Pregnancy caution: GB 21 is traditionally avoided or requires supervised use during pregnancy. See the Safety page for the full list and the BL 67 breech-turning exception.
Location
Shoulder, midpoint of shoulder, superior to acromion
Needling Depth
0.3–0.5 cun
Shallow — low depth risk.
Always palpate landmarks and angle away from vital structures. Chest/neck: oblique, shallow only.
Avoid apex of lung; shallow only.
Anatomy & Safe Needling
Structure: Trapezius, apex of lung superior
Risk: Pneumothorax
Method: Shallow, grasp-lift; avoid in pregnancy.
Acupressure Self-Use
Indications: Shoulder tension, Stress, Mastitis
Technique: Pinch-lift the trapezius with thumb and fingers; do not press downward.
Duration: 30–60 sec each side
The shoulder midpoint; eases upper trapezius spasm. Avoid in pregnancy.
Trigger-Point Link
Upper Trapezius — referred to Up the back of the neck to the temple and behind the ear; sometimes jaw.
Gallbladder Meridian Flow
Wood · Yang · peak 11 PM–1 AMQi flowing along the Gallbladder — direction of animation reflects channel flow.
My notes on GB 21