There are 9 bilateral points on the hand shaoyin heart channel: 1 at the midpoint of the axilla; 8 on the medial aspect of the upper limb. The first is in the axilla, HT 1 (jí quán); the last is on the little fnger, HT 9 (shào chōng). Points on this channel treat disorders of the cardiovascular system and the running course of the channel.
HT 1 (Jí Quán, 极泉)
Location. In the axilla at the center of the axillary fossa over the axillary artery (Pic. 3-32).
Location method. Find the point with the patient’s arm abducted, palm on the occipital region.
Actions. Loosen the chest and rectify qi, unblock channels, and quicken collaterals.
Indications. Cardiac pain, palpitations; hypochondriac, costal, shoulder, and arm pain; hircismus; scrofula.
1 Yang ZM, Cai PY. Thirty-six cases of compression of lateral cutaneous intercostal nerves treated with SP 6 (sān yīn jiāo) and SP 21 (dà bāo) 针刺三阴交、大包治疗肋间神经外侧皮支卡压症36例. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2006; 22(3): 35-7.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle 1.0~1.5 cun perpendicularly, avoiding the axillary artery. Slight local soreness and distention should radiate toward the forearm and fingers; the arm might twitch three times, indicating that the stimulation is appropriate. Moxibustion: Use 3~5 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick or warming needle moxibustion for 5~10 minutes. Scarring moxibustion is not suitable. Massaging this point helps prevent coronary heart disease and pneumocardial diseases.
Precautions. To prevent injury, note that when the arm is abducted the axillary vein is anterior, the brachial nerve plexus is posterior, and the axillary artery is in the middle. Therefore one fnger must be used to contact the pulsating axillary artery and gently press the neurovascular bundle toward the back, while inserting the needle in front of the fnger with other hand. Avoid harsh lifting and thrusting, which can pierce the axillary vessels and cause internal bleeding.
Annotation. This point originated in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă Yĭ Jīng, 针灸甲乙经). A summit is the highest point, and the beginning of a water source is a spring. HT 1 is the highest point and the beginning of the heart channel, and channel qi is analogous to water rushing from a spring, so the point is called jí quán, summit spring.
HT 2 (Qīng Líng, 青灵)
Location. On the medial aspect of the arm just medial to the biceps brachii muscle, 3 cun superior to the cubital crease (Pic. 3-32).
Location method. With the patient’s elbow flexed and the arm abducted, the point is at the junction of the upper two thirds and lower one third of a line connecting HT 1 (jí quán) to HT 3 (shàohăi).
Actions. Rectify qi, unblock collaterals, and calm the heart and mind.
Indications. Headache, trembling with cold; shoulder, arm, hypochondriac pain; yellowish eyes.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle 0.5~1.0 cun perpendicularly. Local soreness and distention can radiate toward the forearm and axilla. Moxibustion: Use 3~7 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick or warming needle moxibustion for 5~10 minutes.
Precautions. See HT 1 (jí quán).
Annotation. This point originated in Formulas from Benevolent Sages Compiled during theTaiping Era (Tài Píng Shèng Huì Fāng, 太平圣惠方). Qīng means green and youthful exuberance; líng means spirit. The heart is the foundation of life and is responsible for spirit; the point is where the spirit resides, so it is called green spirit.
HT 3 (Shào Hăi, 少海)
He-sea point
Location. On the posteromedial aspect of the elbow just anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, level with the cubital crease (Pic. 3-32).
Location method. With the elbow fexed, the point is at the midpoint of the line connecting the medial end of the cubital crease and the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Actions. Rectify qi and unblock collaterals, and calm the heart and mind.
Indications. Cardiac pain, depression, mania, uncontrollable laughter, epilepsy; sudden loss of voice, pain, spasm and numbness in elbow and arm.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle 0.5~1.0 cun perpendicularly. Local soreness and distention or numbness and electric sensations can radiate toward the forearm. Moxibustion: Use 3~5 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick or warming needle moxibustion for 5~10 minutes.
Precautions. Scarring moxibustion is not suitable.
Annotation. This point originated in The Spiritual Pivot (Líng Shū, 灵枢). Shào refers to the hand shaoyin channel; hăi means sea. This is he-sea point, so it is called ‘sea of the shaoyin channel’.
