JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 53 JANUARY 1997
SOME UNUSUAL USES OF
THE HEART CHANNEL
by Giovanni Maciocia
T
he Heart houses the shen and the most important
clinical use of the points of the Heart channel is for
treating mental-emotional problems. This article,
however, will explore the clinical application of the Heart
channel points for some other disorders, specifically:
• itching
• sexual dysfunction in men
• disorders of the uterus
• backache in men
• nausea and vomiting
• calming the “nerves” in asthma
• tremors
• eye disorders
• urinary disorders
Itching
Points of the Heart channel have a marked effect in stop-
ping pruritus (itching). The two main points for this are
Shenmen HE-7 and Shaofu HE-8, the latter being stronger
in its effect. Using Heart channel points for itching is the
equivalent of using herbs that calm the mind and nourish
the Heart which also stop itching, for example Ye Jiao Teng
(Caulis Polygoni Multiflori) or Bai Zi Ren (Semen Biotae
Orientalis).
Stopping itching is extremely important in the treatment
of eczema and is the first treatment strategy one should
adopt because the scratching resulting from it perpetuates
the disease by causing excoriation of the skin and possible
infections.
Sexual dysfunction in men
The Heart shaoyin channel is related to the Kidney shaoyin
channel according to six channel theory. It is also indirectly
related to the Kidneys themselves through the Du Mai and
Ren Mai, both of which flow through the Heart and origi-
nate from the space between the Kidneys. Both the Du and
Ren Mai have a profound influence on sexuality and the
sexual function including sexual desire, sexual arousal,
erection, maintenance of erection and ejaculation. Further-
more, the Chong Mai starts from the space between the
Kidneys and goes to the Heart and, in addition, it controls
the ‘zong’1 muscles in the abdomen which many interpret
as being the penis. Thus in men’s sexuality especially, we
can consider the Heart as an “upper Kidney”, influencing
many of the above sexual functions. If we accept this, it is
easy to see how mental-emotional stress affecting the Heart
has a profound influence on sexual function in men.
Another important connection between men’s sexual
function and the Heart concerns the minister fire of ming
men. The minister fire is a special type of fire that can
actually generate water: thus, the fire and water within the
Kidneys are inseparable and interdependent. The minister
fire warms and nourishes the ‘room of sperm’. When the
minister fire is deficient, the room of sperm is cold and this
may cause impotence or lack of libido. When the minister
fire is excessive, it may flare upwards affecting the Heart
and Pericardium. The room of sperm, located in the dantian
is also called ‘bao’, a term that applies to both men and
women and that is therefore erroneously translated as
“uterus” (zi bao is the uterus). In women, the uterus relates
to the lower field of elixir (dantian) which in men houses the
room of sperm. The Golden Mirror of Medicine2 says “The
Governing vessel arises within the lower abdomen, exter-
nally in the abdomen, internally in the bao ... also called
dantian in both men and women: in women it is the uterus,
in men it is the room of sperm”3. This passage clearly shows
that bao is a structure common to both men and women,
being the uterus in women and the room of sperm in men.
The extraordinary vessels arise from this area. We can
therefore consider the Pericardium (xin bao) and room of
sperm (jing shi, also called bao) as two centres of sexuality,
one in the upper burner, the other in the lower burner. It is
the co-ordination of these two centres that controls sexual-
ity and specifically in men, libido, erection, orgasm and
ejaculation. These two centres, the Heart and Pericardium
above and the minister fire of the Kidneys below, regulate
the ascending and descending of fire and water and mutu-
ally inhibit and nourish each other.
In men therefore, we can use the Heart channel points to
treat sexual dysfunctions such as impotence or premature
ejaculation which are nearly always due to a dysfunction of
Heart fire (deficient or excessive) rather than a Kidney
deficiency. This explains why tonics that powerfully tonify
the Kidneys (for example deer antler, dog penis, seal penis
or sea-horse) are rarely effective.
