❤️

Understanding the Heart Channel in TCM

Nov 2, 2024

Han Shao Yin Heart Channel Lecture Notes

Introduction

  • Discusses the functions of the heart and the heart channel in Chinese medicine.
  • Based on Chapter 8 of the Su Wen, where the heart is described as the emperor of the body.
  • The heart governs all bodily functions and houses spirit clarity (shen ming).
    • Spirit clarity is the intelligence to recognize and interact with the environment.
    • Disruptions lead to shen disturbances, ranging from unconsciousness to mild anxiety.
    • Most heart channel points aim to calm the shen.

Functions of the Heart

  1. Commands Blood and Vessels

    • Circulates blood throughout the body.
    • Treats chest pain, irregular heart rhythms, palpitations.
  2. Stores the Shen

    • Shen returns to the heart for peaceful sleep.
    • Used to treat sleep issues like insomnia or dream-disturbed sleep.
    • Differentiation in treatment based on root causes like qi, blood, or yin deficiency.
  3. Opens to the Tongue

    • Diagnostic and treatment use for tongue and voice disorders.
    • Addresses issues like aphasia, stuttering.
  4. Governs Sweating

    • Night sweats often treated with heart channel points due to yin deficiency.
  5. Manifests in the Complexion

    • Observing complexion aids diagnosis.
    • Treats conditions like facial redness or expressionless face.
  6. Emotion of Joy

    • Balances other emotions, but imbalances can cause mania or depression.
    • Points can treat emotional extremes.
  7. Affected by Fright

    • Fright affects heart, leading to palpitations, flushed face, and loss of interaction ability.
  8. Connection to the Uterus

    • Through baomai channel, treats uterine issues.

Channel Pathways

  • Channels: chest to hand, hand to face, face to foot, foot to chest.
  • Heart channel begins at the heart, unique among channels.
  • Pathways:
    • Blood vessels around the heart, connecting with small intestine, eye tissue.
    • Connects to lung, but not clinically significant for lung disorders.
    • Emerges at axilla, runs down arm to little finger.
    • Pathologies include treating cardiac pain, night sweats, throat issues.

Channels and Connections

  1. Luo-Connecting Channel

    • Starts at heart 5, connects to small intestine.
    • Treats voice issues, chest fullness.
  2. Divergent Channel

    • Connects to the heart and small intestine, goes to the eye.
    • Used in head and face qi-blood issues.
  3. Sinew Channel

    • Follows primary channel, goes to umbilicus.

Heart Channel Points

Heart 1 (Ji Quan)

  • Location: Axilla.
  • Functions: Unbinds chest, treats shoulder/arm pain, clears deficiency heat.

Heart 2

  • Not a significant point clinically.

Heart 3 (Shaohai)

  • He Sea Point for clearing heat, treats mania, poor memory.
  • Good for elbow and tremors.
  • Not primarily used for phlegm.

Heart 4 (Ling Dao)

  • Jing River Point, treats voice changes, arm pain.

Heart 5

  • Luo connecting point, treats emotional and voice disorders, urinary issues, and uterine bleeding.
  • Highly regarded, effective for multiple conditions.

Heart 6 (Yin Xi)

  • Tonifies heart yin, treats acute pain, blood disorders.

Heart 7 (Shen Men)

  • Yuan source point, calms shen, treats insomnia and anxiety.

Heart 8

  • Ying Spring Point, clears heat, treats small intestine heat issues, regulates heart qi.

Heart 9

  • Jing Well Point, revives consciousness, treats tongue/eye issues, cardiac pain.

Conclusion

  • Overview of the heart channel functions and points.
  • Encouragement to visit TCMstudy.net for quizzes and further learning resources.