GV05 Xuanshu (Suspended Pivot)

懸樞xuán shūXuanshu

Governing Vessel

Location of acupuncture point GV05 Xuanshu (Suspended Pivot)
20
Indications
18
Protocols
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Location

Below spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.

No specific contraindications.

Indications

Conditions for which GV05 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

EpilepsyHemorrhoidsHeat Limbs PersistentBack StiffnessImmobility BackInjury ColdLeucorrhea Vaginal Discharge RedWhite Vaginal DischargeMalaria WarmLeg NumbnessLower Back PainFoot PainHip PainSacrum PainIrregular PeriodsPeriod / Menstruation IrregularSpontaneous SweatingBi Arthralgia Cold SyndromeBi / Arthralgia Cold SyndromeUrine Dark

TCM actions

What classical sources say GV05 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit Jiao LowerBenefit Spine Lumbar

Protocols using GV05

  • Lower Back Pain – BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.1155/2015/808425 ↗)
  • Headache, Sore Throat, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Sleep Unrefreshing, Memory Impaired, Fatigue Post-exertional, Cold Intolerance, Concentration Impaired, Yang Deficiency Spleen-kidney, Lumbar Weakness – BL11, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL19, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL25, GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12967-023-04250-z ↗)
  • Sciatica, Lumbago, Leg Pain, Lower Back Pain – BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL52, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2012.15.006 ↗)
  • Leg Pain, Buttock Pain, Low Back Pain, Mobility Reduced, Spinal Stenosis Lumbar, Neurogenic Claudication – ST36, ST40, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL53, BL54, GB30, GB31, GB34, LV03, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204 ↗)
  • Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke Hemiplegia – LI04, LI10, SI03, KD06, TB05, TB10, TB14, GB29, GB31, GB34, GB39, GB40, GV01, GV03, GV05, GV08, GV09, GV14, GV17, GV20 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
  • Leg Pain, Low Back Pain, Spinal Stenosis Lumbar Degenerative, Claudication Neurogenic – ST36, ST40, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL53, BL54, GB30, GB31, GB34, LV03, GV03, GV04, GV05, XB02L1, XB02L2, XB02L3, XB02L4, XB02L5 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204 ↗)
  • Low Back Chronic Pain, Low Back Non-specific Pain – BL20, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1857622 ↗)
  • Low Back Chronic Pain – BL20, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.2147/JMDH.S625298 ↗)
  • Dementia Vascular – ST36, KD03, PC06, GB39, GV01, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV08, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14, GV16, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.09.003 ↗)
  • Dementia Vascular – GV01, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV08, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.09.003 ↗)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis – GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.10.006 ↗)
  • Low Back Pain – BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL52, GV03, GV04, GV05 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2012.15.006 ↗)
  • Opioid Dependence, Heroin Dependence – BL11, BL12, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL16, BL17, BL18, BL19, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.04.010 ↗)
  • Copd Stable – GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Chronic Nonspecific Low-back Pain – BL20, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (Effect of High-intensity Laser Acupuncture on Muscle Performance, Pain and Quality of Life in Low Back Pain. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06612918)
  • Chronic Nonspecific Low-back Pain – BL20, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (Efficacy of High-intensity Laser Acupuncture in Patients With Chronic, Non-specific Low Back Pain. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06260631)
  • Chronic Nonspecific Low-back Pain – BL20, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, GB30, GV03, GV04, GV05 (High-intensity Versus Low-intensity Laser Acupuncture in Chronic, Non-specific Low Back Pain. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06280846)
  • Alzheimer Disease 1 – ST36, ST40, SP06, SP10, HT07, BL56, KD03, PC06, GB39, CV06, GV04, GV05, GV20, GV24 (Progress of Mild Alzheimer's Disease in Participants on Acupuncture Versus Sham Acupuncture. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05078944)

Most often selected alongside GV05

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GV05. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

  • GV03Yang Lumbar Gate17 protocols
  • GV04Life Gate17 protocols
  • BL23Kidney Shu Point12 protocols
  • BL25Large Intestine Shu Point12 protocols
  • BL24Sea Of Qi Shu Point11 protocols
  • GB30Jumping Circle8 protocols
  • BL20Spleen Shu Point7 protocols
  • GV08Sinew Contraction7 protocols
  • GV09Reaching Yang7 protocols
  • GV14Great Vertebra7 protocols
  • BL22Sanjiao Shu Point6 protocols
  • BL40Middle Of The Crease6 protocols

Other points on the Governing Vessel

GV01GV02GV03GV04GV06GV07GV08GV09GV10GV11GV12GV13GV14GV15GV16GV17GV18GV19GV20GV21GV22GV23GV24GV25GV26GV27GV28