The main Heart channel points to treat sexual dysfunc-
tion are Shenmen HE-7 and Shaohai HE-3. I often combine
the point Shenmen HE-7 with the opening points of the Du
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JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 53 JANUARY 1997
Mai. An example of a point combination for a man com-
plaining of impotence or premature ejaculation against a
background of mental-emotional problems would be Houxi
SI-3 on the left, Shenmai BL-62 on the right and Shenmen
HE-7 on the right, with Taichong LIV-3 on the left if the
pulse is wiry, or Taixi KID-3 if there is also a Kidney
deficiency and the pulse is weak and fine.
The uterus
The Heart is closely connected with the uterus through the
uterus vessel (bao mai) and this explains the profound
influence on the uterus of mental-emotional problems which
affect the Heart. The Simple Questions4 says “The uterus
vessel pertains to the Heart and extends to the uterus” and
“ When the period does not come it means the uterus vessel
is obstructed5”. The uterus is also related to the Kidneys via
a channel called the uterus channel (bao luo). The Simple
Questions6 says “ The uterus channel extends to the Kid-
neys”.
Normal menstruation and fertility therefore depend on
the state of both the Kidneys (especially Kidney essence)
and the Heart (especially Heart blood and Heart qi and
yang). If either is deficient, then there may be infertility or
amenorrhoea. The relationship of Heart blood to the uterus
is an important one: the Heart governs blood and the uterus
stores blood. Although the overwhelming majority of gy-
naecologists will emphasise the role of Liver blood in
relation to the uterus, some place the emphasis on Heart
blood. Thus, when they want to nourish blood in gynaeco-
logical problems, these gynaecologists would nourish Heart
blood with points such as Shenmen HE-7 and Xinshu BL-15.
Moreover, the famous Qing dynasty gynaecologist Fu Qing
Zhu said that the ‘heavenly gui’ (i.e. menstrual blood)
derives from the Kidney essence but requires the assistance
of Heart yang which must flow down to communicate with
the Kidney essence. Thus, tonifying the Heart will necessar-
ily help Kidney essence to produce menstrual blood. This is
probably the reason why Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen
Decoction), which nourishes Heart blood, is such an impor-
tant formula in gynaecological problems.
Dr. Yao Shi An mentions several patterns of Heart dishar-
mony which affect gynaecological function7:
Women are prone to stagnation of qi which often trans-
forms into fire and affects the Heart. Fire harasses down-
wards and disturbs the Ren and Chong Mai, the sea of blood
becomes reckless and this may result in heavy periods or
flooding and trickling (beng lou). The Ji Yin Gang Mu says
“Fire burns the Heart, blood becomes reckless and causes
bleeding downwards”8.
Sadness over a long period of time may cause Heart yin
deficiency; the mind then has no residence, and this causes
the Heart yang to float and may result in menorrhagia. The
Simple Questions9 says “Sadness leads to severance of the
uterus channel; when this is severed yang qi is agitated in
the interior and the Heart causes menorrhagia”.
When Heart qi rebels upwards, it impairs the descending
6
of Lung qi. Qi therefore cannot descend and communicate
with the uterus vessel and amenorrhoea results. The Simple
Questions10 says “If the periods do not come it means the
uterus vessel is shut ... qi rises to harass the Lungs, Heart qi
does not descend and the periods do not come”.
Overwork weakens Heart yin which leads to empty heat.
This may also cause amenorrhoea. The Secret Record of the
Orchid Room11 says “Mental strain and stress weakens the
Heart, Heart fire rises and the periods do not come”.
When there is fire in the Heart channel, it rises to harass
the Heart and the mouth, and below it may cause excessive
vaginal discharge. Chen Zi Ming says “Vaginal sores in
women are due to mental restlessness and chaotic Heart
and weak Stomach qi resulting in stagnation of qi and
blood”. The Simple Questions12 says “Pain, itching and sores
are due to the Heart”.
Pensiveness and worry agitate the Heart, the emperor fire
moves and fails to communicate with the Kidneys, water
and fire do not communicate and infertility may result.
Wang Yu Tai says “Pensiveness and worry may make it
difficult for a woman to conceive. The Heart houses the
mind; pensiveness makes the Heart turn towards the out-
side, the emperor fire cannot descend, above and below do
not communicate, water and fire do not communicate and
infertility may result’’13.
