Intersecting point: governor vessel and foot taiyang.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Nao" (腦), brain; "hu" (戶), door or house. This acupoint is located near foramen magnum, serving as the gateway to brain. It is situated above Fengfu (GV16), hence it is also called "Zafeng" (匝風, wind encircling). In some cases of occipital bone variation, there may be a suture here, so it is also referred to as "Helu" (合顱, skull junction) or "Huilu" (會顱, skull meeting).

bubble_chart Location

Naohu (GV17) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the midline of occipital region, 2.5 cun above posterior hairline, in the depression at the upper edge of external occipital protuberance, directly 1.5 cun above Fengfu (GV16).

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "On occipital bone, 1.5 cun behind Qiangjian (GV18)";
• Yizong Jinjian: "1.5 cun above Fengfu (GV16)", which is at the upper edge of external occipital protuberance.
• Leijing Tuyi: "Some say it is 2 cun above hairline";
• Zhenjiu Jicheng: "Below occipital bone", which places it in the depression at the lower edge of external occipital protuberance. If needling here, especially when the patient is in a forward-leaning position, avoid deep insertion to prevent from penetrating posterior atlanto-occipital membrane and injuring medulla oblongata, which could be dangerous.

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: between left and right occipital muscles.
• Nerve: branches of greater occipital nerve.
• Vessels: branches of left and right occipital arteries and veins; deep layers often contain emissary veins.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert subcutaneously 0.3~0.5 cun. Direct moxibustion is contraindicated. In some individuals, the occipital bone may have variations, with the upper part (membranous bone) separated from the rest of the occipital bone (cartilaginous bone), forming an independent interparietal bone. This creates a transverse occipital suture slightly above the highest nuchal line. When needling Naohu (GV17) in infants within the first one or two years of life, the needle may enter the cranial cavity through the transverse suture, potentially damaging the posterior end of the superior sagittal sinus (a dural venous sinus) and the adjacent occipital poles of the brain. However, if the occipital bone is normal or the interparietal bone is not completely separated (i.e., the transverse suture only appears on the sides), this risk is eliminated. Generally, moxibustion is not applied here.

Improve vision, relieve convulsion, dispel wind, clear heat.

• Classical: eye strain, crooked eyes and mouth, heaviness of head, nape pain, red and painful eyes, myopia, blurred vision, yellowing of eyes, wind-induced dizziness, cold in brain, depressive psychosis, bone soreness, mania, spasm and convulsion, red and swollen face, bleeding from root of tongue, chills and fever, heavy clothing without warmth, sweating, aversion to wind in head, clenched jaw with sheep-like sounds, unable to speak.
• Modern: crooked mouth and eyes, visual fatigue.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Heaviness and pain in head: Tongtian (BL7), Naohu (GV17), Naokong (GB19).
• Yellowing of eyes: Naohu (GV17), Danshu (BL19), Yishe (BL49), Yanggang (BL48).