GV17 (Brain Door)

Location

2.5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline 1.5 thumb widths directly above the du16 in the depression on the upper border of the external occipital protuberance.

Indications

Conditions for which GV17 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

Protocols using GV17

• Bedwetting, Restlessness, Mental Retardation, Slow Reaction, Glossolalia, Salivation, Feeble Neck – LI04, ST04, ST36, ST40, SP06, SP09, HT07, BL10, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, PC06, GB13, GB20, LV03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV23, GV14, GV15, GV17, GV20 (Tian Yong-ping et al. Acupuncture for Promoting Intelligence of Children — An Observation on 37 Cases with Mental Retardation. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010, 30(3): 176-179)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder, Repetitive Behavior, Social Communication Deficit – ST08, GB13, GB19, GV17, GV24 (https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000014880)
• Cerebral Palsy, Motor Dysfunction, Posture Abnormalities – LI04, LI11, ST02, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, HT07, SI19, BL01, BL17, BL18, BL23, BL40, BL60, BL62, KD01, KD03, KD06, PC06, PC08, TB05, TB17, TB21, GB02, GB13, GB14, GB19, LV03, CV06, CV10, CV12, CV13, CV14, CV23, GV17, GV20, GV24 (Yu Hai-bo, Liu Yong-feng & Wu Li-xiong. Acupuncture Combined with Music Therapy for Treatment of 30 Cases of Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009, 29(4): 243-246)
• Memory Impaired, Cognitive Impairment Vascular, Cognitive Decline Executive Function, Processing Speed Reduced – SP06, HT07, GB20, GV17, GV20, GV24, GV26 (https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-201353)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Communication Disorder, Stereotyped Behavior, Restricted Interests – GB13, GB19, GV17, GV20, GV24 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s44424-025-00042-y)
• Dim Vision – LI04, LI06, ST01, ST02, ST08, ST36, SI06, SI15, BL01, BL02, BL03, BL05, BL10, BL21, TB16, TB17, TB18, GB01, GB03, GB20, GV17, XH05 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
• Psychological Disorder – LU09, LU10, LU11, LI04, LI05, LI06, LI07, LI08, LI11, ST24, ST36, ST37, ST39, ST40, ST41, ST42, ST45, SP01, SP04, SP05, HT03, HT07, HT09, SI01, SI03, SI05, SI07, SI08, SI16, SI19, BL02, BL08, BL13, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL43, BL58, BL61, BL62, BL64, BL65, BL66, KD09, KD10, PC05, PC06, PC07, PC08, TB02, TB03, TB17, GB12, GB19, GB21, GB36, GB37, GB39, GB43, LV01, LV08, LV14, CV01, CV12, CV14, CV15, CV24, GV01, GV08, GV15, GV16, GV17, GV18, GV20, GV23, GV24, GV26, GV27, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XU11A, XU11B, XU11C, XU11D, XU11E, XU11F, XU11G, XU11H, XU11I, XU11J (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
• Sweating – LU01, LU07, LU11, ST12, BL15, BL17, BL43, BL62, BL66, KD02, TB05, TB10, GB04, GB38, GB41, LV03, CV24, GV12, GV16, GV17, GV19, XC14A, XC14B, XH15 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
• Bone Pain – LI04, SP02, SP03, BL09, BL17, BL47, TB10, GB03, GB39, CV19, GV17 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
• Head Pain – LI18, ST10, BL04, BL05, BL09, BL10, BL41, BL58, BL60, BL64, PC06, GB12, GB19, LV03, LV14, GV17, GV19, XH15 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)
• Vomiting, Dysmenorrhea, Nausea, Cold Limbs, Abdominal Pain, Lumbar Pain – ST36, SP10, BL20, BL23, BL40, KD01, LV02, CV03, CV04, CV06, GV03, GV17, GV24 (Guo Aisong, Meng Qingyi. Acupuncture Combined with Spinal Tui Na for Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea in 60 Cases. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009, 29(3): 234-236)
• Myopia Short Sightedness Vision – LU03, ST01, ST04, BL01, BL06, BL09, KD05, KD14, GB01, GB14, GB16, GB37, GV17, GV23, XH14, XH41A, XH41B, XH43 (DEADMAN-COMPOSITE)

Other points on the Governing Vessel