A small but precise point on the very tip of the upper lip. Duiduan (GV-27) sits at the end of the Governing Vessel's journey up the back and over the head — a point for the mouth, the lips, and moments of mental crisis when the mind needs to be recalled to itself.
Contraindications
Duiduan (GV-27) is a safe and superficial point. Standard precautions for facial needling apply: keep the depth very shallow and maintain clean technique. No special contraindications are noted in the sources.
Name & story
The name 兑端 Duiduan means something like "Opening of the Mouth" or "Tip of the Aperture". In classical Chinese, 兑 (Duì) refers to an opening or orifice — in the Five Element system it is the trigram associated with the mouth and with the Metal element — while 端 (Duān) means a tip, a point, a beginning. So the name quietly tells you exactly where to find it: right at the very tip of the mouth's upper edge. It sits at the junction between the world outside and the hollow of the mouth, the outermost point of the orifice through which we speak, eat and breathe.
Point family & character
Duiduan (GV-27) belongs to the Governing Vessel (GV), the great Yang meridian that rises along the spine, over the crown of the head, and descends over the face to end at the upper lip. GV-27 is one of the final points on this channel, located just before the channel reaches its terminus at GV-28 inside the mouth.
Location
Find the centre of the upper lip and look for the lowest point of the little vertical groove (philtrum) just above it. Duiduan (GV-27) sits right there, at the midpoint of the upper lip's vermilion border — where the red of the lip meets the skin.
Anatomy & fascia
The point is located on the upper lip, at the very tip of the philtrum's lower edge, on the border between the red of the lip and the skin above it — the mucocutaneous junction of the upper lip.
Needling
The needle is inserted obliquely or almost horizontally, with shallow insertion. Because of the sensitivity of the area, stimulation is gentle.
Safe depth
0.2–0.3 Cun.
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
The point is suitable for acupressure — gentle fingertip pressure on the upper lip border can be applied. Moxa is not typically used here due to the delicacy of the lip tissue.
Functions
Restores consciousness and calms the Shen; Clears Heat from the mouth, lips and gums; Stops pain in the mouth and face; Benefits the nose and lips.
The golden tip
For soreness or inflammation of the upper lip or gums, gentle fingertip pressure directly on the centre of the upper lip border — right where the red meets the skin — can offer some local relief. Press softly for 30–60 seconds. This is also a point taught in first-aid acupressure traditions for moments of sudden faintness: a light pinch or press at this spot, alongside GV-26 just above it in the philtrum, is a time-honoured way to help rouse someone.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.