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Location Guides: |
He-Sea and Water point
Father point of the Heart channel
Binding point of the hand Shaoyin Sinews
Midway between Queze P-3 and the medial epicondyle of the humerus, at the medial end of the transverse cubital crease
Oblique insertion distally or proximally, or directed towards Quchi L.I.-11, 0.5 - 1.5 cun
According to a number of classical sources this point is contraindicated to moxibustion
"The Shaoyin usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The hand Yin and Yang receive their Qi via nearby paths so their Qi arrive swiftly. The depth of piercing must not exceed 2 fen and must not remain inserted for longer than one exhalation" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
"It is needled to a depth of five fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).
Calms the Shen, transforms Phlegm and clears Heat
Activates the channel and alleviates pain
Shared with Xianggu SI-2 and balanced by ䷾ (Rangu Kid-2 or Kunlun Bl-60).
Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.
Superficial Innervation: Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm from C8 - T1
Dermatome Segment: T1
Listed in the Wu Bei Zhi 武備志 (Treatise on Armament Technology) by Mao Yuanyi 茅元儀 (1621), Article 21: Delayed Death Touches with Twelve-Hour (Shichen 時辰) Diagrams. This point along with Huangshu Kid-16, Shenque Ren-8 and Qianding Du-21 are associated with Wei 未 Ram (1-3 pm) and if struck during this time is said to cause death within one year from trauma to the basilic artery. In Article 24: Bronze Man Statue, which divides the body into zones associated with the Twelve-Hour branches (Shichen 時辰) going from top downwards, the lower bicep and elbow (He-3, SJ-10, SI 8, LI 10, LI 11, LI 12 & Lu 5) and the xiphoid process (Juque Ren-14) are the vital points of Wu 午 Horse (11 am - 1 pm) and considered most vulnerable to a palm thrust during this time (McCarthy, 2016, Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat).
Besides local tendon damage, this point can stop the heart and damage the nervous system causing long term nervous and emotional disorders. Long term, as the Water point of the Fire channel, damage here left untreated will unbalance the Yin/Yang relationship throughout the body causing their complexion to appear aged prematurely. If struck in a proximal way, will cause high blood pressure; If struck straight in will cause the heart to weaken over time (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).
In seizing martial arts (Qin Na) this point is a dividing muscle/tendon point (fen jin, 分筋) and cavity press point (Dian Xue, 點穴) gripped with the fingers and may be combined with Quchi LI-11 causing pain of the arm or numbness of the whole arm. Pressed with significant power it may cause a heart attack (Yang, 1995, Tai Chi Chin Na; Yang, 2004, Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na, 2nd Edition)
In five element acupuncture, as father point of the Heart channel this can control excesses in the Heart.
Ling Shu Ch. 71, On Evil Visitors, says that when a depletion evil is in the Lung and Heart it remains in two elbows. Yuen's theory of the Divergent meridians suggests that they store pathogens at the major joints, depleting our resources while they do, which would make this a potential point for for the Heart/Small Intestine Divergent, although elsewhere in the chapter is says that the Heart is only treated through Shenmen He-7.
Medieval phlebotomy point (Hans von Gersdorff, 1517: Feldtbüch der Wundartzney, www.nlm.nih.gov)
Galen mentions the basilic vein at the inner elbow and therefore this point specifically for disorders of the lower neck and the cephalic (humeral) vein at Chize Lu-5 for disorders of the upper neck, face and head (ibid.: p.91).
Hippocrates mentions venesection at the internal vein of the elbow, probably at this point, for dysuria in his Aphorisms and on the left side in disease of the spleen and the right side for hepatitis in his Internal Diseases (ibid.: p.114-115).
The Appendix to the Regimen on Acute Diseases attributed to Hippocrates suggests bleeding the internal vein of the arm (here or perhaps Zhizheng SI-7) for the pain of pneumonia or pleuritis that spreads up to the clavicle, around the breast or to the arm, or from the right arm in cases of loss of speech in acute conditions (ibid.: p.117).
In Tibetan medicine:
Bleeding point (AMNH, Tibetan Medical Paintings)
Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.
For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here
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