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Figure of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian

The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian runs from the abdomen to the chest, and then from the chest to the hand. This meridian is characterized by abundant blood and scarce Qi. It originates at Jiquan (HT1) and terminates at Shaochong (HT9), comprising nine acupoints on each side, totaling eighteen acupoints bilaterally. The heart resembles an unopened lotus flower; it is located below the lungs and above the diaphragm, attached to the fifth thoracic vertebra of the spine.

As one of the Zang organs, the Heart connects downward through the diaphragm and links with and surrounds the Small Intestine.

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "The pulse of the Hand-Shaoyin [Heart] originates in the heart, emerges to belong to the Xinxi (heart system/connective tissue), descends through the diaphragm, and links with the small intestine." Mr. Hua (Shou) explained: There are two parts of the Xinxi. One part connects upward with the lungs, entering between the two lobes of the lungs. The other part descends from the lung lobes, curves backward, and connects via fine collaterals to the spine, penetrating the spinal cord and communicating with the kidneys, situated precisely between the seventh vertebral segments. Generally, the systems of all five Zang organs connect to the heart, and the heart connects to the systems of the five Zang organs. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian originates in the heart, runs along the lateral aspect of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), belongs to the Xinxi, descends through the diaphragm, reaches the area two cun above the umbilicus, and links with the small intestine.

Another branch arises horizontally from the Xinxi, ascends alongside the throat, and connects to the Muxi (eye system).

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "Its branch rises from the Xinxi, ascends alongside the pharynx, and connects to the eye system." Mr. Hua explained: The branch emerges from the Xinxi, travels laterally to the Ren Mai, ascends, and runs alongside the pharynx to connect to the eye system.

Another branch emerges from the Xinxi, ascends along the lungs, and crosses horizontally to the Jiquan (HT1) acupoint in the axilla. Jiquan is located in the inner arm, within the tendons under the axilla, directly opposite the arterial pulsation.

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "Its straight line returns from the Xinxi, ascends to the lungs, and emerges from the axilla." Mr. Hua explained: The straight line returns directly from the Xinxi to the level of the lung organ, emerges along the axilla.

It then descends along the posterior medial border of the arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, passing through Qingling (HT8), descending to the medial border of the elbow, and arriving at Shaohai (HT3).

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "Descending along the posterior medial border of the arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, it descends to the medial border of the elbow." Mr. Hua explained: From Jiquan, it descends along the posterior medial border of the arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, passes through Qingling (HT8), descends to the medial border of the elbow, and arrives at Shaohai (HT3).

Qingling (HT8) is located three cun above the elbow tip; it can be located with the arm raised.
Shaohai (HT3) is located lateral to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, five fen from the end of the elbow.

Along the medial border of the arm, Lingdao (HT4) and Tongli (HT5) are clearly positioned. Continuing downward to Yinxi (HT6), then Shenmen (HT7), proceeding along the little finger to Shaofu (HT8), finally emerging at Shaochong (HT9), where it intersects with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "Following the posterior medial border of the arm, it reaches the end of the pisiform bone at the back of the palm, enters the posterior medial aspect of the palm, follows the medial side of the little finger, and emerges at its tip." Mr. Hua explained: The ankle-like prominence below the wrist is called the Dui Gu (pisiform bone). Descending from Shaohai (HT3), it follows the posterior medial border of the arm, passes through Lingdao (HT4) and Tongli (HT5), reaches the end of the pisiform bone at the back of the palm, passes through Yinxi (HT6) and Shenmen (HT7), enters the medial aspect of the palm to Shaofu (HT8), follows the tip of the little finger to Shaochong (HT9), and concludes by intersecting with the Hand-Taiyang Meridian.

Lingdao (HT4) is located one cun and five fen distal to the wrist crease.
Tongli (HT5) is located in the depression one cun proximal to the wrist crease.
Yinxi (HT6) is located on the radial artery at the wrist crease, five fen proximal to the wrist joint.
Shenmen (HT7) is located in the depression at the ulnar end of the pisiform bone.
Shaofu (HT8) is located in the depression proximal to the base of the fifth metacarpal bone, directly opposite Laogong (PC8).
Shaochong (HT9) is located at the radial corner of the nail bed of the little finger, approximately the width of a leek leaf from the nail margin.

General Song:
The Heart pulse originally originates from the diaphragm, returns to the Xinxi to communicate with the chest, links with the intestines, emerges from the axilla, follows the elbow, enters the palm, where Shaochong is clearly seen.

My Commentary: The pulse of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian originates in the heart and terminates at the medial tip of the little finger, measuring three chi and five cun in length, directly intersecting with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. Because the Heart is the official of the sovereign, demonstrating superiority over other Zang organs, its meridian intersections do not require auxiliary branches but directly transfer from its own Shaochong (HT9) acupoint to the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. Therefore, the pulse of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian begins at Shaose (SI1) on the ulnar side of the tip of the little finger.

Acupoint Song:
Nine acupoints of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian: locate Jiquan, Qingling, deep Shaohai, Lingdao, Tongli, Yinxi, followed by Shenmen, Shaofu, and Shaochong.

Song of Disorders Caused by Movement and Diseases Generated:
This meridian has abundant Qi and scarce Blood. If it is a disorder caused by movement (Shidong), there is unbearable pain in the heart and spleen, thirst with desire to drink water, and dryness of the throat. For diseases generated (Suosheng), there is hypochondriac pain, eyes yellow like gold, pain in the hypochondrium and the posterior medial aspect of the arm, and heat in the palm.

Chapter 10 of *Ling Shu* states: "Disorders caused by movement include dryness of the pharynx, heart pain, thirst with desire to drink, known as Arm-Jue. Diseases governed by the Heart include yellow eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain in the posterior medial aspect of the arm, and heat/pain in the palm." For these conditions, excess is treated with draining methods, deficiency with tonifying methods, heat with rapid needling, cold with retained needle insertion, sinking Qi with moxibustion, and neither excess nor deficiency with points from the affected meridian itself. In excess cases, the Cun Kou pulse is twice as large as the Ren Ying pulse; in deficiency cases, the Cun Kou pulse is smaller than the Ren Ying pulse.