Heart Meridian (手少阴心经)

Meridian: Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin   

International Code: HT (Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin)   

Circulation Time: Wushi (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)   

Connected Zang-Fu: Pertains to the Heart, connects to the Small Intestine   

Meridian with Same Name: Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin   

Interior-Exterior Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang   

Source: Lingshu · Jingmai (Spiritual Pivot · Meridians)

Brief Introduction   

The Heart Meridian is one of the twelve regular meridians, one of the three Yin meridians of the hand. Superiorly, it connects to the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin inside the heart; inferiorly, it meets the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang at the tip of the little finger. The meridian runs along the posterior border of the medial aspect of the upper limb and the radial side of the little finger. The first point is Jiquan (HT1), the last point is Shaochong (HT9), with 9 points on each side. It mainly treats disorders related to the "Heart": yellow eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain and coldness of the posterior medial aspect of the upper arm and forearm, and heat in the palm.

Point Descriptions

1.   Jiquan (HT1) – cardiac pain, palpitations, shoulder and arm pain, hypochondriac pain, brachial plexus injury, axillary odor, flaccid paralysis of the upper limb

2.   Qingling (HT2) – headache, shivering, hypochondriac pain, shoulder and arm pain

3.   Shaohai (HT3) – He-Sea point – cardiac pain, hysteria, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm, arm numbness and hand tremor, head and neck pain, axillary and hypochondriac pain, scrofula

4.   Lingdao (HT4) – Jing-River point – cardiac pain, sadness, fearfulness, and inappropriate laughter, sudden loss of voice, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm

5.   Tongli (HT5) – Luo-Connecting point – palpitations, severe palpitations, stiff tongue with aphasia, sudden loss of voice, wrist and arm pain

6.   Yinxi (HT6) – Xi-Cleft point – cardiac pain, palpitations, night sweats due to bone steaming, hematemesis, epistaxis

7.   Shenmen (HT7) – Shu-Stream point and Yuan-Primary point – cardiac pain, vexation, palpitations, severe palpitations, poor memory, insomnia, dementia, manic-depressive epilepsy, hypertension, chest and hypochondriac pain

8.   Shaofu (HT8) – Ying-Spring point – chest disorders, palpitations, chest pain, genital itching, genital pain, carbuncles and sores, spasmodic pain of the little finger

9.   Shaochong (HT9) – Jing-Well point – palpitations, cardiac pain, mania, coma, chest and hypochondriac pain