Jing-Luo System
Traveling course of the regular meridian
It starts from the heart, descends through the diaphragm, and communicates with the small intestine. The branch from the heart system runs up and connects with the eye system.
The straight portion from the heart system goes to the lung, descends to the axilla, runs along the posterior portion of the medial aspect of the upper limb, and ends on the radial side of the tip of the little finger at HT 9 Shaochong (少冲) to link with the Small Intestine Meridian.
Traveling course of the divergent meridian
It diverges from the regular Heart Meridian at the axillary fossa between the two tendons, enters the chest, and connects with the heart. It then goes upward to the throat, emerges on the face, and joins the Small Intestine Meridian at the inner canthus.
Traveling course of the collateral
It separates from the regular Heart Meridian at HT 5 Tongli (通里), 1 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist. It connects with the Small Intestine Meridian and follows the Heart Meridian to enter the heart. It then runs to the root of the tongue and the eye system.
The muscle region
It starts on the radial side of the little finger and binds at the pisiform bone of the hand. It then ascends to knot at the medial aspect of the elbow. It runs upward to enter the axilla, crosses the muscle region of the Hand Taiyin Meridian (Lung), reaches the breast interiorly, and binds in the chest. Finally, it descends along the diaphragm to connect with the umbilicus.
The cutaneous regions
Point System
There are nine points on the Heart Meridian, among which the points underlined are commonly used. The range of treatment of the heart points includes diseases of the heart and chest, and mental illnesses and disorders along the traveling course of the meridian. Examples refer to cardiac pain, a sensation of oppression in the chest, palpitations, mania, insomnia, dryness of the throat, pain in the medial aspect of the arms, and a feverish sensation in the palms.
HT 1 Jiquan (极泉)
Name: Uppermost Spring. It is the first and highest point on the meridian, and the Qi, emerging from this point in the deep axillary fossa, is like a spring.
Special Group: None.
Location: With the arm adducted, it is in the center of the axilla, on the medial side of the axillary artery.
Actions: Activates blood, soothes the chest, and unblocks the meridian.
Indications: Cardiac pain, dryness in the throat, pain in the costal region, Luo Li or scrofula, pain in the shoulder and arm.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly or obliquely 0.3–0.5 cun. Avoid puncturing the artery.
HT 2 Qingling (青灵)
Name: Effective Cyan. “Qing” or green is considered the color of pain. “Ling” means “effective” here. Thus, the point is effective in treating pain.
Special Group: None.
Location: Three cun above the medial end of the transverse cubital crease, on the line connecting HT 1 Jiquan and HT 3 Shaohai, in the groove medial to the biceps brachii muscle.
Actions: Dispels wind and relieves pain.
Indications: Headache with chills, yellowish discoloration of the eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain in the shoulder and arm.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 3 Shaohai (少海)
Name: Lesser Sea. “Shao” refers to the name of the meridian (Shaoyin) and “Hai” (“sea”) suggests the special group of He-Sea points to which it belongs.
Special Group: He-Sea Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: With the elbow flexed, it is located in the depression between the medial end of the transverse cubital crease and the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Actions: Opens the heart orifices and calms the spirit.
Indications: Cardiac pain, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm, Luo Li or scrofula, headache, pain in the nape, pain in the axilla and hypochondriac region.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5–1 cun.
HT 4 Lingdao (灵道)
Name: Spirit’s Pathway. The Heart dominates the spirit, and the point’s function is closely related to the spirit.
Special Group: Jing-River Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: 1.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist, on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.
Actions: Calms the spirit.
Indications: Cardiac pain, spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm, sudden loss of voice.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 5 Tongli(通里)
Name: Connecting the Interior. It is a Luo-Connecting point through which the collateral of the Heart Meridian connects with the Hand Taiyang Meridian.
Special Group: Luo-Connecting Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: One cun above the transverse crease of the wrist, on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.
Actions: Calms the spirit, stabilizes the blood, subdues wind, and harmonizes Yin.
Indications: Palpitations, sudden loss of voice, stiffness of the tongue with difficult speech, pain in the wrist and arm.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 6 Yinxi (阴郄)
Name: Yin Cleft. The point belongs to the Xi-Cleft group and is on a Yin meridian.
Special Group: Xi-Cleft Point.
Location: 0.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist, on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle().
Actions: Calms the spirit, nourishes Yin and blood, consolidates the exterior, and relieves night sweats.
Indications: Cardiac pain, palpitations, night sweats with bone-steaming, vomiting blood, epistaxis, sudden loss of voice.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 7 Shenmen(神门)
Name: Spirit’s Gate. This is a key point for treating disorders of the spirit.
Special Group: (1) Shu-Stream Point of the Heart Meridian; (2) Yuan-Primary Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: On the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist, in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.
Actions: Calms the spirit and regulates the heart.
Indications: Cardiac pain, irritability, palpitations, poor memory, insomnia, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), epilepsy, pain in the chest and hypochondriac region.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 8 Shaofu(少府)
Name: Lesser Palace. “Shao” again is the name of the meridian, and the point is considered the palace or dwelling place of the spirit.
Special Group: Ying-Spring Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: On the palm between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, where the tip of the little finger rests when a fist is made.
Actions: Clears heat from the heart and regulates the spirit.
Indications: Palpitations, chest pain, dysuria, enuresis, pain and pruritus of the external genitalia, spasmodic pain of the little finger.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3–0.5 cun.
HT 9 Shaochong (少冲)
Name: Lesser Surging. It is a Jing-Well point with abundant surging Qi. “Shao” is the name of the meridian.
Special Group: Jing-Well Point of the Heart Meridian.
Location: On the radial side of the little finger, at the dorsal aspect of the finger, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail.
Actions: Opens the heart orifices, resuscitates, and clears heart fire.
Indications: Palpitations, cardiac pain, pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, Dian Kuang or Manic–Depressive Syndrome (bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), febrile disorders, unconsciousness.
Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.1 cun or prick to induce bleeding.