"Xi" (膝), knee; "yang" (陽) refers to lateral side; "guan" (關) means joint here. The point is located on the lateral side of knee joint, hence the name. To distinguish it from governor vessel point of the same name in lumbar region (Yaoyangguan, 腰陽關), "Xi" (膝, knee) is added.

• Zhenjiu Daquan refers to it as "Zuyangguan" (足陽關).
• It is also called "Guanling" (關陵) (Qianjin Yaofang), referring to the prominence of lateral epicondyle of femur.
• Another name is "Hanfu" (寒府) (see Suwen-Gukong Lun, Leijing Zhang Jie-bin notes that it is the Knee Leiguan point), indicating that this area is prone to invasion by cold pathogens.

bubble_chart Location

Xiyangguan (GB33) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "3 cun above Yanglingquan (GB34), in the depression lateral to Dubi (ST35)";
• Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing: "2 cun above Yanglingquan (GB34)";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "1 cun beside Xiyan (EX-LE5)". bubble_chart Anatomy Muscles: posterior toiliotibial band, anterior to biceps femoris tendon. Nerve: terminal branches of myolateral cutaneous nerve under skin. Vessels: superior lateral genicular artery and vein. bubble_chart Manipulation Perpendicular insertion 1～1.5 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 5 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes. bubble_chart Efficacy Fortify knees, soothe sinew, decend counterflow. Classical: pain in lateral knee , inability to flex or extend, tendon spasm, crane knee wind-toxin, Bi-syndrome and numbness in shin, persistent vomiting, excessive salivation. Modern: swelling, pain, and spasms of knee and calf, numbness in lower leg.
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  bubble_chart Combinations

  • Shin numbness: Huantiao (GB30), Xiyangguan (GB33), Chengjin (BL56).
  • Knee arthritis: Xiyangguan (GB33), Liangqiu (ST34), Dubi (ST35), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36).