Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin is one of the twelve meridians, one of the meridians of the hand three-yin, and corresponding the Small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang, the upper part connects the spleen meridian of foot-Taiyin to the heart, and the lower part connects the small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang to the little finger. The meridians are distributed under the armpits, the inner rear edge of the upper limbs, the middle of the palm and the radial side of the little finger of the hand.There are 9 acupoints on one side of this meridian,including: Jiquan, Qingling, Shaohai, Lingdao, Tongli, Yinxi, Shenmen, Shaofu, and Shaochong.
Heart Meridian Pathway
Heart meridian starts from the heart,penetrates the diaphragm downwards, and connects with the small intestine. Its branches, from the heart system upwards, along the upper esophagus on both sides, and connects the eyes system (the tissue that connects the eyeball to the brain),the outside of Heart meridian starts from the armpit (Jiquan),along front of the upper limbs, travels on the inner side of the meridian of hand-Taiyin and the pericardium meridian of hand-Jueyin, descend the elbow (Shaohai), along the ulnar side of the forearm, reaches the protrusion (Shenmen), enters the palm and goes along the radial side of the little finger(Shaochong). The meridian-qi is connected with the small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang.
Heart Meridian Acupuncture Point Location
HT 1 Acupuncture Point(Jiquan)
Location:In the center of the axilla on the radial side of the axillary artery.
Usage:
- Frozen shoulder.
- Pain in the cardiac region – heart pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, palpitations.
- Regulate Qi flow from the torso to the arm and vice versa – cold, numbness, pain in shoulder a/or arm.
- Pain or distention of the upper thoracic area.
HT 2 Acupuncture Point(Qingling)
Location:With the elbow flexed, 3 cun above HT 3 on the ulnar side of the biceps brachii in the medial groove.
Usage:
- Local point – in many classics needling this point is Not allowed., however, Moxibustion is available.
- Pain in the shoulder or arm. Pain in the lateral chest and/or hypochondriac regions.
HT 3 Acupuncture Point(Shaohai)
Location:With the elbow flexed, between the ulnar end of the cubital crease and the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Usage:
- Psychiatric nervous system diseases: neurasthenia, schizophrenia, headache, dizziness, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, ulnar neuritis, ulnar nerve palsy.
- Respiratory system diseases: tuberculosis, pleurisy.
- Motor system diseases: stiff neck, forearm numbness and soft tissue disorders around the elbow joint, elbow and arm contracture, paralysis of the lower limbs.
- Others: angina pectoris, lymphadenitis, boils, acute hyoid muscle paralysis or atrophy,etc.
HT 4 Acupuncture Point(Lingdao)
Location:1.5 cun above the wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, on the HT 3 – HT 7 line.
Usage:
- Local point for pain in the elbow and/or arm.
- Chest pain that perhaps worsens with emotional distress.
- Restless Zang Disorder (fluctuating emotions, mania, depression, anxiety, insomnia), various emotional disturbances.
- Sudden loss of voice.
HT 5 Acupuncture Point(Tongli)
Location:1 cun above the wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, on the HT 3 – HT 7 line.
Usage:
- Excessive bleeding or menstruation from heat in the Blood.
- Heat effecting the SI and leading to urinary symptoms – incontinence, enuresis.
- Speech or vocal disorders – aphasia (post-stroke), stiff tongue, stuttering, sudden loss of voice, sore throat.
- Spirit disorders and related physical manifestations, anxiety or palpitations, arrhythmia, nervousness, depression – although the point is generally not used for emotional disorders involving sleep such as insomnia, HT 7 is used more often for these more “physical” manifestations.
- Local point for wrist, elbow and/or hand pain – perhaps more so for weakness than simple pain.
Location:0.5 cun above the wrist crease on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, on the HT 3 – HT 7 line.
Usage:
- Acute chest and/or heart pain from Blood stasis. Palpitations, although HT 5 may be better.
- Night sweats, Steaming Bone Disorders, tonify Yin and Blood. Often used with SI 3 for nightsweats.
- Counterflow qi – panic attacks, vomiting blood, nosebleeds.
- Acute emotional disturbances – mania, anxiety, shock, sudden loss of voice.
HT 7 Acupuncture Point(Shenmen)
Location:Shenmen (HT7) acupoint is located at the wrist crease, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, between the ulna and the pisiform bones.
Usage:
- Manifestations – insomnia, muddled thinking.
- Heart palpitations from any etiology as well as irregular heart beat, pounding heart, angina.
- Tonify deficiencies of the HT Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang.
- Emotional issues, especially those with related sleep or thinking
- Heart and Phlegm fire leading to insomnia, anxiety, mania.
- Physical responses to emotional stimuli – anxiety w/palpitations, nausea w/panic a/or fear.
- Tong Ren/Tam Healing System: Emotional/Psychological issues, w/PC 7 for sweat problems (too much or too little).
HT 8 Acupuncture Point(Shaofu)
Location:When a loose fist is made where the tip of the little finger rests between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones.
Usage:
- Local point for arm pain, elbow pain, and/or pain in the pinky finger.
- Heart Qi Deficiency – palpitations, fear, hot palms.
- Emotional disorders – although PC 8 may be a better choice.
- HT Fire effecting the mouth – ulcers, canker sores, etc. – although PC 7 or PC 8 may be a better choice.
- HT Fire effecting the SI effecting the UB, heat descending to the lower jiao – incontinence, difficult urination, fungal infections, genital itching.
- Channel issues, sore throat, tongue stiffness, pain along the ulnar aspect of the arms.
HT 9 Acupuncture Point(Shaochong)
Location:0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the radial side of the little finger.
Usage:
- Can be bled or needled for emotional disturbances – strong restlessness, anxiety, panic attacks, manic depression, epilepsy, etc.
- Emergency heart attack point – strong stimulation.
- Restore consciousness – heart attack, stroke.
- Jing Well Point – clear heat a/or obstruction from the opposite end of the channel, eye pain a/or redness, mouth ulcerations, sores.
- Fullness below the heart – stagnation, pain a/or distention in the HT area.