HT 4 (Líng Dào, 灵道)
Jing-river point
Location. On the posteromedial aspect of the forearm just radial to the fexor carpi ulnaris tendon, 1.5 cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease (Pic. 3-33).
Actions. Calm the heart and mind, invigorate blood, and unblock collaterals.
Indications. Palpitations, cardiac pain, fuctuating emotions of sorrow, fear, and uncontrollable laughter; sudden loss of voice, stiff tongue causing inability to speak, pain and spasm in elbow and arm, numb fngers.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle 0.5~0.8 cun perpendicularly. Local soreness and distention can spread to the elbow and fngers. Moxibustion: Use 1~3 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick for 10~20 minutes.
Precautions. Avoid the ulnar vein and artery. Scarring moxibustion is not suitable.
Annotation. This point originated in The Systematic Classic of Acupunctureand Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă Yĭ Jīng, 针灸甲乙经). Líng means spirit; dào means path. Because the point is on the heart channel, the path where the spirit travels, it is called spirit path.
HT 5 (Tōng Lĭ, 通里)
Luo-connecting point
Location. On the posteromedial aspect of the forearm radial to the fexor carpi ulnaris tendon, 1 cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease (Pic. 3-33).
Actions. Calm the mind, clear deficiency heat, unblock channels, and quicken collaterals.
Indications. Cardiac pain, vexation, forgetfulness, insomnia, palpitations, visceral agitation, dementia, depression, mania, epilepsy, headache, dizziness; pain in the arm and wrist, swelling and pain in the throat, sudden loss of voice, stiff tongue, sore tongue.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle 0.3~0.5 cun perpendicularly. Local soreness and distention can spread to the ring or little fnger, forearm, axillary cavity, and axilla. In some cases, the sensation radiates to the chest. Tenderness or nodules at the point may indicate bradycardia. Moxibustion: Use 1~3 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick for 10~20 minutes.
Precautions. Do not over-stimulate this point.
Annotation. This point originated in The Spiritual Pivot (Líng Shū, 灵枢). Tōng means penetrating; lĭ means interior. The name of the point means penetrating the interior.
Modern clinical observation and research. In a case series on sudden loss of voice caused by acute laryngitis, acupuncture was given once or twice a day using RN 23 (lián quán) and HT 5 (tōnglĭ) as the major points. Of 100 cases, 60 recovered after 3 treatments, 30 after 5 to 7 treatments, 7 after more than 7 treatments, and 3 showed no significant improvement in symptoms.1
HT 6 (Yīn Xì, 阴郄)
Xi-cleft point
Location. On the posteromedial aspect of the forearm radial to the fexor carpi ulnaris tendon, 0.5 cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease (Pic. 3-33).
Actions. Clear heart heat and calm the mind, consolidate the exterior, and restore the voice.
1 Liu GZ. Acupuncture at RN 23 (lián quán) and HT 5 (tōng lĭ) to treat 100 cases of sudden loss of voice针刺廉泉、通里治疗暴喑100例. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2010; 26(5): 27.
Indications. Cardiac pain, vexation, palpitations due to fright, headache, severe palpitations, dizziness, fright and fear; cough, nosebleed, aversion to cold, night sweat, spitting of blood, infantile steaming bone fever; wrist pain, loss of voice, local soft tissue and wrist disorders, acute paralysis of the tongue.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle perpendicularly 0.3~0.5 cun. Local soreness and distention can spread down to the ring and little fnger or up the forearm, to the anterior aspect of the upper arm, the axillary cavity, and in some cases the chest. Moxibustion: Use 3 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick for 10~20 minutes.
Precautions. See HT 4 (líng dào).
Annotation. This point originated in Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces (QiānJīn Yào Fāng, 千金要方). Yīn refers to the hand shaoyin channel; xì means cleft, referring to the deep region where qi and blood gather. This is the xi-cleft point, so it is called yin cleft.
HT 7 (Shén Mén, 神门)
Shu-stream point; yuan-source point
Location. On the posteromedial aspect of the wrist radial to the fexor carpi ulnaris tendon at the palmar wrist crease (Pic. 3-33).
