The gatekeeper of the lateral knee. Xiyangguan (GB-33) relaxes the sinews, dispels Wind and Dampness, and restores smooth movement to a stiff, painful, or swollen knee — a focused local point for when the joint simply will not cooperate.
Name & story
The name 膝阳关 Xiyangguan breaks into three parts: 膝 xī means "knee", 阳 yáng refers to the outer (Yang) side of the leg, and 关 guān means "gate" or "pass". So the full meaning is "Knee Yang Gate" — the gateway on the Yang (outer) face of the knee, where the channel passes through this major hinge of the body. And there is a second name that the tradition has preserved: Hán Fǔ, "Mansion of Cold". This tells its own small story — cold has a habit of settling precisely here, on the lateral side of the knee, stiffening the joint and making it ache. The point is, in a sense, the gate that Cold tries to occupy, and the needle its eviction notice.
Point family & character
GB-33 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), the foot Shaoyang channel. It is a local point at the knee, valued primarily for its strong regional action on the joint itself.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder Meridian (GB) runs along the lateral side of the body and leg, belonging to the Wood element. Wood governs the sinews and tendons — all the fibrous tissue that allows the joints to move freely. When Wind-Damp settles into the knee, or when Cold occupies the lateral joint space (hence the old name "Mansion of Cold"), the sinews stiffen, the gate jams, and flexion and extension become painful or impossible. GB-33 sits right at that gate, on the Yang surface of the knee, and its work is to open it: dispersing the pathogen, relaxing the sinews, and restoring the flow of Qi through the Gallbladder channel.
Location
Find the lateral epicondyle of the femur — the bony prominence on the outer side of the knee. Starting just above the knee joint, run a finger up the outer thigh in the groove between the femur and the biceps femoris tendon, until the finger drops into a natural depression just above that epicondyle. That hollow is GB-33. It sits one point above GB-34 (Yanglingquan), which is just below and in front of the head of the fibula.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the lateral side of the knee, in the depression just above the lateral epicondyle of the femur, in the groove between the femur and the tendon of the biceps femoris muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly, straight into the depression.
Safe depth
1 to 2 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle massage and acupressure around the lateral knee can help move Qi and ease stiffness between treatments. Note: several classical texts specifically contraindicate moxibustion at this point, so warming with moxa is generally avoided here.
Functions
Relaxes the sinews and benefits the joints. Dispels Wind-Damp. Alleviates pain and restores mobility of the knee.
Indications
Redness, swelling and pain of the lateral knee joint. Inability to flex and extend the knee. Wind painful obstruction (Bi syndrome) with numbness. Painful obstruction and numbness of the lower leg. Leg Qi disorders.
Point combinations
With GB-34 (Yanglingquan) — the He-Sea and influential point for sinews just below — to strengthen the action on the sinews and the knee joint. With GB-30 (Huantiao) — for Wind-Damp obstruction affecting the whole leg. With GB-32 (Zhongdu) — classically mentioned together for atrophy disorders of the lower limb.
Clinical spotlight
What makes GB-33 memorable is its alternative name: Hán Fǔ, "Mansion of Cold". This is not merely poetic — it captures a real clinical observation that Cold has an affinity for the lateral aspect of the knee, lodging in the joint space and producing stiffness, aching and restricted movement, especially in cold weather. GB-33 is the primary local point to address this. It is a precise, targeted point: less a broad systemic actor and more a specialist for one joint — but in that role, it is highly regarded.
The golden tip
If the outer side of your knee is stiff, achy or swollen, you can find GB-33 by feeling for the groove between the outer thigh tendon and the thigh bone, just above the bony prominence on the outer knee. Gentle circular pressure there for one to two minutes can help ease discomfort. Keep the knee warm — Cold is this point's main adversary, and a warm compress (not moxa) over the outer knee can complement the acupressure nicely.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.