Just my point: GB 39
Suspended Bell, xuan zhong 懸 鐘, refers to this area above the ankle where traditionally children wore a string of jingling little bells. Severed Bone, jue gu 絕 骨, refers to the lower end of the fibula, an area of great importance for the movement of the legs, one of the point’s key symptoms. A few points away at the knee, we have the meeting point for the sinews, jin hui 筋 會, GB 34 Yang Mound Spring, yang ling quan 陽 陵 泉, and here at GB 39 we have the meeting point for the marrow, sui hui 髓 會.
In Chinese sui 髓 marrow is deep-seated and precious, both for the nourishment of the bones and also the brain, known as the sea of marrow, sui hai 髓 海. In their own particular ways, these two points on the gall bladder meridian, GB 39 and GB 34, are essential for the body’s free and easy movement, without pain or obstruction.
With its deep link to the marrow, I use GB 39 in cases of bone cancer, where it can be helpful in combination with such points as KID 3 Great Stream, tai xi 太 溪. It is strengthening and helpful, even in late stages, to give power to the legs and support the patient’s will. My wife has used GB 39 very successfully in combination with SP 10 Sea of Blood, xue hai 血 海, in treating a patient with cancer which prevents the marrow cells from maturing into blood cells. She noticed that when the patient’s blood was low, there was a swelling at the point. Her treatment was so effective that the patient no longer needs blood transfusions. Classically commentators have said that GB 39 eliminates fire damaging the marrow to rebuild liquids and essences. It is heartening to see these points be so helpful in such severe cases.
It is interesting that the Systematic Classic Jiayijing 甲 乙 經 refers to this point three inches above the lateral malleolus as right on the beating of the artery. We could compare this to LU 9 Great Abyss, tai yuan 太 淵, on the radial artery at the wrist, which importantly is the meeting point for the mai 脈, the blood vessels. The text calls GB 39 the Triple Yang Connector of the Foot, zusan yangluo 足 三 陽 絡. Hence all three yang meridians of the leg are considered to meet here, giving even greater emphasis to its key function of supporting the bones in the leg and their correct movement.
It is interesting to note SP 6 Three Yin Crossing, san yin jiao 三 陰 交, also three inches above the medial malleolus, mixes the three kinds of yin qi at the same level and acts as one of the major points to treat spleen, liver and kidneys together, hence for example its important use in gynaecological disorders. GB 39 may well have a similar function for the three yang of gall bladder, stomach and bladder, which give force and power to the skeletal and muscular structures from head to toe.
I remember being told when I was studying in Chengdu in China 40 years ago that GB 39 was a point they used to prevent wind-stroke. This ability to regulate the three yang qi of the head that meet at a point on the beating of an artery in the leg – a point which is considered to deeply nourish the marrow, and therefore by implication the blood and the brain – may well be part of the reasoning behind it. Classically wind-stroke was mentioned in the Great Compendium Zhenjiu Dacheng, where it also lists irritability and agitation, oppression, resentment and sadness, so these emotions in combination with a tendency to stroke would certainly point to GB 39 as an excellent point to consider.
Several of the classics emphasise the importance of GB 39 for various problems of the legs. The Suwen says the leg bones are without strength and deeply painful. Sun Simiao says GB 39 masters wind with tiredness and a heavy body, emphasising very painful bi 痺 blockage with dampness and swelling, with all joints intensely painful and shaking of the leg bones. The Great Compendium includes wind-stroke with paralysis and turning of the feet and hands. Another text mentions using it in lateness in walking as a child. Again we see GB 39 used for a variety of severe and debilitating disorders.
As with many of the gall bladder points, GB 39 helps the meridian qi to circulate, particularly when there is abdominal congestion, heat in the stomach and no desire to eat. This may also bring fullness and distension in the heart and chest area. Finally, it is also a distal point to remember in stiff neck with local points, for example GB 39 with GB 20, BL 10 and SI 3. Here its role as the triple connector of the three leg yang make it a suitable point to move stagnant qi from a distance.
So here we have this useful and important point, a must for serious clinical work, expelling wind and damp, marrow, blood and bone builder, reconstructing in severe cases, bringing renewed strength and re-establishing the power to walk. Blood pressure lowerer, negative emotions disperser, GB 39 frees up stagnant qi to bring relief to the intestines, stomach and heart, while guarding against the threat of wind-stroke.
Several of the classics emphasise the importance of GB 39 for various problems of the legs. The Suwen says the leg bones are without strength and deeply painful. Sun Simiao says GB 39 masters wind with tiredness and a heavy body, emphasising very painful bi 痺 blockage with dampness and swelling, with all joints intensely painful and shaking of the leg bones. The Great Compendium includes wind-stroke with paralysis and turning of the feet and hands. Another text mentions using it in lateness in walking as a child. Again we see GB 39 used for a variety of severe and debilitating disorders.
As with many of the gall bladder points, GB 39 helps the meridian qi to circulate, particularly when there is abdominal congestion, heat in the stomach and no desire to eat. This may also bring fullness and distension in the heart and chest area. Finally, it is also a distal point to remember in stiff neck with local points, for example GB 39 with GB 20, BL 10 and SI 3. Here its role as the triple connector of the three leg yang make it a suitable point to move stagnant qi from a distance.
So here we have this useful and important point, a must for serious clinical work, expelling wind and damp, marrow, blood and bone builder, reconstructing in severe cases, bringing renewed strength and re-establishing the power to walk. Blood pressure lowerer, negative emotions disperser, GB 39 frees up stagnant qi to bring relief to the intestines, stomach and heart, while guarding against the threat of wind-stroke.
