40. Heart and Small Intestine points
Heart points (Table 40.1)
The primary pathway of the Heart channel
The deep pathway of the Heart originates in the heart organ and ascends along the aorta through the lungs to the axilla, where it becomes superficial. It then runs along the medial aspect of the arm from the axilla to the little finger. Here it connects with the Small Intestine channel at St 1.
| Yuan source point | Heart 7 |
| Luo junction point | Heart 5 |
| Tonification point | Heart 9 |
| Sedation point | Heart 7 |
| Back shu point | Bladder 15 |
| Outer Back shu point | Bladder 44 |
| Horary point | Heart 8 |
| Xi cleft point | Heart 6 |
| Entry point | Heart 1 |
| Exit point | Heart 9 |
| Window of the Sky | None |
Heart 1 Ji Quan, Supreme Spring: Entry point
Needle depth 0.5–1.0 cun; moxa cones 3–5
The word ‘supreme’ in the name refers to the importance placed on the Heart amongst the Organs. ‘The Heart holds the office of lord and sovereign. The radiance of the shen stems from it’ (Larre and Rochat de la Vallée, 1992b, p. 33). This point is like a spring of qi that can be drawn on to nourish the Heart on all levels, especially when a patient is upset, anxious or distressed. It may be used early on in treatment if command points have not affected the patient’s spirit. When used it can have a direct and immediate effect on the Heart, enabling a patient to regain equilibrium and calmness. It can also be used when sadness has weakened the qi and can help to summon the qi back to its normal movement. It enables a patient to open the heart and connect to the spirit. This is a very reliable and effective point to strengthen and nourish the Heart.
This point is also commonly used as the Entry point and is linked to the Exit point of the Spleen, Sp 21. It is interesting to note that qi gong and meditation practitioners keep this area relaxed and open while practising. They thereby allow the qi to flow freely from the heart to the arms and hands. This allows the hands to stay warm and the heart to become relaxed and settled.
A male patient in his forties had started getting severe palpitations. He attributed the onset of symptoms to his inner conflict over whether to stay in his marriage. He was a Fire CF and treatment on all four of the Fire Organs helped settle the Heart somewhat. Ht 1 was used at the third treatment and produced a very substantial pulse change. His symptoms were very much better after the treatment. For better or for worse, he left his wife a couple of months later.
Heart 2 Qing Ling, Blue-Green Spirit
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
Qing (inadequately translated as blue-green) is the colour of living vegetation and is closely related to the word sheng or creation (as in the sheng cycle). Following on from the Supreme Spring, this point gives life and vitality to the Heart, specifically the ling. Regrettably it is not a very reliable point, often yielding little change. It is situated on a level with the other points that affect the middle dan tian and is sometimes said to be forbidden to needle.
Heart 3 Shao Hai, Lesser Sea: Water point
Needle depth 0.5–1.0 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This is the Water point on the Heart. Water controls Fire and this point will cool and calm the Heart if a patient is agitated, restless or has too much heat. This point can also be used to transfer qi from the Kidneys to the Heart across the ke cycle.
Heart 4 Ling Dao, Spirit Path: Metal point
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This is another point on the Heart channel with ling in its name. The dao means the way. In this context dao can either be translated as ‘the pathway of the Heart channel’ or, more profoundly, as ‘the way of the dao’. It is especially indicated when the spirit is agitated from deficiency or if the patient feels miserable and sad and needs to be reconnected to their path.
It is also indicated if people suddenly lose their voices or are struck dumb – especially if there is an emotional cause such as a sudden shock, fright or agitation. This point is sometimes used in combination with Heart 7.
Heart 5 Tong Li, Penetrating the Interior: luo junction point
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
This point is the luo connecting point and this may partially account for the name, as tong can also mean connecting. This point has a long history of being used to treat the spirit. The Ode to the Jade Dragon says of this point: ‘Tong Li treats a frightenable Heart’ (Deadman et al., 1998, p. 214). It is especially used when the Heart has been unsettled by shock and trauma and it can bring stability and strength to the shen. It can also be used when a patient is easily startled and disturbed emotionally. Using this point enables the qi to penetrate deeper inside to affect the patient’s spirit.
This point can also balance the Heart and Small Intestine Organs when used as the luo connecting point. In this case it is often used with SI 4 or SI 7. Combining this point with the Small Intestine points brings stability to the Element, especially when the two paired Organs are out of harmony.
The point is also powerful physically, with a particular effect on the tongue and speech. It can be used for stuttering and many other speech disorders arising from the Heart.
Heart 6 Yin Xi Yin, Cleft: xi cleft (accumulation) point
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 3–5
The name partly refers to the fact that is the xi cleft point. It is commonly used for more acute conditions affecting the Heart, especially when the patient is restless, anxious or agitated due to the qi floating on the surface. Using this point helps the qi to settle and calm. This point also has an alternative name of shi gong – stone palace. The Chinese use the term ‘stone house’ to indicate something firm and enduring. This can also indicate that the point is where something firm and enduring can be found (Hicks, 1999, p. 21).
Heart 7 Shen Men, Spirit Gate: shu stream point, Earth point, yuan source point, sedation point
Needle depth 0.3–0.5 cun; moxa cones 5–7
This is the most frequently used point on the Heart channel. It is a very flexible point with a wide variety of uses for any condition of the Heart. Its name, Spirit Gate, serves to give some insight into its ability to strongly affect the Heart spirit. Shen Men was also a name given by many Daoists to the eyes (Hicks, 1999, p. 21) and it is through the eyes that the practitioner can notice the vitality and brightness of a person’s spirit.
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