43
Indications
9
Protocols
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Location
4 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus slightly anterior to the anterior border of the fibula, between extensor digitorum longus and peroneus brevis.
Categories
- Jing-River point of the Gallbladder meridian
The classical groups this point belongs to, from Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture.
No specific contraindications.
Indications
Conditions for which GB38 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.
ChillsCommon ColdComplexion Qing Blue GreenComplexion Qing Blue-greenFeverHeat GallbladderHemiplegiaTendon Ligament Contraction StiffnessToe Extensor Strain StiffnessImmobility Tendon / Ligament ContractionImmobility Toe Extensor StrainMalariaNumbnessLeg Lateral NumbnessOedema Below KneePainAnkle Malleolus Lateral PainArmpit PainBack Lumbar Acute PainBack Lumbar Like Small Hammer PainBack Middle PainChest PainRib PainEye Canthus Lateral PainMigraineHeadache One-sided PainHundred Joints PainJoints Wandering PainSupraclavicular Fossa PainPharyngitisQi LegScrofulaSitting In Water Back Lumbar SensationShiveringSighing ExcessiveChannel StagnationSweating SwellingBi Arthralgia Leg SyndromeBi / Arthralgia Leg SyndromeBi Arthralgia Wind SyndromeBi / Arthralgia Wind SyndromeTaste Bitterness
TCM actions
What classical sources say GB38 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.
Benefit BonesBenefit Regulate ShaoyangBenefit Tendon LigamentBenefit Tendon / LigamentRegulate Shaoyang
Protocols using GB38
- Otitis Media, Otitis Media Effusion, Ear Effusion, Ear Discharge – SI05, KD02, TB05, TB06, GB38, GB41 (doi:10.1093/ecam/neh102 ↗)
- Fatigue, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Headache, Constipation, Depression, Insomnia, Itchiness, Edema, Palpitation, Knee Pain, Back Pain, Vision Blurred, Cervical Pain, Stiffness Shoulder, Cramp Leg, Lower-limb Pain, Upper-limb Numbness, Lower-limb Numbness, Hemodialysis Complication – LU05, LU09, LI02, LI11, ST41, ST45, SP02, SP05, HT07, HT09, SI03, SI08, BL65, BL67, KD01, KD07, PC07, PC09, TB03, TB10, GB38, GB43, LV02, LV08 (doi:10.1155/2015/802846 ↗)
- Hypertension, Blood Pressure Elevated – LI06, LI07, GB37, GB38, GB39 (doi:10.1089/acu.2015.1106 ↗)
- Arthralgia, Joint Pain, Painful Obstruction Syndrome – LU05, LI04, LI11, BL17, BL40, TB10, GB30, GB31, GB34, GB38 (doi:10.16808/j.cnki.issn1003-7705.2025.05.008 ↗)
- Claudication Intermittent, Peripheral Artery Disease Lower Extremity – ST41, BL40, BL60, BL61, GB30, GB34, GB38, GB40, LV02 (doi:10.1142/S1013702522500044 ↗)
- Parkinson's Disease – LI04, LI10, LI11, ST32, GB20, GB31, GB34, GB38, GV20 (doi:10.1142/S0192415X15500263 ↗)
- Headache Unilateral – LU07, LI20, BL01, BL12, KD03, GB13, GB20, GB38, GB43, XH05 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
- Sciatica, Lumbar Disc Herniation – ST38, BL32, BL37, GB30, GB34, GB38 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
- Tinnitus – TB10, GB38, LV02 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
Most often selected alongside GB38
How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GB38. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.
- GB34Yang Mound Spring4 protocols
- GB30Jumping Circle3 protocols
- LI11Pond At The Bend3 protocols
- LV02Passing Between3 protocols
- TB10Heavenly Well3 protocols
- BL40Middle Of The Crease2 protocols
- GB20Wind Pool2 protocols
- GB31Wind Market2 protocols
- GB43Narrow Stream2 protocols
- LI04Junction Valley2 protocols
- LU05Cubit Marsh2 protocols
- ST41Dividing Cleft2 protocols