GB30 (Huantiao / Jumping Circle) Acupuncture Point Guide
Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.
Professional acupuncture supplies and clinical reference material for qualified practitioners.
GB30 Huantiao is commonly discussed in relation to the hip, buttock and leg. Its location is a proportion between two named bony landmarks, not simply the fullest part of the buttock or a point on the outer thigh. This guide uses the greater-trochanter-to-sacral-hiatus convention consistently.
Practitioner only. This is an educational reference, not a self-needling guide.
GB30 Huantiao quick reference
| Point name | GB30 — Huantiao (Jumping Circle) |
|---|---|
| Channel | Gall Bladder channel of Foot Shaoyang |
| Classification | Local buttock point of the Gall Bladder channel |
| Region | Posterolateral buttock |
| Laterality | Bilateral |
| Core landmark | One-third of the distance from the greater trochanter towards the sacral hiatus. |
Location of GB30 Huantiao
With the patient supported on the side and the upper hip and knee comfortably flexed, identify the prominence of the greater trochanter and the sacral hiatus. GB30 lies on the line joining them, one-third of the way from the trochanter towards the sacral hiatus. That leaves two-thirds of the line between the point and the sacral hiatus.
Landmark checks
- Measure from the greater trochanter; reversing the one-third and two-thirds distances changes the point.
- Confirm both landmarks by palpation with consent and appropriate draping.
- Do not infer the point from a shorts seam, an injection site or the outline of the buttock.
Traditional functions of GB30
- Traditionally benefits the hip, lumbar region and leg.
- Used to address channel obstruction in lower-limb presentations.
- Associated with dispersing Wind-Damp in traditional theory.
These terms belong to traditional acupuncture theory. They should be distinguished from evidence about clinical outcomes.
Traditional clinical applications
Traditional applications include hip or buttock discomfort and symptoms extending into the leg. Similar symptoms can arise from the lumbar spine, the hip joint or a peripheral nerve. The point name does not identify the cause, and the term sciatica should not be used as a substitute for neurological assessment.
Common point combinations
- GB30 + GB34: a proximal-and-distal Gall Bladder-channel pairing for selected hip and leg presentations.
- GB30 + BL40: a traditional regional strategy considered only after assessing the lumbar, hip and posterior-leg findings.
These are traditional treatment-planning examples, not fixed prescriptions. Assess each point separately and select a combination only when it fits the full presentation and your training.
Anatomy and practitioner notes
The gluteal region contains major nerves and vessels, including the sciatic nerve at depth. Position, body build, previous hip surgery and scar tissue change the local context. Review hip replacements, anticoagulants and neurological findings. The clothed illustration offers orientation; it cannot reveal or confirm the palpable landmarks.
Needling and essential safety
Do not use this image to choose a generic deep insertion or electrical-stimulation protocol. Unexpected shooting or electrical pain down the leg requires stopping and reassessment. New bladder or bowel dysfunction, saddle numbness or rapidly progressive leg weakness needs emergency medical assessment. Significant post-traumatic hip pain or inability to bear weight also requires medical evaluation.
Technique must follow individual anatomy and accredited training. Use sterile, single-use needles and suitable infection-control measures. Review health history, medicines, skin condition and consent before treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is GB30 one-third of the way from the sacrum?
Under the convention used here, measure one-third from the greater trochanter towards the sacral hiatus, not the reverse.
Why does another atlas show a different hip landmark?
WHO records an alternative convention using the anterior superior iliac spine. This guide uses the sacral-hiatus convention throughout; the two constructions should not be mixed.
Is this a guide to self-needling?
No. Needling requires appropriate professional training, anatomical assessment and a safe clinical setting.
Continue exploring Project Lotus
Read the GB34 guide and BL40 guide, or browse all Acupuncture Point Guides.
For clinic supplies, browse our professional acupuncture needles and the wider Practitioner Guides.
Professional reference: Written for qualified acupuncture practitioners. Traditional functions and pairing examples describe a clinical tradition; they are not claims of proven efficacy for an individual point. The guide does not replace accredited training, diagnosis, informed consent or a patient-specific treatment plan. Surface illustrations cannot determine safe needle depth or direction.
References and further reading: eLotus CORE: Huantiao (GB30); WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, 2008; revised reprint 2009; NCCIH: Acupuncture — Effectiveness and Safety; NHS: Complementary therapies and safety. Accessed 18 September 2026.
