Heart meridian pathway
The Heart meridian, hand Shaoyin, begins in the Heart, to which it connects. It first sends a branch downward to couple with the Small Intestine.
It sends a branch upward that connects with the eye system (the Shen can be seen in the eyes).
Another branch leaves the Heart and emerges at the center of the armpit hollow, at the point Jiquan.
The meridian runs along the inner side of the arm, on its posterior part.
It then reaches the elbow, passing through the middle of the inner side of the elbow, at the point Shaohai.
It runs along the inner side of the forearm, on its posterior part, then reaches the wrist, where it passes lateral to the pisiform bone at the point Shenmen.
It then passes through the hypothenar eminence, between the 4th and 5th metacarpals at the point Shaofu,
and ends at the outer nail corner of the little finger, at the point Shaochong.
From the point Shaochong, it joins the Small Intestine meridian at the inner nail corner of the little finger, at the point Shaoze.
Heart meridian acupuncture points
The Heart meridian has 9 acupuncture points; here are the main ones
Heart meridian description
The Heart corresponds to Fire. It is the Emperor organ, the root of life.
It is the great Yang within the Yang.
Its season is summer, its emotion is joy, its direction is south, its color is red and its flavor is bitter.
The Heart has 2 physiological functions:
- Governing the Blood and the vessels;
- Governing the Shen.
Its physiological characteristics are:
- As a decision-maker, it influences the vital functions. It holds the power of life or death;
- It cannot be attacked; it is protected;
- It is Yang and occupies a position in the upper part of the body. Yang Qi, it is very often compared to the sun;
- Fire blazes upward; warm by nature, it can warm and nourish the 10,000 things (organs and viscera) and maintain body temperature;
- Fire is always moving. It lights up and illuminates (the body);
- Heart energy is at its most prosperous in summer, an analogy between an organ and a season. It is during this season that it can easily be injured in people with a weakness.
The Heart governs the Blood (and the vessels) - Xin Zhu Xue (Mai)
The body and the vessels form a closed circuit in which the Blood circulates.
For this to work properly, as with the transport of goods, 3 conditions must be met:
- Yang Qi must be sufficient to push and warm the Blood inside the vessels;
- The Blood must be sufficient in quantity to moisten and nourish the Heart;
- The vessels must be clear and closed.