Acupuncture Times Your guide to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and TCM — explore acupoints, herbs and formulas, plus the latest acupuncture research news.
Related Articles
This is the Back-Shu point of the Heart. It tonifies and regulates the Heart, nourishes Heart blood, and calms the spirit.
Location
On the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra (T5).
Anatomy
On the trapezius and rhomboid, over the erector spinae; the posterior intercostal artery; the dorsal rami of the thoracic nerves.
Actions & Functions
- Tonifies and regulates the Heart and nourishes Heart blood (Back-Shu of the Heart)
- Calms the spirit and clears Heart heat
Indications
Anxiety, palpitations, insomnia and poor memory, mania and epilepsy, cardiac pain, and night sweats.
Needling
0.5-0.7 cun, oblique insertion towards the spine.
Moxibustion Suitability
Suitable for moxibustion.
Point Combinations
With HT-7 and BL-44 (Shentang) for mental-emotional disorders; with BL-17 for Heart blood deficiency.
Classical Text References
The Back-Shu point of the Heart.
Cautions & Contraindications
Deep perpendicular insertion risks pneumothorax; needle obliquely.
Latest Research
Latest peer-reviewed research on this point will be summarised here, with citations linked to PubMed, via our research integration.