After conception, blood and yin are deviated to the nour-
ishment of the foetus, and the relative deficiency of yin and
blood elsewhere may give rise to empty heat which ascends
to disturb the Heart and cause mental restlessness. The
Discussion of Gynaecology14 says “ When the Heart is affected
by blood heat, Heart qi is not clear and this causes mental
restlessness”.
Worry agitates the Heart and causes a difficult birth. The
Gynaecology of the Bamboo Grove 15 says “When the Heart is
affected by worry and pensiveness, qi and blood stagnate or
flow in the wrong direction; in many cases this causes a
difficult birth’’.
The book Explanation of Acupuncture Points recommends
tonifying Shaofu HE-8 for prolapse of the vagina or vaginal
pain and itching16. The Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupunc-
ture 17 mentions Tongli HE-5 for heavy periods or flooding
and trickling (beng lou), especially in combination with
Xingjian LIV-2 and Sanyinjiao SP-6.
Backache in men
I often use points of the Heart channel for lower backache
in men. The reason is the same as that given for the use of
these points for men’s sexual problems: the Heart is like an
“upper Kidney” and it therefore naturally influences the
lower back. I find that the point Shenmen HE-7 is the best
for this function because, besides its indirect action on the
Kidney channel (and therefore the lower back), it also has a
general anti-spasmodic effect, thus relaxing the muscles. I
usually combine this point with the opening points of the
Du Mai (but only if the pain stems from the spine area). An
example of a suitable points combination would be Houxi
 JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 53 JANUARY 1997
SI-3 on the left, Shenmai BL-62 on the right, Shenmen HE-7
on the right and Dazhong KID-4 on the left. If the pain is
unilateral, I use Dazhong KID-4 on the side of the pain and
Shenmen HE-7 on the opposite side.
Nausea/vomiting
Although nausea and vomiting are always related to Stom-
ach qi ascending instead of descending, Heart qi also has (or
should have) a descending movement. The Explanation of
Acupuncture Points says “ When Heart qi rebels upwards
there is belching or vomiting: this means that Heart qi is full;
tonifying the water point [Shaohai HE-3] will make qi
descend’’18. The same text also specifically recommends it
for nausea and vomiting19, and recommends Tongli HE-5
for vomiting of bitter fluids and Shenmen HE-7 for vomit-
ing of blood20. The Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture
also mentions Yinxi HE-6 for vomiting of blood and Jiquan
HE-1 for dry vomiting.
Furthermore, the Heart channel is closely related to the
epigastrium; in fact, in ancient times the distinction be-
tween Heart pain and epigastric pain was somewhat blurred.
Incidentally, this is borne out by modern medicine which
recognises that symptoms of incipient cardiac infarction
may often resemble indigestion. Thus, if Heart qi ascends
rather than descends, nausea and vomiting may ensue
(which incidentally may occur in the prodromal stage of a
heart infarction). This is probably the reason why Neiguan
P-6 (acting on the Heart) is such an important point for
nausea and vomiting. As far as the Heart channel is con-
cerned, Tongli HE-5 is the best point, whilst Jiuwei REN-15
or Juque REN-14 both of which act on the Heart are also
effective.
Calming the nerves in asthma
Points of the Heart channel can be used to treat acute attacks
of asthma. This is probably due to their anti-spasmodic
action and they presumably relax the bronchial muscles
and therefore relieve broncho-constriction. In this case,
therefore, Heart channel points are not used to “calm the
mind” but to relax the bronchial muscles. The main point
used is Shenmen HE-7, usually in combination with Shenting
DU-24 and Jiuwei REN-15 (which relaxes the chest and acts
on the Heart). The Explanation of Acupuncture Points recom-
mends Shenmen HE-7 for rebellious qi and Heart fire which
give rise to breathlessness21. Heart channel points also help
asthma because they help to restore the descending of qi in
the chest. The Great Compendium of Acupuncture recom-
mends Shenmen HE-7, Yinlingquan SP-9, Kunlun BL-60
and Zulinqi GB-41 for breathlessness22.
Tremors
Heart channel points can be used to alleviate tremors in
Parkinson’s disease. There are two main reasons for this:
firstly the anti-spasmodic effect mentioned above; secondly,
because Heart points will nourish yin in the arm and thus
help to alleviate tremors of the limb (since wind, especially
in elderly people, derives from yin deficiency). The main
points are Shenmen HE-7, Yinxi HE-6 and Tongli HE-5.
