ACUPUNCTURE
Bai Hui: TCM Acupoint Guide
BAIHUI
Name
Bai Hui (Baihui)
Location
On the midline of the head, at the vertex, in the depression halfway between the frontal hairline and the external occipital protuberance, on the line which joins the tip of one ear to the other. Note: this point may also be measured as 5 cun posterior to the anterior hairline and 7 cun superior to the posterior hairline, or as 8 cun posterior to the glabella.
Needling
- Transverse insertion, either front to back or left to right, 0.5 to 1 cun. Sensation: local distention and pain.
- Puncture subcutaneously, 0.3 cun.
- Caution: extreme care should be taken when using this point on infants whose fontanelles have not completely closed, or on patients with hydrocephalus.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Sea of Marrow point
- Intersecting point of the Bladder channel with the DU channel
- Meeting point of all the Yang channels
- Meeting point of the Bladder, Gall Bladder, San Jiao and Liver channels
Actions
- Benefits the brain
- Benefits the sense organs
- Nourishes the Sea of Marrow
- Clears the brain
- Calms the Shen
- Revives consciousness
- Spreads Liver Qi
- Subdues Liver Yang
- Extinguishes Liver Wind
- Subdues Yang
- Raises Yang
- Dispels Wind
- Tonifies Yang
- Warms the Yang
- Restores collapsed Yang
- Stabilizes ascending Yang
- Stabilizes the lower orifices
- Counters prolapse
- Regulates Qi
- Tonifies Qi
- Calms the fetus
- Lifts the Spirit
- Strengthens the ascending function of the Spleen
- Promotes resuscitation
- Stabilizes the ascending Yang
Indications
- Seizures
- Insanity
- Hysteria with insomnia
- Meningitis
- Shock
- Aphasia due to stroke
- Insomnia
- Hyperactivity
- Disturbances of perception and movement
- Sensation of heaviness of the head
- Uncontrollable weeping
- Forgetfulness
- Metrorrhagia
- Hemorrhoids
- Chronic diarrhea
- Restless fetus disorder due to Qi Deficiency
- Impotence
- Urinary incontinence
- Premature graying of hair
- Gastric prolapse
- Nasal congestion
- Stroke
- Vertigo
- Aphasia due to apoplexy
- Mental disorders
- Loss of memory
- Nervousness
- Verbal delirium
- Heaviness of the head
- Head Wind
- One-sided headache
- Hypotension
- Tetany
- Fright palpitations
- Disorientation
- Much crying
- Sadness and crying with a desire to die
- Inability to taste food or drink
- Heat in the body
- Headache
- Headache due to Wind with the sensation of a very heavy head
- Psychosis
- Uterus augmented in volume
- Rectal prolapse in children
- Epilepsy with trismus
- Body arched backward
- Speech raving and incoherent
- Infantile epilepsy
- Constipation
- Anemia
- Scatterbrained
- Cerebral anemia
- Debility of the nervous system
- Sore throat
- Dysentery
- Irritability
- Four limbs icy
- Closed-type Windstroke
- Hemiplegia
- Hypertension
- Dizziness
- Wind dizziness
- Parietal headache
- Vertex headache
- Deafness
- Tinnitus
- Lockjaw
- Neck stiffness
- Collapsing syndrome due to Deficiency
- Abandoned-type coma
- Fainting
- Uterovaginal prolapse
- Rectal prolapse
- Infertility
- Premature ejaculation
- Hair loss
- Prolapse of the Bladder
- Anal prolapse
- Madness
- Nasal obstruction
