A quiet but effective point on the outer leg, Yangjiao (GB-35) sits at the crossroads of two great Yang pathways — the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) and the Yang Linking vessel. It activates the channel to ease pain, settles Gallbladder Qi, and calms a troubled spirit.
Name & story
The name 阳交 Yangjiao means "Yang Intersection" — and it describes the point perfectly. Here, on the outer side of the lower leg, the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) meets and crosses the Yang Linking vessel (Yangwei Mai), one of the extraordinary vessels that links all the Yang channels of the body together. Think of it as a busy junction on a Yang highway — a place where energies converge, and where a skilled practitioner can influence both roads at once.
Point family & character
GB-35 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian (GB). Its most important character is that it is the Xi-Cleft point of the Yang Linking vessel (Yangwei Mai). Xi-Cleft points are where the Qi and Blood (Xue) of a channel collect deeply — they are especially called upon in acute conditions and pain. GB-35 is also counted as the point of intersection between the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) and the Yang Linking vessel, which gives it a wider reach than most leg points.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder Meridian (GB) belongs to the Wood element and the shaoyang layer — that pivotal "half-interior, half-exterior" zone where the body negotiates between inside and outside. Wood governs the smooth flow of Qi, the health of the sinews, and the clarity of decision and courage. When shaoyang is disturbed, Qi stagnates, the sinews tighten, and the spirit grows uneasy. GB-35, as the Xi-Cleft point of the Yang Linking vessel, has a special ability to break through that stagnation — especially in acute situations — and help the Yang channels communicate again.
Location
Find the prominence of the lateral malleolus (the bony bump on the outer ankle). Measure 7 Cun straight up along the outer leg. The point sits in the depression just at the posterior (back) border of the fibula bone. A useful check: the distance from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the popliteal crease (the back of the knee) is 16 Cun — GB-35 sits one Cun below the midpoint of that line. Note that in this region the fibula is covered by the peroneus brevis muscle and is not always easy to feel directly; trace the posterior border of the fibula up from where it is clearly palpable near the ankle.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the lateral aspect of the lower leg, in the depression at the posterior border of the fibula, in the region of the peroneal muscles.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly, straight into the depression at the posterior border of the fibula.
Safe depth
1 to 1.5 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
The point responds well to acupressure and Tui Na massage along the outer leg. Moxa can be appropriate where there is Cold or Yang Deficiency obstructing the channel, producing stiffness or cold painful obstruction in the limb.
Functions
Activates the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) and the Yang Linking vessel; alleviates pain. Regulates Gallbladder Qi. Calms the Shen and settles the spirit.
Indications
Pain and stiffness along the outer leg; painful obstruction (Bi syndrome) of the lower limb; weakness, numbness or paresis of the leg. Tightness and contraction of the sinews and muscles. Fullness and discomfort in the chest and lateral costal region. Disorders linked to the shaoyang layer — alternating sensations of cold and heat, a bitter taste in the mouth. Conditions calling on the Yang Linking vessel in acute presentations.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
Because GB-35 both regulates Gallbladder Qi and calms the Shen, it has a role when the spirit is disturbed alongside physical symptoms. The Gallbladder in Chinese medicine is connected with courage, decisiveness and sound sleep — when its Qi is disordered, a person may feel timid, apprehensive, even fearful without clear cause, and the mind loses its steadiness. By clearing the channel and settling the Qi of the Yang Linking vessel, GB-35 helps restore a sense of inner calm and groundedness.
Point combinations
With other Gallbladder Meridian (GB) points for pain and obstruction along the outer leg and hip. With points that address the shaoyang layer — such as Yanglingquan GB-34 — for lateral costal fullness, bitter taste and alternating chills and fever. As the Xi-Cleft point of the Yang Linking vessel, it is paired with other extraordinary vessel points in acute presentations involving the Yang Linking vessel.
Clinical spotlight
GB-35 carries a dual identity that makes it genuinely interesting: it is both a point on the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) and the Xi-Cleft point of the Yang Linking vessel — a vessel that links and regulates all the Yang channels of the body. Xi-Cleft points have a special reputation for acute pain and acute conditions, and this one can be called upon when the Yang Linking vessel is implicated — for instance, in acute pain along the outer aspect of the body, or in shaoyang-type presentations with alternating sensations. Its action on the Shen, listed in the classical sources alongside its physical indications, is a reminder that in Chinese medicine the channel and the spirit are never entirely separate.
The golden tip
To find GB-35 at home, place four fingers above the outer ankle bone and feel for the back edge of the outer leg bone (fibula) — the point is in the small depression there, roughly halfway down the outer lower leg. Firm massage or sustained acupressure for one to two minutes can ease outer leg tightness and encourage the smooth flow of Qi through the channel. If the area feels cold and stiff, gentle warmth — a warm pack held nearby — can be a helpful addition.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.