"Yao" (腰), waist; "yang" (陽), back ; "guan" (關), pass or strategic point. Back is associated with yang, and this acupoint belongs to governor vessel, which is a passage for yang energy, hence the name. To distinguish it from point of same name on foot shaoyang gallbladder meridian at knee (Xiyangguan; "Xi", knee), "Yao" (lower back) is added. In Zhenjiu Daquan, it is referred to as "Beiyangguan" ("Bei", back).

bubble_chart Location

Yaoyangguan (GV3) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of lower back, in the depression below spinous process of fourth lumbar vertebra (16th vertebra), approximately level with iliac crest.

• Suwen-Qifu Lun Wang Bing's note: "It is located in the space below 16th vertebral joint." It can also be located at the prominence of spinous process.
• Leijing Tuyi: "When selecting acupoints along governor vessel on spine, they should be located at the prominent points of vertebral joints".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: thoracolumbar fascia, supraspinous ligament, and interspinous ligament.
• Nerve: medial branch of posterior branch of the lumbar nerve.
• Vessels: posterior branch of lumbar artery, interspinous subcutaneous venous plexus.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert perpendicularly 0.5~1.5 cun, or insert at the prominence of spinous process and direct it downward subcutaneously for 1~1.5 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 15 to 20 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Fortify waist and legs, warm kidney yang.

• Classical: pain in waist and legs, wind-Bi-syndrome with numbness, muscular spasm and immobility, excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, seminal emission, enuresis, stranguria and urinary turbidity, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, leukorrhea.
• Modern: lower abdominal pain, chronic enteritis, pelvic inflammation, postpartum uterine contraction pain, bladder paralysis, diabetes, diabetes insipidus, lower limb paralysis, sciatica, lumbar hypertrophy, lumbar disc herniation, polyneuritis, impotence, prostatitis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Bladder paralysis: Yangguan, Ciliao (BL32), Zhongliao (BL33), Guanyuan (CV4) , Zhongji (CV3), Qugu (CV2).
• Postpartum uterine contraction pain: Yaoyangguan (GV3), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Shuidao (ST28 ), Guilai (ST29), Sanyinjiao (SP6).
• Sciatica: Yaoyangguan (GV3), Shenshu (BL23), Huantiao (GB30), Yanglingquan (GB34).