GB40 Qiuxu (Mound)

Location

Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus.

Categories

• Yuan-Source point of the Gallbladder meridian

The classical groups this point belongs to, from Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture.

Indications

Conditions for which GB40 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

TCM actions

What classical sources say GB40 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Protocols using GB40

The 50 best-sourced of 77, ranked by strength of evidence. The count above is the full figure.

• Headache, Vomiting, Nausea, Migraine, Aversion To Light, Aversion To Sound – GB40 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60030-3 ↗)
• Paralysis Hemiplegia, Paralysis Flaccid – LU05, LI04, SP06, HT01, BL40, KD01, PC06, GB40, CV04, GV26 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60022-9 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Nausea, Bloating, Heartburn, Dyspepsia Functional, Abdominal Pain Epigastric, Early Satiety, Postprandial Fullness – GB34, GB36, GB37, GB40 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-75 ↗)
• Fatigue Cancer-related, Fatigue Post-treatment, Breast Cancer, Myofascial Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, SI03, BL62, KD03, TB05, GB20, GB29, GB30, GB40, GB43 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-49 ↗)
• Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle, Ankle Swelling – LI04, ST36, ST41, SP04, SP05, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL60, BL62, BL63, BL64, KD02, KD03, KD06, GB34, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗)
• Constipation, Aphasia, Ischemic Stroke, Paralysis Hemiplegia – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, ST25, ST36, ST40, SP06, GB30, GB34, GB40, CV23, GV15, GV20 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-216 ↗)
• Tinnitus, Tinnitus Subjective – TB03, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB40, GB41, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-224 ↗)
• Headache Migraine, Headache Vertex, Head Crown Pain – GB08, GB20, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-361 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Headache Migraine – GB40 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60030-3 ↗)
• Nausea, Photophobia, Headache Migraine, Headache Unilateral, Phonophobia, Headache Pulsating – TB05, GB20, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099538 ↗)
• Low Back Pain, Lower Limb Pain, Lumbar Disc Herniation, Radiculopathy Lumbar – BL25, BL40, GB30, GB34, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1155/2014/154941 ↗)
• Tinnitus, Tinnitus Liver-yang-hyperactivity – SI19, TB21, GB02, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-397 ↗)
• Nausea, Headache Post-dural-puncture, Headache Bilateral, Photosensitivity, Occiput Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, GB21, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.7453/gahmj.2015.010 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Gait Impaired, Foot Cavovarus, Spasticity Lower-limb – SP06, SP09, BL60, KD03, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1264-x ↗)
• Headache Migraine, Migraine Without Aura – TB05, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2017.05.013 ↗)
• Headache Migraine Chronic, Headache Jueyin – GB08, GB13, GB20, GB40, LV03, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020653 ↗)
• Shoulder Pain, Arm Pain, Neck Pain, Arm Numbness, Radiculopathy Cervical – LI04, ST44, SI03, BL60, TB05, GB34, GB40, LV03, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2018/3465897 ↗)
• Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle, Ankle Swelling, Sprain Ankle Lateral – ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s13063-020-4111-z ↗)
• Ankle Pain, Ankle Swelling, Sprain Ankle Lateral, Instability Ankle – ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KD03, KD06, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05135-6 ↗)
• Nausea, Photophobia, Headache Migraine, Headache Unilateral, Phonophobia – LI04, TB05, GB08, GB20, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1097/NRL.0000000000000386 ↗)
• Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Itching, Itchiness Skin, Pruritus, Prurigo Nodularis, Pruritus Chronic – LI04, LI11, ST25, ST36, ST42, SP06, SP10, SI04, BL17, BL64, TB04, TB05, GB20, GB40, CV06, CV12, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.2147/CCID.S336109 ↗)
• Stroke Hemiplegia, Paralysis Limb, Gait Disturbance, Balance Dysfunction – ST36, ST44, SP06, GB30, GB31, GB37, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037784 ↗)
• Paralysis Upper Limb, Stroke Sequelae, Motor Dysfunction Upper Limb, Spasticity Upper Limb – LI04, LI10, LI11, LI13, LI14, LI15, ST34, ST40, SP09, SP10, KD03, TB05, GB34, GB40, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.1136/spcare-2024-005174 ↗)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis, Joint Pain, Inflammation Joint – LI05, LI11, LI15, ST36, SP05, SP09, HT03, SI05, SI08, BL40, BL62, KD06, PC07, TB04, TB10, TB14, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
