Atlas of Acupuncture

4.5 The Heart Channel System – Hand shaoyin(shou shao yin jing luo)

● Connects the Heart primary channel with the neck. Points on

the Heart primary channel can be used to treat disorders of the

throat and vocal chords such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, etc.

Use points such as HE-5, HE-8.

● Strengthens the connection between the Heart and the inner

canthus of the eye. Heart points can thus be used for disorders

of the eyes.

4.5.3 The Heart Sinew Channel (shou

shao yin jing jin)

Clinical importance

Pathology: Stiffness, cramps and pain along the pathway of the

Heart sinew channel. Internal cramping in the cardiac region, for

example disorders with angina-like pain due to stress, hiatal her-

nia and disorders of the stomach.

Indication: Mainly for bi-syndromes (painful obstruction syn-

drome) along the pathway of the Heart channel. The area cov-

ered by the Heart sinew channel is larger than that covered by

the Heart primary channel. This explains why Heart primary

channel points can also be used for disorders and diseases of the

thorax and the chest, for example pain and tightness in the chest,

mastitis and mastopathy. Since the Heart sinew channel also

penetrates the diaphragm, it is also indicated for disorders such

as hiccups, acid reflux and oesophagitis. Due to its connection

with the umbilical region, the Heart sinew channel has a direct

link to the Original Qi (yuan qi): if the Heart (shen) has suffered

a shock, for example due to fainting or collapse, direct moxibus-

tion at Ren-8can be very helpful.

4.5.4 The Heart luo-Connecting Vessel

System (shou shao yin luo mai)

G.B.-22

(Meeting point

of the three

hand Yin

sinew channels)

HE-3

HE-7

Pathway

The Heart sinew channel begins on the radial aspect of the little

finger

➡continues along the anterior and radial aspect of the little fin-

ger and the hand

➡binds (jie) at the pisiform bone at HE-7(shenmen)

➡ascends the anterior and ulnar aspect of the forearm, binds

(jie) at the medial epicondyle at HE-3(shaohai) and contin-

ues to the axillary region, where it meets the Lung sinew

channel, binds (jie) in the axilla and meets the other hand Yin

sinew channels near ➞G.B.-22(yuanye)

➡from here it continues at a deeper level, crosses the thoracic

region, binds (jie) at ➞Ren-17(shanzhong), descends to the

upper cardiac orifice, penetrates the diaphragm and termi-

nates in the umbilical region.

HE-5

Pathway

The HE luo-connecting vessel separates from the Heart primary

channel at its luo-connecting point HE-5(tongli) (➞8.1.2).

It forms a three-dimensional reticulate network, dividing into

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