoulder Well)

肩井jiān jǐngJianjing

Gallbladder Meridian

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Location of acupuncture point GB21 Jianjing (Shoulder Well)
57
Indications
168
Protocols
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Location

On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder.

Cautions

Avoid deep needling – risk of pneumothorax. Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

Indications

Conditions for which GB21 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Breast AbscessAngina Microvascular Cardiac SyndromeAbnormal Uterine BleedingBoil / FuruncleBoil FuruncleCarbuncleCoughCounterflow Inversion Arm Following MiscarriageCounterflow Inversion Leg Following MiscarriageKidney DeficiencyDepressionPsychological DisorderSteaming Bone DisorderShortness of BreathGoiterHemiplegiaUnable to Raise ArmStiff NeckImmobility Arm RaisingImmobility NeckInjury Body Acute ClimateInjury Heart GriefInjury Kidneys DampInjury Kidneys FatigueInjury Liver AngerInjury Lungs Cold Food DrinkInjury Lungs Cold Food / DrinkInjury Seven InjuriesInjury Spleen - Over FullnessInjury Spleen- Over-fullnessInjury Will Fear & IndulgenceLabour Expedite DeliveryLabour ProlongedLactation LossNodulesPainArm PainBack PainLower Back PainBreast PainHeadacheNeck PainShoulder PainSpleen PainPhlegmQi HeartQi LegRebellion QiFacial RednessRetention PlacentaScrofulaChannel StagnationWind Taxation SyndromeWind-taxation SyndromeTaxation Five TaxationsVoice Loss WindstrokeStroke

TCM actions

What classical sources say GB21 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit BreastsBenefit Descend QiBenefit Regulate QiDescend QiRegulate Qi

