"Qian" (強), strong or hard; "jian" (間), interval or space. Occipital bone is very hard, and this acupoint is located in its center, hence the name.

bubble_chart Location

Qiangjian (GV18) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of occipital region, 4 cun above posterior hairline, at the midpoint between Baihui (GV20) and Fengfu (GV16), and 1.5 cun below Naohu (GV17).

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "1.5 cun behind Houding (GV19)";
• Yizong jinjian >: "1.5 cun aboveNaohu (GV17)".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscle: galea aponeurotica .
• Nerve: branches of greater occipital nerve.
• Vessel: anastomotic network of left and right occipital arteries and veins.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Subcutaneous insertion 0.3~0.5 cun. Direct moxibustion is prohibited.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clear head and eyes, dispel wind pathogens.

• Classical: brain spinning, visual vertigo, headache, irritability, vomiting with frothy saliva, stiff neck, manic running due to depressive psychosis, spasm and convulsion with head shaking, crooked mouth, tearing.
• Modern: insomnia, hysteria.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Unbearable headache: Qiangjian (GV18), Fenglong (ST40).
• Irritability: Baihui (GV20), Qiangjian (GV18), Chengguang (BL6).