Intersecting point: governor vessel and foot taiyang.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Tao" (陶), kiln or furnace; "dao" (道), pathway or passage. This acupoint belongs to governor vessel and is located on upper back. Yang qi ascends through this point like a pathway through a kiln, connecting to upper orifices.

bubble_chart Location

Taodao (GV13) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of the back, in the depression below the spinous process of 1st thoracic vertebra.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In the space below Dazhui (GV14)". It can also be located at the prominence of the 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 1st thoracic nerve branch; within spinal canal lies spinal cord.
• Vessel: posterior branch of 1st intercostal artery, interspinous subcutaneous venous plexus.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert obliquely 0.5~1 cun, but avoid deep insertion. Alternatively, insert at the prominence of spinous process and direct it downward subcutaneously for 1~2 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 5 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 15 to 20 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispel wind, discharge heat.

• Classical: headache, heaviness of head, blurred vision, cold limbs, chills and fever, various wind diseases, consumptive fatigue, bone-steaming fever, malaria, stiff neck with difficulty turning, stiff spine, absence of sweating, seasonal epidemic febrile diseases, epilepsy.
• Modern: malaria, tuberculosis, schizophrenia, eczema, psoriasis.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Alternating chills and fever: Fengchi (GB20), Taodao (GV13), Shentang (BL44).
• Seasonal epidemic febrile diseases: Taodao (GV13), Feishu (BL13).
• Malaria: Taodao (GV13), Jianshi (PC5), Quchi (LI11).