Governing Vessel (DU Channel) Notes

Governing Vessel (DU Channel)

Primary Pathway

• Originates in the lower abdomen.
• Exits through the perineum at DU 1 (midway between the tip of the coccyx and anus).
• Ascends along the midline of the sacrum and the interior portion of the spinal column to DU 16 (nape of the neck).
• Enters the brain at DU 16.
• Ascends to the vertex at DU 20.
• Re-emerges from the brain at DU 20.
• Descends to the tip of the nose, bridge of the nose, philtrum, and enters the lip and gum at DU 28.
• Total points in the DU channel: 28 (DU 26 is considered the most important).

Branches of the Primary Pathway

Branch 1

• Originates in the lower abdomen.
• Descends to the genitals and the perineum.
• Winds around the anus.
• Ascends the interior of the spinal column.
• Connects to the kidneys.

Branch 2

• Originates in the lower abdomen.
• Winds around the external genitalia.
• Ascends to the middle of the umbilicus (front of the body).
• Passes through the heart.
• Ascends to the throat.
• Winds around the mouth.
• Ascends to below the middle of the eyes (similar to the Ren channel).

Branch 3

• Emerges at Bladder 1.
• Follows the bladder channel bilaterally along the forehead.
• Branches and converges at the vertex of the head around DU 20.
• Enters the brain.
• Emerges at DU 16.
• Descends along either side of the spinal column (either side of the bladder channel) and enters the kidneys

Luo-Connecting Pathway

• Originates at DU 1 (the DU-Luo connecting point).
• Ascends bilaterally along the sides of the spine to the nape of the neck.
• Spreads into the occiput.
• Spreads into the scapular region, connecting with the bladder channel.
• Affects the entirety of the back and occiput.

General Characteristics

• The DU channel is one of the eight extraordinary vessels and has its own points (part of the 14 channels).
• The channel ascends through the spine to the brain.
• It has a polar axis relationship with the Ren channel (front and back, yin and yang).

Key Functions and Connections

• Ascends inside and alongside the spine.
• Enters the brain at DU 16 and DU 20 (depending on the pathway).
• Enters the kidneys.
• Connects to the heart.
• Has connections to the anus and external genitalia.
• Has a connection to the head, especially the occiput due to the Luo pathway.

Clinical Applications

• Diseases of the Anus, Rectum, and Intestines: Hemorrhoids, paralysis of the rectum, intestinal disorders.
• Diseases of Genitals, Urinary System, and Uterus: Painful urination, urinary retention, menstrual disturbances, leukorrhea, abnormal discharge.
• Spinal Issues: Treats the spine in general as it ascends through and on top of the spine.
• Clearing Heat: Known as the "Sea of Yang Channels." All yang channels meet at DU 14.
• Treating Diseases of Zang Fu: Adjunctive points to treat organ dysfunction (aligned with back-shu points on the Bladder channel).
  • DU 8 (level with UB 18): Liver disharmony.
  • DU 11 (level with UB 15): Heart dysfunction.
  • DU 12 (level with UB 13): Lung dysfunction.
• Treating Wind: Effective for both exterior and interior wind.
  • Points like DU 14 and DU 16.
• Treating Sense Organs: Due to connections with the head and face, treats the tongue, eyes, face, and nose.
• Treating Heart Disorders: Treats disorders of the heart due to a deep branch running anteriorly through the heart, and due to heat disturbing the heart and shen.
  • Treats heart zong, primarily pain and palpitations.
• Treating Brain and Spirit Disorders: Treats mania, depression, palpitations, disorientation, and loss of consciousness.

Specific Points

DU 1 (Luo-Connecting Point)

• Location: Midway between the coccyx and anus.
• Treats hemorrhoids.
• Benefits the two lower orifices.
• Helps with channel pain.

DU 2 (Yao Shu)

• Location: Sacral coccygeal hiatus (connection of sacrum to coccyx).
• Strengthens the lumbar area.
• Treats local, chronic pain in the back and sacrum.
• Treats epilepsy and spasms.
• Helps with menstruation.

DU 3 (Yao Yang Guan)

• Location: Inferior border of the spinous process of L4 (fourth lumbar vertebra).
• Primarily local.
• Treats back pain, weakness in the legs.
• Treats kidney yang deficiency.
• Treats irregular menstruation.

DU 4 (Mingmen)

• Location: Lower border of L2 (between L2 and L3 spinous processes).
• Level with back-shu of kidney (UB 23) and spiritual point of will (UB 52).
• Tonifies kidney yang and original qi.
• Nourishes and strengthens the low back.
• Benefits essence.
• Expels cold.
• Treats libido, impotence, irregular menstruation.
• Moxa is highly beneficial.

DU 5

• Location: Lower border of L1.
• Non-natured, locally treats the lumbar area.

DU 6 (Jizhong)

• Location: Lower border of T11 (level with back-shu of spleen).
• Tonifies spleen and resolves dampness.
• Benefits the spine.
• Treats pain and fullness of the epigastric region, diarrhea, and jaundice.

DU 7 (Zhongshu)

• Location: Lower border of T10 (level with UB 19, back-shu of gallbladder).
• Benefits the spine locally.
• Benefits the middle jiao.
• Gallbladder helps treat jaundice and abdominal fullness.

