A local point on the temple, tucked along the hairline where the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) winds around the side of the head. Qubin (GB-7) is called upon when one-sided head pain, jaw tension or ear troubles make the side of the head feel locked and pressured.
Name & story
The name 曲鬓 Qubin means "Curved Sideburn" — and it describes the point perfectly. It sits right where the sideburn hair curves and sweeps around the temple, following the arc of the hairline just above the ear. There is something almost poetic about it: the Gallbladder Meridian itself curves and winds along the side of the head like a serpentine river, and this point marks one of its bends — right at that soft, curved line of hair beside the face.
Point family & character
GB-7 belongs to the Gallbladder Meridian (GB), which travels extensively along the sides of the head and body. As a local point on the temporal region, it is used primarily for conditions affecting the side of the head, the temples, the jaw and the ear.
Five-element dynamics
The Gallbladder Meridian (GB) belongs to the Wood element, the element of movement, decisiveness and rising energy. Wood energy, when it flows freely, is like young trees growing upward in spring. When it stagnates or rises excessively, it surges upward into the head — and that is when the temples throb, the jaw clenches, and the sides of the head feel tight and hot. GB-7, sitting right on the meridian's path through the temple, helps bring that rising or stagnant Wood Qi back into smooth movement.
Location
GB-7 is found on the side of the head, within the hairline of the temporal region. It sits just posterior to the temple, one Cun anterior to Shuaigu (GB-8), at the level of the apex of the ear. Look for the place where the sideburn hairline curves — the point is right there.
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the temporal region, within the temporalis muscle, at the curved line of the hairline above and in front of the ear.
Needling
The needle is inserted horizontally (transversely) along the scalp, as is standard for points in the temporal hairline region.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Gentle massage or acupressure along the temple hairline — tracing the path of the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) — can help ease temporal headaches and jaw tension between treatments. A warm compress over the temples may soothe tightness when Cold is the cause; a cool compress is more appropriate when there is Heat or a flushed, hot sensation.
Functions
Removes obstruction from the Gallbladder Meridian (GB) in the temporal region; relieves one-sided headache; relaxes the jaw and facial muscles; benefits the ear.
Indications
One-sided headache, particularly temporal or migraine-type pain. Swelling and pain of the cheek and jaw. Lockjaw (trismus) and difficulty opening the mouth. Toothache. Tinnitus and ear disorders.
Mind & spirit (Shen)
The Wood element — home of the Gallbladder and Liver — is deeply connected to the emotional quality of frustration, pressure and suppressed decision-making. When Wood Qi rises and becomes trapped in the temples and sides of the head, the result is not just physical pain: a tight head can mean a tight mind, irritable and unable to think clearly. By opening the flow along the temporal channel, GB-7 can bring a small but real sense of release — as if pressure that had been building quietly in the sides of the head is finally allowed to move.
Clinical spotlight
GB-7 is a focused local point for the temporal region, most valued in clinical practice for stubborn one-sided headaches and jaw tension. Its location directly over the temporalis muscle, combined with its position on the Wood-element Gallbladder Meridian (GB), makes it a natural choice when headaches are tied to Qi Stagnation, rising Liver Yang, or Wind invading the lateral aspect of the head. It is often combined with other GB channel points on the head for a coordinated approach to temporal and migraine-type pain.
The golden tip
To find GB-7 yourself, follow your sideburn hairline upward and slightly back toward the ear — the point is in that curved arc of hair at the temple. Press gently with a fingertip and hold for 30–60 seconds, breathing slowly. This can be a calming self-care step during a tension headache, especially when the pain is on one side of the head or concentrated in the temple. Move gently — the temple area is sensitive.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.