Protocols using GB21

The 50 best-sourced of 168, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

  • Dizziness, Tinnitus, Headache, Vomiting, Nausea – LI18, SI11, SI14, GB20, GB21, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60079-0 ↗)
  • Knee Weakness, Tremor Arm, Epigastric Pain, Fatigue Arm, Stiffness Shoulder, Anxiety Performance – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI14, ST36, HT07, TB05, GB21, GB34, GV26 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 ↗)
  • Stiffness Neck, Neck Chronic Pain, Disability Neck, Anxiety Pain-related – SI14, SI15, GB21 (doi:10.1155/2011/543291 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder – GB21 (doi:10.1155/2012/989705 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Stroke Sequela – LI15, SI11, SI12, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1155/2013/504686 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck – SI03, SI04, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, BL65, TB14, TB15, TB16, TB17, GB21 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010410 ↗)
  • Nausea, Bloating, Heartburn, Epigastric Pain, Dyspepsia Functional – LI04, ST34, ST36, SP04, SI14, PC06, GB21, LV03, CV12 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-89 ↗)
  • Neck Chronic Pain, Neck Non-specific Pain – SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, TB15, GB21 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-132 ↗)
  • Stiffness Neck, Stiffness Shoulder – SI14, BL10, BL42, GB21 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-246 ↗)
  • Headache, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Myofascial Pain, Trigger Point Upper Trapezius, Stiffness Cervical, Restricted Range Of Motion Cervical – LI04, GB20, GB21, LV03 (doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0066 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Radiating Arm Pain, Disc Herniation Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical – LI04, SI03, BL10, BL11, BL12, TB03, TB10, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2012.15.2.036 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Stroke Sequelae, Limited Range Of Motion Shoulder – LU03, LI10, LI14, LI15, SI09, TB04, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1155/2015/694973 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Headache, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck, Stress Work-related – BL10, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.1155/2016/4943204 ↗)
  • Nausea, Headache Post-dural-puncture, Headache Bilateral, Photosensitivity, Occiput Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, GB21, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.7453/gahmj.2015.010 ↗)
  • Neck Chronic Pain, Shoulder Chronic Pain – LI15, SI15, GB21 (doi:10.1155/2016/7358918 ↗)
  • Upper Limb Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Hand Swelling, Loss Of Function Upper Limb, Cold Sensation Hand – LU02, LI05, HT01, SI10, SI11, GB21 (doi:10.1016/j.jams.2014.03.004 ↗)
  • Paralysis Facial, Synkinesis, Sequelae Facial Nerve Palsy – ST02, ST03, ST04, ST06, ST07, SI19, GB02, GB21, LV03, CV17 (doi:10.1016/j.jams.2015.01.006 ↗)
  • Stiffness Neck, Neck Chronic Pain – BL10, GB12, GB20, GB21, GV14, GV15, GV16 (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2418-1 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Palpitations, Depression, Insomnia, Anger, Back Pain, Irritability, Memory Impairment – BL40, BL56, BL57, GB20, GB21, CV06, CV12, CV17 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2017.20.018 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Palpitations, Insomnia, Anger, Back Pain, Neck Pain, Irritability – BL40, BL56, BL57, GB20, GB21, CV06, CV12, CV17 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2017.20.018 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Palpitations, Insomnia, Anger, Chest Discomfort, Paralysis Facial, Irritability – ST01, ST02, ST03, ST04, GB14, GB20, GB21, CV06, CV12, CV17 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2017.20.018 ↗)
  • Constipation, Hand Weakness, Myelopathy Cervical, Dysesthesia Hand, Lower-extremity Weakness, Tingling Finger Pain – SI03, SI04, SI14, SI15, GB21 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012249 ↗)
  • Lactation Deficiency, Postpartum Insufficient Milk Production – ST13, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST36, SP06, SP10, GB21, CV17 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016456 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Disc Herniation Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Upper-extremity Pain, Upper-extremity Numbness – LI04, LI11, SI03, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.1155/2019/2345640 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Insomnia, Headache Occipital, Neuralgia Occipital, Visual Disturbance, Neck Posterior Pain, Lightheadedness – LI04, SP06, TB05, GB20, GB21, GB34, LV03, LV05 (doi:10.1177/2164956119890546 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Insomnia, Lethargy, Diarrhea, Psychomotor Retardation, Depression Bipolar, Malaise General – LI04, ST25, ST27, ST36, SP06, BL15, BL18, BL20, PC06, GB20, GB21, LV03, CV04, GV20 (doi:10.1177/1179547620967379 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Stool Loose, Menstruation Irregular, Vision Visual Field Defect, Vision Blind Spot, Neck Myofascial Pain – LI04, LI10, ST36, SP03, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT08, SI03, SI13, BL10, BL18, BL20, BL22, BL23, BL65, PC06, PC07, GB20, GB21, GB34, LV03, GV14, GV20, MS14 (doi:10.1177/21649561211021081 ↗)
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Facial Pain, Myofascial Pain, Masticatory Muscle Pain, Masticatory Pain, Temporomandibular Pain, Myofascial Pain Jaw – LI04, LI11, SI19, BL02, TB23, GB20, GB21, GB34, LV02, CV23 (doi:10.1590/1678-7757-2020-1035 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck, Stiffness Shoulder, Disc Herniation Cervical, Upper Limb Numbness, Cervical Disc Herniation – GB20, GB21, GV14 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028540 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Cervical Spondylosis, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Leg Weakness, Stiffness Neck – SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Dizziness, Cervical Spondylosis, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Leg Weakness, Stiffness Neck – SI03, SI11, BL10, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.3233/THC-228048 ↗)
  • Finger Pain, Hand Swelling, Trigger Finger, Hand Finger Pain, Stiffness Hand, Locking Finger – LU10, LI04, LI11, ST36, PC06, GB21, LV03 (doi:10.1089/acu.2022.0028 ↗)
  • Lymphedema Upper-limb, Edema Arm, Post-mastectomy Swelling, Breast-cancer Complication – LU05, LI11, LI14, SI09, SI11, BL13, BL20, BL23, PC06, TB05, GB21, CV17, GV14 (doi:10.1177/15347354231172735 ↗)
  • Stiffness Neck, Stiffness Shoulder, Neck Chronic Pain – SI14, BL10, BL42, GB21 (doi:10.3390/medicina59122141 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Tendonitis Calcific, Range-of-motion Limited Shoulder – LI04, LI14, LI15, ST37, ST38, SI09, SI12, TB05, TB14, GB21, GB34 (doi:10.1016/j.jams.2017.12.004 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Disability Neck, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy, Calcification Nuchal Ligament – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Calcification Nuchal Ligament – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, TB05, GB21 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
  • Paralysis Upper Limb, Cerebral Palsy, Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegic, Hand Problems, Arm Problems, Upper Limb Weakness, Spastic Hemiplegia – LI03, LI04, LI05, LI10, LI11, LI13, LI14, LI15, SI03, SI05, SI09, SI11, PC06, TB04, TB05, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1177/2515690X251317438 ↗)
  • Shoulder Blade Pain, Headache Occipital, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Cervical Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Scapular Pain – SI04, SI11, SI15, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000039483 ↗)
  • Depression, Shoulder Pain, Upper-limb Pain, Scapular-girdle Pain, Range-of-motion Restricted, Functional-limitation Upper-limb, Post-mastectomy – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.809 ↗)
  • Fatigue, Pain, Lymphedema Upper-limb, Upper-limb Weakness, Shoulder Dysfunction, Cancer Breast Post-surgical – LU05, LI04, LI15, ST36, ST38, SP09, BL60, KD07, GB21, LV03, CV03 (doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.3.799 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, TB14, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis – LI15, LI16, SI11, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Hemiplegia, Shoulder Pain, Post-stroke Pain – LI11, LI15, ST36, GB21, GB31, GB39 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Neck Pain, Cervicalgia – SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, TB15, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
  • Arm Pain, Neck Pain, Disc Herniation Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Upper Limb Numbness – SI14, SI15, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.2147/JPR.S527880 ↗)
  • Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck, Neck Chronic Pain, Limited-range-of-motion Cervical – GB21 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1701076 ↗)
  • Labor Pain, Anxiety Labor, Fear Delivery – GB21 (doi:10.17795/nmsjournal19948 ↗)
  • Contracture Knee, Brachial Plexus Injury, Muscle Atrophy, Paralysis Upper Extremity, Paralysis Lower Extremity, Contracture Ankle, Contracture Shoulder, Contracture Elbow, Scoliosis, Neuromotor Impairment, Steppage Gait – LU01, LI04, LI05, LI11, LI14, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP09, SP10, SI05, SI06, SI07, SI09, BL11, BL12, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL36, BL37, BL39, BL55, BL56, BL57, BL58, BL60, BL61, BL62, KD03, KD04, KD05, KD06, TB09, GB20, GB21, GB40 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.009 ↗)
  • Lactation Insufficiency, Breastfeeding Postpartum – LI04, SI01, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.22038/ijp.2020.54458.4305 ↗)

Most often selected alongside GB21

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GB21. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

  • GB20Wind Pool78 protocols
  • LI04Junction Valley60 protocols
  • ST36Leg Three Miles37 protocols
  • GV14Great Vertebra33 protocols
  • LV03Great Surge31 protocols
  • SI11Heavenly Gathering31 protocols
  • LI11Pond At The Bend29 protocols
  • BL10Celestial Pillar27 protocols
  • SI14Outer Shoulder Point26 protocols
  • CV17Chest Centre25 protocols
  • SI03Back Stream25 protocols
  • LI15Shoulder And Clavicle23 protocols

Other points on the Gallbladder Meridian

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