Imagine a simple touch that can alleviate eye discomfort and enhance natural beauty. Pupil Bone Creavice (Tong Zi Liao, GB1) is the acupoint that promises better eye health and smoother skin, bridging ancient practices with modern wellness solutions.
Tong Zi Liao, first documented in the “Yellow Emperor’s Canon,” is located near the bone of your eye, offering a treasure trove of benefits. Are red eyes dimming your shine? This point may help bring relief. Struggling with tearful eyes, especially as temperatures drop in winter? Another reason to try activating GB1. Most fascinatingly, regular stimulation of this spot may aid in diminishing those stubborn crow’s feet wrinkles, offering a path to both comfort and aesthetic enhancement.
A Coalition of Healing
TCM: Understanding the Role of the Gallbladder
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) categorizes the internal organs into two types: solid (known as zang) and hollow (known as fu). The gallbladder is a hollow organ that complements the liver and plays a crucial role in energy circulation and detoxification. Tong Zi Liao is the entry point of the gallbladder meridian, where vital energy flows into it and goes further down the body’s energetic pathways.
In TCM, solid organs are linked to specific orifices, with their hollow counterparts supporting this connection. Notably, the gallbladder’s solid counterpart, the liver, is said to “open” into the eyes, directly correlating gallbladder health and eye function. The strategic location of Tong Zi Liao reinforces its therapeutic potential for addressing various eye problems.
Western Medicine: Scientific Perspectives
A study on animal models demonstrated that acupuncture on Tong Zi Liao, in combination with other acupoints, significantly improved tear production and protected the eye surface by increasing tear secretion and essential protein production in the tear glands, mimicking conventional eye drops.
Research on electroacupuncture, a variant of traditional acupuncture, revealed Tong Zi Liao’s effectiveness in treating dry eyes by reducing inflammation by decreasing immune cells and enhancing protective protein production in the tear glands and cornea. These findings suggest that Tong Zi Liao is a valuable addition to treatment protocols for maintaining eye health.
The benefits of acupuncture treatment protocols that included Tong Zi Liao appear to extend beyond eye health. A study investigating its impact on migraine patients found a noticeable reduction in pain and an improvement in the participants’ quality of life after 10 sessions. The research traced the activity of the protein MMP-2 that, when dysregulated, can cause tissue damage. Interestingly, while the levels of MMP-2 remained unchanged, its activity was notably decreased, suggesting that acupuncture alleviates migraine pain by inhibiting MMP-2 activity.
This multifaceted research underscores the potential of acupuncture as a versatile treatment modality that can harmonize traditional techniques with contemporary medical understanding for a holistic approach to health.
How to Locate and Stimulate Tong Zi Liao
Locating the Tong Zi Liao is simpler than you might think. Just trace a straight line about half an inch outward from the outer corner of your eye toward the bone of your eye socket, and you’ll find it. The small indentation that can feel sore or tender to touch is Tong Zi Liao.
Originally published in Epoch Times on 18 Feb 2025