- Coma
- Epilepsy
- Eye dizziness
- Anxiety
- Vomiting with foam
- Vomiting with abundant sweating
- Protruding eyes
- Blindness
- Opisthotonis
- Agitation and oppression of the Heart
- Lack of mental vigor
- Mania
- Nasal discharge
- Epistaxis
- Redness of the face after alcohol consumption
- Malaria
- Headache with the sensation of a heavy brain
- Mental illness
- Blurred vision
- Sudden apoplexy
- Paralysis of the lingual muscles due to cerebral hemorrhage
- Fear and groaning
- Bleats like a sheep
- Hypersalivation
- Trembling with fear
- Asthenia
- One hundred diseases
- Distracted
- Syncope
- Loss of sense of taste
- Heart malaise
- Palpitations
- Wind symptoms in women before or after childbirth
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| DU-26 Renzhong, PC-6 Neiguan | Promotes resuscitation, shock |
| DU-16 Fengfu, DU-14 Dazhui, LI-11 Quchi | Type B infectious encephalitis |
| M-HN-3 Yintang, M-HN-9 Taiyang, LI-4 Hegu | Headache |
| DU-1 Changqiang, UB-57 Chengshan | Anal prolapse |
| REN-15 Jiuwei, DU-1 Changqiang | Uterine prolapse |
| REN-6 Qihai, M-CA-16 Weibao, ST-36 Zusanli | Somnolence |
| DU-11 Shendao, SJ-10 Tianjing, SJ-2 Yemen | Fright palpitations |
| DU-18 Qiangjian, UB-6 Chengguang | Agitation of the Heart |
| PC-5 Jianshi, KI-7 Fuliu, KI-10 Yingu, ST-36 Zusanli | Mania |
| DU-26 Renzhong | Tendency to excessive crying |
| UB-60 Kunlun, SJ-23 Sizhukong | Wind epilepsy, upward staring eyes |
| GB-19 Naokong, UB-10 Tianzhu or GB-43 Xiaxi, DU-23 Shangxing, DU-21 Qianding, SJ-5 Yanggu, LI-4 Hegu, SJ-1 Guanchong, UB-60 Kunlun | Head Wind |
| DU-21 Qianding, DU-24 Shenting, DU-23 Shangxing, SJ-23 Sizhukong, GB-20 Fengchi, LI-4 Hegu, UB-2 Zanzhu, ST-8 Touwei | One-sided or generalized head Wind |
| HT-5 Tongli, DU-19 Houding | Pain in the head and eyes |
| DU-19 Houding, LI-4 Hegu | Pain in the head and nape |
| DU-26 Renzhong, ST-6 Jiache, REN-24 Chengjiang, LI-4 Hegu | Lockjaw following Windstroke |
| SI-19 Tinggong, GB-2 Tinghui, SJ-21 Ermen, UB-8 Luoque, LI-5 Yangxi, SI-2 Qiangu, SI-3 Houxi, SI-4 Wangu, SJ-3 Zhongzhu, SJ-2 Yemen, LI-1 Shangyang, UB-23 Shenshu | Most types of acute throat pain, needle DU-20 Baihui first |
| DU-23 Shangxing, DU-22 Xinhui, UB-6 Chengguang | Tinnitus |
| UB-9 Yuzhen, GB-15 Toulinqi, DU-23 Shangxing, Danyang | Nasal congestion |
| REN-15 Jiuwei | Dysenteric disorder, rectal prolapse in children (moxa DU-20 Baihui first) |
| DU-1 Changqiang, UB-25 Dachangshu | Rectal prolapse in children |
| UB-25 Dachangshu, DU-1 Changqiang, GB-21 Jianjing, LI-4 Hegu, ST-30 Qichong, or REN-8 Shenque, UB-28 Pangguangshu | Rectal prolapse |
| M-UE-29 Erbai, UB-52 Zhishi, DU-1 Changqiang | Rectal prolapse with hemorrhoids |
Contraindications
Do not use moxibustion if the patient suffers from high Blood pressure.
Notes
This point can tonify when a person is fragmented but not acute. It is considered to be the upper Dan Tian. This point may be bled to treat severe Excess conditions, and may be treated with moxibustion for Deficiency conditions. It calms and relaxes.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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