A quiet but purposeful point on the foot, Diwuhui (GB-42) gathers the energy of the Gallbladder channel at a crossroads between channels. It moves Liver and Gallbladder Qi, clears Heat from above, and is especially noted for its influence on the eyes, ears and breasts.
Name & story
The name 地五会 Diwuhui means "Earth, Five Meetings". "Earth" (地, dì) points to the foot — the lowest place, where the body meets the ground. "Five" (五, wǔ) refers to the five channels believed to converge or meet here. "Meetings" (会, huì) is a gathering place, a crossroads. So the image is vivid: five streams of Qi flowing together at a single point on the foot, like five roads meeting at a village square on the earth. That sense of convergence gives the point its particular reach — it can influence several areas of the body at once.
Point family & character
GB-42 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), the Foot Shaoyang channel. The Gallbladder Meridian is one of the longest channels in the body, running from the outer corner of the eye all the way to the fourth toe, weaving across the head, down the side of the body, and along the outer leg.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder Meridian belongs to the Wood element, paired with the Liver. Wood, in Chinese medicine, is about movement, spreading and free flow — it is the force of a tree pushing upward through the earth in spring. When Wood energy is blocked or overheated, it rises — producing headaches, red eyes, ringing ears, and a burning or bitter feeling. GB-42, sitting at the foot on the earth, helps draw that rising Heat downward, encouraging the Wood element to flow smoothly again rather than flare upward.
Location
Find the gap between the 4th and 5th toes on the top of the foot, then slide your finger back (toward the ankle) along the groove between the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones. GB-42 sits in that groove, just posterior (behind) the junction of the bases of the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones — close to, but slightly further back than, its neighbour GB-43 (Xiaxi).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies on the dorsum (top) of the foot, between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, in the soft tissue just posterior to the interosseous muscles.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly or at a slight angle.
Safe depth
0.3–0.5 Cun.
The golden tip
If you experience tension headaches at the temples, ear ringing, or eye irritation that tends to worsen with stress or anger, gently pressing the groove between the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones on the top of each foot for one to two minutes may offer some relief. Use firm but comfortable pressure with the thumb. Because classical tradition advises against applying heat (moxa) at this specific point, stick to finger pressure rather than warming therapies here.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.