• Dizziness, Limb Weakness, Dysarthria, Speech Impairment, Balance Impaired, Ataxia Cerebellar, Gait Instability, Tremor Intention – GB12, GB20, GB34, GB40, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045895 ↗)
• 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 ↗)
• Airway Hyperresponsiveness, Asthma Intermittent, Asthma Mild – LU01, LU05, LU07, LU09, LU11, LI04, LI06, LI20, ST13, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, HT05, HT07, SI03, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, KD06, KD08, KD27, PC06, TB05, TB15, GB03, GB34, GB40, GB41, LV02, LV03, LV08, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV17, CV21, GV04, GV13 (doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0155-1 ↗)
• Fatigue, Anxiety, Nausea, Neuropathic Pain, Neuropathy Peripheral Chemotherapy-induced, Dysesthesia Oral – LI04, LI10, ST36, SP06, PC06, GB40, LV03, GV20 (doi:10.1016/j.cct.2023.107273 ↗)
• Chemotherapy Nausea, Vomiting Chemotherapy-induced, Nausea Anticipatory, Vomiting Acute, Vomiting Delayed – LU09, LI04, ST36, SP06, HT07, SI04, KD03, PC06, GB40, LV14, CV12 (doi:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2023-0191en ↗)
• Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle – ST36, ST41, SP05, GB34, GB40, LV04 (doi:10.3831/kpi.2005.8.2.011 ↗)
• Hypochondriac Pain, Colic Gallbladder – ST36, BL18, BL19, GB24, GB34, GB40, LV03, LV14 (doi:10.1016/j.jtcms.2025.09.006 ↗)
• Insomnia, And Gallbladder Qi Heart Deficiency – BL15, BL19, GB40 (doi:10.1155/ijcp/6940576 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Stroke Post, Paralysis Ankle, Ankle Joint Problems, Ankle Dysfunction – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST40, ST41, SP10, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.27127/d.cnki.ghlzu.2024.000593 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Stroke Post, Paralysis Ankle, Ankle Joint Problems, Ankle Dysfunction – ST31, ST34, ST36, ST37, ST40, ST41, SP10, BL39, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.27127/d.cnki.ghlzu.2024.000593 ↗)
• Ankle Pain, Sprain Ankle Chronic, Ankle Problems – ST41, BL60, BL62, KD06, GB40 (doi:10.16448/j.cjtcm.2017.0181 ↗)
• Gait Impairment, Balance Disorder, Hemiplegia Post-stroke – ST36, SP06, SP09, GB34, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.024045 ↗)
• Hemiplegia Post-stroke, Foot Drop, Ankle Mobility Reduced, Lower Limb Motor Dysfunction – ST36, ST37, ST41, SP06, GB20, GB34, GB39, GB40, GV20 (doi:10.27465/d.cnki.gzzyc.2020.000412 ↗)
• Paralysis Lower Limb, Foot Inversion Post-stroke – SP06, KD06, GB34, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2023.13.0015 ↗)
• Paralysis Lower Limb, Stroke Sequelae, Gait Impairment, Gait Disturbance, Foot Drop, Gait Dysfunction Post-stroke – ST36, ST41, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240115-k0004 ↗)
• Headache Migraine – LI04, GB08, GB20, GB40, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2014.10.004 ↗)
• Headache Migraine – GB04, GB08, GB20, GB34, GB40, GB41 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2014.10.004 ↗)
• Headache Migraine – TB05, GB20, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.13194/j.jlunivtcm.2009.12.136.yegx.058 ↗)
• Headache, Migraine, Headache Frontal, Migraine Without Aura – TB05, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1177/0333102416641665 ↗)
• Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss Sensorineural, Sudden Hearing Loss – SI19, TB03, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2024.101087 ↗)
• Vision Blurred, Macular Edema, Retinal Disease – ST02, SI06, BL01, BL02, GB14, GB34, GB37, GB40 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1717145 ↗)
• Stroke, Hemiplegia, Leg Weakness, Spasticity, Balance Impaired, Spasticity Post-stroke, Hemiplegia Post-stroke – SP09, BL59, KD06, KD08, GB33, GB34, GB40, LV08 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20250680 ↗)
• Stroke Sequelae, Motor Impairment, Gait Disturbance, Spasticity Lower Limb – LI04, LI11, LI15, ST41, GB34, GB39, GB40 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240411-k0001 ↗)
• Dysarthria, Ataxia, Ataxia Cerebellar, Gait Instability – GB12, GB20, GB34, GB40, LV03, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000045895 ↗)

Most often selected alongside GB40

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GB40. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• GB34Yang Mound Spring43 protocols
• LV03Great Surge29 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley25 protocols
• ST36Leg Three Miles25 protocols
• TB05Outer Gate23 protocols
• GB39Suspended Bell19 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection19 protocols
• GB20Wind Pool18 protocols
• KD06Shining Sea17 protocols
• ST41Dividing Cleft16 protocols
• BL60Kunlun (Mountains)14 protocols
• GV20100 Convergences13 protocols

Other points on the Gallbladder Meridian