A quiet but reliable point on the crown of the head. Zhengying (GB-17) calms headaches, clears dizziness and settles the eyes — sitting where the Gallbladder Meridian sweeps across the top of the skull.
Contraindications
As with all scalp points, keep the needle shallow and horizontal. No special contraindications beyond standard clean needling technique.
Name & story
The name 正营 Zhengying carries the sense of 'Upright Camp' or 'True Encampment' — a place where something gathers and holds firm at the very top of the head. Picture a small outpost stationed at the crown, keeping watch over the head and eyes below. The character 正 (zhèng) means upright, correct, central; 营 (yíng) means a camp or encampment, a place where troops are settled and resources gathered. Together they suggest a point that steadies and organises what arrives at the top — Wind, pain, dizziness — and sends it on its way.
Point family & character
GB-17 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), the Foot Shaoyang channel, which winds its way across the side of the head in a series of loops before descending down the body. As the Gallbladder Meridian travels over the skull, GB-17 sits as one of the channel's head points, governing the local region of the crown and temples.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder Meridian belongs to the Wood element. Wood governs the free movement of Qi, and when that movement is disturbed — whether by rising Wind, Heat or rebellious Qi — it collects at the top of the body, the head. GB-17, positioned at the crown, is ideally placed to intercept these upward disturbances: it helps redirect what has risen too high, relieving the pressure that causes headache, dizziness and visual disturbance.
Location
GB-17 is found on the top of the head. Starting from GB-15 (which lies directly above the pupil, 0.5 Cun within the anterior hairline), follow the Gallbladder Meridian posteriorly: GB-17 is 2 Cun behind GB-15, or equivalently 1.5 Cun behind GB-16, along the line running parallel to the midline of the skull.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the top of the skull, in the region of the parietal bone, beneath the galea aponeurotica (the broad tendinous sheet covering the top of the head).
Needling
The needle is inserted horizontally (transversely), sliding just under the skin along the surface of the skull, as is standard for all points on the scalp.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle acupressure or massage along the Gallbladder Meridian line over the skull can complement needling. Scalp points like GB-17 are often combined with local massage to relieve tension headaches.
Functions
Expels Wind and relieves headache. Clears dizziness and benefits the eyes. Regulates Qi flow in the head region along the Gallbladder Meridian (GB).
Indications
Headache, especially one-sided or at the vertex. Dizziness and vertigo. Toothache (upper teeth). Visual disturbances. Pain and tension along the course of the Gallbladder Meridian over the head.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
In Chinese medicine, persistent headache and dizziness are not merely physical irritations — they cloud the mind and chip away at clarity and calm. When Wind or rebellious Qi rushes upward and lodges at the crown, the Shen cannot rest quietly; thoughts circle, concentration falters and the person feels unsettled from the head down. By clearing what has gathered at the top and restoring the smooth flow of Qi through the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), GB-17 helps lift that foggy, pressed-in feeling — allowing the mind to feel lighter and more at ease.
Point combinations
With GB-20 (Fengchi) — to expel Wind and relieve headache and dizziness, addressing both the root and the local area. With GB-15 and GB-16 — along the same channel line on the head, for headaches and disorders of the scalp and eyes.
Clinical spotlight
GB-17 is one of the Gallbladder Meridian's scalp points used for local head conditions, particularly one-sided or vertex headaches and dizziness. Its position on the crown of the head, where the channel passes over the top of the skull, makes it a natural choice when the aim is to clear what has risen and accumulated there — whether Wind, Heat or stagnant Qi. It is rarely used in isolation but works well within the broader strategy of needling the Gallbladder Meridian across the head.
The golden tip
For a tension headache or a feeling of pressure at the top of the head, you can gently press or massage along the line of the Gallbladder Meridian over the skull — starting from the hairline and working back over the crown. A few minutes of light circular pressure in this area can help ease tightness and encourage the Qi to move freely again.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.