GV11 Shendao (Spirit Path)

神道shén dàoShendao

Governing Vessel

Location of acupuncture point GV11 Shendao (Spirit Path)
54
Indications
37
Protocols
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Location

Below spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra.

No specific contraindications.

Indications

Conditions for which GV11 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

AnxietyBoil / Furuncle WoollyBoil Furuncle WoollyClove SoresCommon ColdCoughQi DeficiencySadness & DepressionDisease Heart AcuteDisease StomachDisorientationDizzinessBreathing Shortness Of Breath ProblemsDyspnoea HotEnteritisEpilepsy (infant)Epilepsy InfantileFeverFrightGhost Syndrome Childhood Fright WindHeatHeat LiverHemiplegiaHigh Blood PressureInjury ColdMalariaPoor MemoryNumbnessFoot NumbnessHand NumbnessPainLower Back PainHeadacheHeadache Intermittent PainStomach AchePalpitationsPapulesParalysisCold Back Superior SensationMuscle SpasmsOrgans Phase StagnationStrokeWind Cold Acute SyndromeWind-cold Acute SyndromeWind Cold Interior SyndromeWind-cold Interior SyndromeTaxationTetanusTimidityTuberculosis PulmonaryVomitingHeart Zang WeaknessWindWind Organs Phase

TCM actions

What classical sources say GV11 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Benefit Tonify HeartBenefit Tonify LungCalm Spirit ShenTonify HeartTonify Lung

Protocols using GV11

  • Neuropathy Peripheral, Neuropathic Pain, Paresthesia, Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy, Sensory Loss, Muscle Weakness – ST25, ST36, ST43, SP06, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL58, GB41, LV03, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-3037-z ↗)
  • Anxiety, Depression, Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Acid Reflux, Chest Pain Noncardiac, Upper Abdomen Pain – GV09, GV10, GV11, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.1155/2020/5415813 ↗)
  • Depression Post-stroke, Stroke Sequelae – GV11, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24, GV26 (doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03277-3 ↗)
  • Depression Post-stroke, Stroke Sequelae, Depression Moderate-severe – GV11, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24, GV26 (doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03277-3 ↗)
  • Motor Dysfunction, Lower Limb Pain, Paralysis Hemiplegia, Contracture Joint, Spasticity Lower Limb Post-stroke – GV03, GV04, GV08, GV11, GV14 (doi:10.1155/2021/5511031 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Epilepsy, Epilepsy Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Central Temporal Spikes, Seizure Generalized Tonic-clonic, Seizure Nocturnal, Tonic-Clonic Seizures, Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes – BL13, BL18, GV06, GV08, GV11, GV14 (doi:10.3389/fnhum.2025.1618266 ↗)
  • Opioid Dependence, Withdrawal Insomnia, Withdrawal Anxiety, Withdrawal Craving, Withdrawal Restlessness – GV04, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767613 ↗)
  • Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Mild – GV11, GV14, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.942682 ↗)
  • Paralysis Facial, Facial Nerve Inflammation – GV11 (doi:10.13460/j.issn.1005-0957.2019.12.1399 ↗)
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Wrist Pain, Hand Weakness, Hand Numbness, Tingling Fingers – LI05, SI04, BL13, BL15, TB04, TB05, GV11, GV12, GV13 (doi:10.27820/d.cnki.gszxy.2023.000394 ↗)
  • Gastroparesis Postoperative, Digestive Tract Tumor Postoperative – ST21, ST25, ST36, CV12, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250528-k0002 ↗)
  • Forgetfulness, Memory Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment – LU03, LU07, HT03, HT07, BL15, BL43, KD01, KD21, GV11, GV20 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.022173 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, Motor Dysfunction Post-stroke, Fatigue Post-stroke – GB20, GV03, GV09, GV11, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20231114-k0008 ↗)
  • Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Stroke Sequelae, Sleep Quality Poor, Fatigue Post-stroke – GB20, GV03, GV09, GV11, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24, XB09, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20231114-k0008 ↗)
  • Cough, Chest Pain, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Cough Gastroesophageal Reflux – GV09, GV10, GV11, GV14 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241225-k0001 ↗)
  • Vomiting, Gastritis, Hematemesis, Psychogenic Vomiting – ST36, SP04, PC06, LV03, CV06, CV12, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV14, GV20 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20251022-k0001 ↗)
  • Cognitive Impairment Post-stroke, Cognitive Impairment Mild Post-stroke – BL15, GV11, GV16, GV20, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210811-0005 ↗)
  • Neuropathy Peripheral Chemotherapy-induced – ST25, ST36, ST43, SP06, SP10, BL13, BL17, BL58, GB41, LV03, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-3037-z ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • 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 ↗)
  • Depression, Insomnia – GV09, GV11, GV14, GV20, GV24 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Stroke, Aphasia Broca – HT04, BL15, BL44, GB13, CV23, GV11, GV24, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Urticaria Chronic – GV11 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Copd Stable – GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Premature Beats – GV10, GV11 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Depression Post-stroke – GV11, GV14, GV16, GV20, GV24, GV26 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗)
  • Insomnia – BL14, BL15, BL17, BL20, GV09, GV11 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2016.11.007 ↗)
  • Sleep Disorder, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.170659 ↗)
  • Numbness, Multiple Sclerosis, Limb Weakness – ST21, ST25, ST36, SP06, SP09, BL23, BL25, BL40, BL57, GB30, CV03, CV06, CV12, GV10, GV11, XB02T5, XB02T6, XB02T7, XL10A, XL10B, XL10C, XL10D, XL10E, XL10F, XL10G, XL10H (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
  • Back Pain, Ankylosing Spondylitis – BL11, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV14, XB02T10, XB02T11, XB02T12, XB02T5, XB02T6, XB02T7, XB02T8, XB02T9 (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
  • Convulsions (infant) – ST40, GB20, GV06, GV07, GV11, GV14, GV16 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
  • Furuncle – GV09, GV11, GV14 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
  • Breast Cancer – GV09, GV11 (Henry C. Lu. Clinical Cases of Acupuncture)
  • Arthritis Rheumatoid – ST36, SP05, SI11, BL20, BL23, BL27, BL40, BL54, KD03, GB34, GB40, GV08, GV09, GV11, GV12, GV14, XU10A, XU10B, XU10C, XU10D (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)

Most often selected alongside GV11

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with GV11. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

  • GV14Great Vertebra25 protocols
  • GV09Reaching Yang22 protocols
  • GV20100 Convergences14 protocols
  • GV10Spirit Tower13 protocols
  • GV08Sinew Contraction12 protocols
  • GV12Body Pillar11 protocols
  • GV06Spine Centre10 protocols
  • GV03Yang Lumbar Gate9 protocols
  • GV16Wind Mansion9 protocols
  • GV24Spirit Court9 protocols
  • GV04Life Gate8 protocols
  • GV07Central Pivot8 protocols

Other points on the Governing Vessel

GV01GV02GV03GV04GV05GV06GV07GV08GV09GV10GV12GV13GV14GV15GV16GV17GV18GV19GV20GV21GV22GV23GV24GV25GV26GV27GV28