Wind may also give rise to spasm, contraction and numbness
and the Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture recommends
the point Shaohai HE-3 for contracture of the hand and
numbness of the arm23.
Knees
The Simple Questions mentions a point combination for
swelling and pain of the knee: Qiangu SI-2, Shaofu HE-8,
Rangu KID-2 and Tonggu BL-6624. The Heart channel points
affect the knee firstly because of the relationship with the
Kidney channel, and secondly because Heart channel points
can be used to clear heat and cool blood in general. They are
therefore usually used when the knee is inflamed and
swollen. The best point is Tongli HE-5.
Eye
Both the primary and luo-connecting Heart channels flow
to the eye, and Heart channel points can therefore be used
for eye problems, especially when due to inflammation.
The best point is Tongli HE-5, in fact the Explanation of
Acupuncture Points recommends HE-5 Tongli for painful
and red eyes (due to Heart fire) and Shenmen HE-7 for
yellow and painful eyes25.
Urinary problems
The Heart channel points can be used for urinary problems
because of the connection of the Heart channel with the
Bladder channel; the Heart channel is interiorly-exteriorly
connected to the taiyang Small Intestine channel which in
turn has an ‘above-below’ connection with the taiyang
Bladder channel according to six channel theory. The Heart
channel is particularly used for ‘lin’ urinary problems due
to Heart heat which transmits to the Small Intestine and
Bladder, and the main point is Shaofu HE-8, in combination
with Qiangu SI-2 and Tonggu BL-66. Sometimes Heart fire
combines with Liver fire to cause urinary problems and the
main points for this combined pattern are Shaofu HE-8 and
Xingjian LIV-2. The Explanation of Acupuncture Points rec-
ommends Shaofu HE-8 (with reducing method) for urinary
problems26.
End notes
1. The zong muscles may refer either to the penis or the rectus
abdominis muscles; the former is mentioned in chapter 44 and the
latter in chapter 45 of the Simple Questions.
2. Yi Zong Jin Jian, 1742.
3. Cited in Chinese Medicine Research Institute and Guangzhou
College of Chinese Medicine 1980 Concise Dictionary of Chinese Medicine
(Jian Ming Zhong Yi Ci Dian), People’s Health Publishing House,
Beijing, p. 186.
4. Chapter 33.
5. Concise Dictionary of Chinese Medicine, p. 197.
6. Chapter 47.
7. Journal of Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Za Zhi), Vol. 37, no. 6, 1996, p.
328-9.
8. Ibid.
9. Chapter 44.
10. Journal of Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Za Zhi), Vol. 37, no. 6, 1996.
7
JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE NUMBER 53 JANUARY 1997

11. Lan Shi Mi Cang, The Secret Record of the Orchid Room.
12. Chapter 74.
13. Journal of Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Za Zhi), Vol. 37, no. 6, 1996, p.
328-9.
14. Nu Ke Jing Lun, Discussion of Gynaecology, quoted in Journal of
Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Za Zhi), Vol. 37, no. 6, 1996.
15. Zhu Lin Nu Ke, Gynaecology of the Bamboo Grove, quoted in Journal
of Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Za Zhi), Vol. 37, no. 6, 1996.
16. Yue Han Zhen 1990 An Explanation of Acupuncture Points (Jing Xue
Jie), People’s Hygiene Publishing Company, Beijing, p. 143. The text
was first published during the early Qing dynasty.
17. Yang Jia San 1988 Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture (Zhong
Guo Zhen Jiu Da Ci Dian), Beijing Physical Training College Publish-
ing House, Beijing, p. 827.
18. An Explanation of Acupuncture Points, p. 137.
19. Ibid, p. 137.
20. Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture, p. 419 and 456.
21. An Explanation of Acupuncture Points, p. 142.
22. Quoted in Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture, p. 737.
23. Ibid., p. 236.
24. 1979 The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine -SimpleQuestions
(Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen), People’s Health Publishing House,
Beijing, first published c. 100 BC, p. 322.
25. An Explanation of Acupuncture Points, p. 141-2.
26. Ibid., p. 143.