Intersecting point: governor vessel and yang link vessel.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Ya" (啞), muteness or inability to speak; "men" (門), gate or door. Governor vessel enters and connects to the root of tongue here, making it related to speech organs. It is primarily used to treat "muteness and inability to speak," hence the name. The terms "yin" (喑) and "ya" (啞) have similar meanings, both referring to speech disorders.

bubble_chart Location

Yamen (GV15) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the depression at posterior hairline, connecting to the root of tongue";
• Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing: "At the center of neck, 0.5 cun within hairline, in the depression".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: The skin and subcutaneous tissue layers are relatively thick; deeper layers, nuchal ligament, neck muscles, and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane.
• Nerves: third cervical nerve and branches of greater occipital nerve; within spinal canal lies the cervical segment of spinal cord.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Have the patient sit upright with their head slightly tilted forward to relax neck muscles. Insert slowly toward the mental protuberance of mandible to a depth of 0.5~1.2 cun. Avoid deep insertion, repeated lifting, thrusting, or twisting. If an electric sensation radiates, immediately withdraw the needle. When the needle reaches nuchal ligament, a tight and rough sensation will be felt, and further advancement should be stopped. If a resilient and elastic resistance is encountered, it indicates the ligamentum flavum or the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane. If a loose sensation is felt, the needle tip has entered the epidural space of the spinal canal. If a soft resistance or a lightning-like sensation occurs, the needle tip has reached the dura mater, and the needle should be withdrawn immediately. Generally, a depth of 1.5 cun (or up to 1.8 cun for individuals with well-developed neck muscles) will reach the dura mater. If the patient experiences dizziness, headache, vomiting, or impaired limb function after needling, consider the possibility of subarachnoid hemorrhage or spinal cord injury and take immediate emergency measures. Do not insert deeply toward nose to avoid damaging medulla oblongata through posterior atlanto-occipital membrane or meninges. Moxibustion is contraindicated.

Benefit tongue, open orifices, clear spirit.

• Classical: 3vulsion, epilepsy, epistaxis.
• Modern: deafness and dumbness, aphasia, paralysis, neurogenic vomiting, cerebral hypoplasia, epilepsy, hysteria, schizophrenia, tetanus, chorea.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Heaviness of head: Yamen (GV15), Tongtian (BL7), Fu Yang.
• Flaccid tongue and inability to speak: Yamen (GV15), Guanchong (TE1).
• Stiff tongue: Yamen (GV15), Shaoshang (LU11), Yuji (LU10).
• Epilepsy: Yamen (GV15), Renzhong, Houxi (SI3).