The final point of the Governing Vessel, hidden inside the upper lip. Yinjiao (GV-28) sits where the Governing Vessel and Conception Vessel meet, making it a rare junction of the two great midline channels — and a local specialist for the gums, teeth and face.
Contraindications
The point is located on delicate mucosal tissue inside the mouth; use only gentle needling or pressure. Clean technique is especially important given the oral environment.
Name & story
The name 龈交 Yinjiao means "Gum Intersection" or "Meeting of the Gums". It tells you almost everything: 龈 (yín) means gum or gingiva, and 交 (jiāo) means crossing or meeting. The point sits precisely at the frenulum of the upper lip, right where the gum meets the midline — and it is here that the Governing Vessel (GV), after its long journey up the spine and over the crown of the head, descends to touch the Conception Vessel (CV), completing the great circuit of the two extraordinary vessels. The name is both anatomical and cosmological: a meeting of tissue and a meeting of channels.
Point family & character
GV-28 is the last point on the Governing Vessel (GV) — its terminal point, located on the inside of the upper lip at the frenulum. It is the meeting point (crossing point) of the Governing Vessel (GV) and the Conception Vessel (CV), and it also connects with the Stomach Meridian (ST). This triple junction makes it unique among the points of the Governing Vessel.
Five-element dynamics
The Governing Vessel rules the Yang of the entire body, rising from the perineum, climbing the spine, crossing the crown, and descending the face to end here — at the gums. The Conception Vessel, ruler of the Yin, journeys up the front of the body and meets it at this very point. GV-28 is therefore the place where Yin and Yang, front and back, complete their circuit and become one. In classical thinking, this junction is not just anatomical — it is the closing of the loop through which Qi flows continuously, like water returning to its source.
Location
Inside the mouth, on the upper lip frenulum: lift the upper lip and look for the small vertical fold of tissue at the midline that connects the lip to the gum. The point is right there, at the junction of the frenulum and the gum.
Anatomy & fascia
The point is located on the inner surface of the upper lip, at the midline frenulum — the small fold of tissue connecting the upper lip to the upper gum.
Needling
The needle is inserted obliquely or upward into the frenulum. Because of the sensitivity of the tissue, stimulation is typically gentle and brief.
The golden tip
For minor gum soreness or toothache, you can gently press or rub the frenulum on the inside of your upper lip with a clean fingertip. This is a soft, sensitive area, so keep the pressure light and the touch brief. It is not a point suitable for home moxa or strong stimulation.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.