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The meridian of Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) originates from within the heart, emerges to connect with the Heart System (tissues connecting the heart), descends through the diaphragm, and links with the Small Intestine (as the Small Intestine is the interior-exterior pair of the Heart, the meridian descends through the diaphragm to link with it). Its branch arises from the Heart System, ascends along the sides of the pharynx, and connects with the Eye System (the connection between the eyeball and the brain). The main trunk, returning from the Heart System, ascends into the Lung, then descends to emerge from the axilla, follows the posterior medial border of the upper arm, running posterior to the meridians of Hand-Taiyin (Lung) and Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) (while Hand-Taiyin and Hand-Jueyin run anteriorly, Hand-Shaoyin runs posteriorly). It descends along the medial border of the elbow (where Shaohai [HT3] is located at the medial end of the transverse cubital crease), continues along the posterior medial border of the forearm, reaches the posterior aspect of the wrist (Lingdao [HT4] is located 1.5 cun proximal to the wrist crease using equal-body measurement), arrives at the end of the styloid process of the ulna (the boundary of Shenmen [HT7]), enters the posterior medial aspect of the palm (where Shaofu [HT8] is located), follows the medial side of the little finger to its tip (Shaochong [HT9] is located here; on the medial side of the little finger, Hand-Shaoyin thus transitions to Hand-Taiyang [Small Intestine]).

When the meridian undergoes change (Hand-Shaoyin typically has less blood and more Qi; if Qi becomes diseased first, this is called "Is Dong" disease), symptoms include dryness of the throat, heart pain, thirst with desire to drink, which is termed "Arm Jue" (Arm Reversal).

This meridian governs diseases generated by the Heart itself (when blood is diseased due to Qi, it is a disease generated by Qi, hence called "Suo Sheng Bing"). Symptoms include yellowing of the eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain along the posterior medial aspect of the arm, and excessive heat in the palm. If the pulse at Cun Kou (radial artery) is twice as large as Ren Ying (carotid artery), it indicates excess; if deficient, Cun Kou is smaller than Ren Ying (The Heart is the Sovereign Lord, solid and resistant to external pathogens; if pathogens invade the Heart directly, death ensues. Existing pathologies are actually in the Pericardium. Therefore, treatment targets the Pericardium meridian without severing the connection to the Sovereign. Thus, the *Ling Shu* states: "Shaoyin does not heal from external meridian invasion," referring precisely to this principle).

The collateral vessel of Hand-Shaoyin is named Tongli (通里), located one cun distal to the wrist crease, diverging and ascending along the meridian into the heart, connecting with the root of the tongue, and belonging to the Eye System. In excess conditions, it causes distension and fullness in the chest and diaphragm; in deficiency conditions, it causes inability to speak. Treatment involves needling one cun proximal to the wrist, where the collateral diverges to the Taiyang meridian.

The sinews of Hand-Taiyin (Lung) originate from the medial side of the little finger, knot at the styloid process, ascend to knot at the medial border of the elbow, enter the wrist, intersect with Hand-Taiyin, run alongside the inner breast, and knot in the chest. They follow the贲 (Bren/epiglottis area) downward to tie with the umbilicus. Pathological manifestations include internal tension, a Fu Liang (hidden beam mass) under the heart, and lower formation of an elbow cord. Symptoms at affected sites include support sensations, spasms, and pain. Treatment employs burning needle (Fan Zhen) rapid puncture, taking efficacy as the count and pain points as acupoints. If it develops into Fu Liang with hemoptysis and purulent sputum, it is incurable and fatal. Sinew diseases caused by cold result in body reversal and tendon spasm; those caused by heat result in flaccidity and relaxation, leading to impotence and dysfunction. Yang excess causes body reversal; Yin excess causes flexion inability. Quenching needling treats cold-induced spasm. Heat causes flaccidity and should not be treated with burning needles. This condition is named Ji Dong Bi (Winter Solstice Bi).

Heart disease presents with pain in the chest, distension and fullness in the hypochondrium, pain below the hypochondrium, pain in the chest, back, and scapular region, and pain in the medial aspect of both arms. Deficiency manifests as abdominal distension and pain radiating from the hypochondrium to the waist. Treatment involves selecting the Hand-Shaoyin and Hand-Taiyang meridians, and bleeding the sublingual vessels. For variant conditions, bleed from Xi-Cleft points. Heart Heat Disease begins with dysphoria, followed by fever after several days. When heat struggles with righteous Qi, sudden heart pain, irritability, frequent vomiting, headache, facial redness, and anhidrosis occur. Symptoms worsen on Ren-Gui days (Water days) and sweat profusely on Bing-Ding days (Fire days). If Qi rebels, death occurs on Ren-Gui days. Treatment involves needling Hand-Shaoyin and Hand-Taiyang meridians.

The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian travels from the abdomen to the hand, measuring three chi five cun in length, totaling seven chi for both sides. It contains eighteen acupoints in total:
Jiquan (HT1) x2, Qingling (HT12) x2, Shaohai (HT3) x2, Lingdao (HT4) x2, Tongli (HT5) x2, Yinxi (HT6) x2, Shenmen (HT7) x2, Shaofu (HT8) x2, Shaochong (HT9) x2.