DU 8 (Jinsuo)

• Location: Lower border of T9 (level with UB 18, back-shu of liver).
• Soothes the liver, pacifies wind, relieves spasm.
• Calms the spirit.
• Treats epilepsy, childhood fright, contraction of the spine, mania, jaundice, and anger.

DU 9 (Zhiyang)

• Location: Lower border of T7 (level with UB 17, influential point of blood).
• Tonifies spleen and resolves dampness.
• Benefits middle jiao.
• Treats jaundice and opens the chest.

DU 10 (Lingtai)

• Location: Level with the sixth thoracic vertebra.
• Treats cough, asthma, and detoxifies poisons in the skin.
• Level with UB 16.

DU 11 (Shen Dao)

• Location: Lower border of T5 (level with UB 15, back-shu of the heart).
• Regulates the heart, calms the mind.
• Treats sadness, anxiety, poor memory.
• Treats pain and cold of the upper back.

DU 12 (Shenzhu)

• Location: Below the third thoracic vertebra (level with UB 13, back-shu of the lung).
• Eliminates interior wind, calms spasms.
• Regulates and strengthens the lung and wei qi.
• Think of lung, invasion, and wind when using this point.

DU 13 (Taodao)

• Location: Skip T2 and goes to T1. Crossing point of UB and DU channels.
• Helps clear heat and release the exterior.
• Regulates the Shao Yang syndrome (alternating chills and fever).
• Regulates the DU channel.
• Treats pain and stiffness of the spine locally as well as early-stage exterior wind-heat where ShaoYang symptoms (chills, fever) are starting to get deeper.

DU 14 (Dazhui)

• Location: Lower border of C7 (most prominent cervical vertebra).
• Crossing point of all six yang channels (three hand, three foot).
• Clears heat (top choice, LI 11 is second).
• Releases the exterior, tonifies yang.
• Regulates sweating.
• Treats exterior wind, interior wind, yung deficiency, and exterior invasion.

DU 15 (Yamen)

• Location: 0.5 cun superior to the posterior hairline on the nape of the neck.
• Gate of muteness (relates to tongue and speech).
• Helps with wind (wind invasion).
• Benefits the neck and spine.
• Treats stiffness and speech difficulty due to windstroke, as well as deafness and muteness.
• Caution: Do not needle upwards.

DU 16 (Fengfu)

• Location: 1 cun above the posterior hairline.
• Palace of wind (treats wind).
• Eliminates wind, clears the mind, and benefits the brain.
• Treats exterior wind-cold and wind-heat syndromes, and interior wind syndromes.
• Connects deeply to the brain, helping mental focus, acuity, Shen, and brain function.
• Treats headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and sore throat.
• Caution: Needle downwards or straight, not upwards, to avoid hitting the medulla.

DU 17 (Naohu)

• Location: 1.5 cun above DU 16 (on the skull, needle subcutaneously).
• Pacifies wind, benefits the brain, and clears the mind.
• Treats interior wind affecting the brain, such as windstroke, epilepsy, giddiness, and headache.

DU 18 (Qiangjian)

• Location: 1.5 cun above DU 17 (subcutaneously).
• Same functions as DU 17: pacifies wind, alleviates pain, and calms the spirit.

DU 19 (Houding)

• Location: 1.5 cun above DU 18 (subcutaneously).
• Same functions as DU 17 and 18: pacifies wind, alleviates pain, and calms the mind.

DU 20 (Baihui)

• Location: 7 cun from the posterior hairline or 5 cun from the anterior hairline.
• Hundred meetings. Crossing point with urinary bladder, gallbladder, san jiao, and liver channels.
• Clears the mind, lifts the spirit, tonifies yang, strengthens ascending function (for prolapse), eliminates interior wind, and promotes resuscitation.
• Treats prolapse, weakness, depression, sadness, and wind.

DU 21 (Qianding)

• Location: 1.5 cun anterior to DU 20 (subcutaneously).
• Benefits the head and nose, has some function towards vision.

DU 22 (Xinhui)

• Location: 1.5 cun in front of DU 21 (subcutaneously).
• Benefits the nose and head, eliminates wind.
• Caution: Fontanelle closure occurs here in babies, so avoid needling.

DU 23 (Shangxing)

• Location: 1 cun from the anterior hairline (subcutaneously).
• Upper star, calms the mind.
• Treats mental disorders, benefits the nose, eyes, wind, and head.

DU 24 (Shenting)

• Location: 0.5 cun posterior to the anterior hairline (subcutaneously).
• Courtyard of the spirit, relates to the mind.
• Treats the nose, eyes, wind, and head.

DU 25 (Suliao)

• Location: Tip of the nose.
• Benefits the nose.

DU 26 (Renzhong/Shuigou)

• Location: Junction of the nose to philtrum (upper lip).
• Crossing point of large intestine and stomach channels.
• Resuscitates a patient who has lost consciousness.
• Treats the lumbar region and spine.

DU 27 & 28 (Duiduan)

• Location: Tip of the lip and inside the mouth.
• Clears heat helping generates fluids, benefit the nose and eyes