A quiet but precise point on the crown of the head. Chengguang (BL-6) receives and focuses light — it clears the head, opens the nose and sharpens the eyes when Wind, Heat or Phlegm cloud the upper regions of the body.
Contraindications
As with all points on the skull, the needle is inserted subcutaneously and should not be pushed deeply. No special contraindications are noted in the sources.
Name & story
The name 承光 Chengguang means "Receiving Light" — 承 (chéng) means to receive or carry, and 光 (guāng) means light. There is something poetic in this: the point sits near the crown of the head, the highest place the body reaches toward the sky, as if lifting itself up to catch the light. And its actions mirror the name — it clears the clouded head, brightens the eyes and opens the nose, restoring the clarity that congestion and Wind have taken away.
Point family & character
BL-6 belongs to the Bladder Meridian (BL), the longest channel in the body, which ascends over the top of the skull before descending the back. Chengguang sits along the upper portion of that journey across the head.
Location
On the top of the head, along the Bladder Meridian line. It is found 1.5 Cun lateral to the midline of the scalp, and 2.5 Cun posterior to the anterior hairline — sitting between BL-5 (Wuchu) in front and BL-7 (Tongtian) behind.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the scalp, on the galea aponeurotica — the broad flat tendon that covers the top of the skull.
Needling
The needle is inserted horizontally (transversely), gliding just beneath the scalp along the galea, as is standard for all points on the skull.
Safe depth
0.3–0.5 Cun, subcutaneously.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle massage along the Bladder Meridian line over the scalp can help ease head tension and sinus congestion. Warm compress across the forehead and crown may complement the point's action in Cold patterns.
Functions
Expels Wind and clears Heat from the head; Opens the nasal passages; Clears and brightens the eyes; Clears the head and alleviates headache.
Indications
Headache, especially at the top or front of the head. Nasal congestion, rhinitis, loss of smell. Visual disturbances, blurred or failing vision. Dizziness and vertigo. Fever and chills where Wind or Heat has invaded the upper body.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
When the head is fogged — by illness, congestion or Heat rising upward — clarity of mind suffers along with physical sensation. Chengguang, as a point that literally "receives light", helps restore a sense of mental clearness and perceptual sharpness. It is not a primary Shen point, but in conditions where muddled thinking comes with a blocked nose or heavy, aching head, clearing the upper orifices can itself bring a welcome sense of lightness and presence.
Point combinations
Often used alongside neighbouring scalp points such as BL-7 (Tongtian) for nasal conditions and headache. May be paired with local and distal points for eye and nasal disorders as part of a broader Bladder Meridian strategy across the head.
Clinical spotlight
BL-6 is one of a sequence of Bladder Meridian points that march across the top of the skull — each with a slightly different emphasis on the head, senses and upper orifices. Chengguang is particularly noted for its combined action on the eyes and nose, making it a useful point whenever Wind or Heat is causing trouble in two of the body's upper sense organs at once. Its name alone — "Receiving Light" — is a quiet reminder of its direction: upward, outward, clarifying.
The golden tip
If you have a stuffy nose, a heavy head or tired, strained eyes, you can gently stimulate BL-6 yourself. Find it roughly at the top of the head, about two finger-widths back from the hairline and one and a half finger-widths out from the centre line on each side. Use a fingertip to apply light circular pressure for a minute or two. It works well alongside gentle self-massage along the entire top of the skull from front to back.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.