Location method. With the patient’s wrist bent, the point is in the depression radial to the proximal border of the pisiform bone on the palmar wrist crease.
Actions. Calm the heart and mind, unblock channels, and quicken collaterals.
Indications. Cardiac pain, palpitations, vexation, forgetfulness, insomnia, dementia, depression, mania, epilepsy, headache; dizziness, yellowish eyes, dry throat, loss of voice, arm pain and numbness.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: 1. Needle 0.3~0.5 cun perpendicularly to produce local soreness and distention. Numbness and electric sensations can radiate toward the fnger tips. 2. Needle 1.0~ 1.5 cun transversely upward, penetrating HT 4 (líng dào). Local soreness, distention, and numbness can radiate toward the fnger tips. Moxibustion: Use 1~3 cones of cone moxibustion or use a moxa stick for 5~15 minutes.
Precautions. See HT 4 (líng dào).
Annotation. This point originated in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion(Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă Yĭ Jīng, 针灸甲乙经). Shén means spirit; the heart is the monarch of all organs and the palace of the spirit. This point is the gate where heart qi exits and enters, so it is called spirit gate.
Modern clinical observation and research. In a case study on chronic insomnia, 47 patients received four courses of EA at sì shén cōng (EX-HN 1), PC 6 (nèi guān), HT 7 (shén mén), SP 6 (sānyīn jiāo), KI 3 (tài xī), KI 6 (zhào hăi), and BL 62 (shēn mài). The quality and nature of subjects’sleep was evaluated with the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and polysomnograms. EA prolonged slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep and improved sleep quality and daytime functioning. Recurrence rate was about 23% after a month.1
HT 8 (Shào Fŭ, 少府)
Ying-spring point
Location. On the palm of the hand in the depression between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, proximal to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint (Pic. 3-34).
Location method. The point is where the tip of the little fnger rests when a fst is made.
1 Ruan JW, Wang CH, Liao XX, Yan YS, Hu YH, et al. Electroacupuncture treatment of chronic insomniacs. Chin Med J (Engl). 2009; 122(23): 2869-73.
Actions. Clear heart heat and drain fire, rectify qi, and quicken collaterals.
Indications. Palpitations, chest pain, uncontrollable laughter, sorrow, fear, easily frightened; vaginal itching, prolapse of the uterus, vaginal pain; heat sensation in the palms, little fnger spasms, nerve pain in arm; abscesses, ulcers.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: Needle perpendicularly 0.3~0.5 cun. Local distention and pain will radiate toward the elbow or little finger. Moxibustion: Use 3~5 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick for 5~7 minutes.
Precautions. Be cautious when treating pregnant patients. Scarring moxibustion is not suitable.
Annotation. This point originated in The SystematicClassic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă YĭJīng, 针灸甲乙经). Shào refers to the hand shaoyin; fŭ means gathering place. This point is where the channel qi and blood gathers, so it is called mansion of the shaoyin.
HT 9 (Shào Chōng, 少冲)
Jing-well point
Location. On the little fnger radial to the distal phalanx, 0.1 cun proximal-lateral to the radial corner of the little fngernail at the intersection of a line along the radial border of the nail and one along the base of the nail (Pic. 3-34).
Actions. Clear heat, extinguish wind, awaken the mind, open the orifices, rectify blood, and unblock channels.
Indications. Cardiac pain, palpitations, depression, mania, loss of consciousness, sorrow, fear, easily frightened, abnormal joy and anger; swelling and pain in the elbow and arm, spasm causing inability to fex the hand, heat sensation in the palms, yellowish eyes, heat sensation in the mouth, throat dryness and pain; febrile diseases.
Manipulation. Acupuncture: 1. Needle shallowly 0.1~0.2 cun to produce local distention and pain. 2. Bleed with a three-edged needle. Moxibustion: Use 3~5 cones of cone moxibustion, or use a moxa stick for 5~10 minutes.
Precautions. See HT 8 (shào fŭ).
Annotation. This point originated in The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă Yĭ Jīng, 针灸甲乙经). Shào refers to the hand shaoyin; chōng means surging. This is the jing-well point, where heart channel qi rushes out to interact with the hand taiyang channel, so it is called surging shaoyin.