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.