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Shenmen (HT-7), “Spirit Gate”, is the Yuan-Source and Shu-Stream point of the Heart channel and the single most important point for calming the spirit, treating anxiety, insomnia and emotional disorders.
Location
At the wrist, at the ulnar end of the transverse wrist crease, in the depression on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, proximal to the pisiform bone.
Anatomy
Radial to flexor carpi ulnaris and the pisiform; the ulnar artery; the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the ulnar nerve.
Actions & Functions
- Calms the spirit (the principal point for this)
- Tonifies and regulates the Heart and Heart blood
- Clears Heart heat and regulates Heart rhythm
Indications
Anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, mental-emotional disorders, manic-depression, dizziness, and cardiac pain.
Needling
0.2-0.4 cun, perpendicular insertion.
Moxibustion Suitability
Suitable for moxibustion to tonify Heart blood and qi in deficiency.
Point Combinations
With SP-6 and An Mian for insomnia; with PC-6 for palpitations and anxiety; with DU-20 for the spirit.
Classical Text References
The Yuan-Source, Shu-Stream (Earth) point of the Heart, the chief point for the shen (spirit).
Cautions & Contraindications
Avoid the ulnar artery, which lies on the radial side of the point.
Latest Research
Latest peer-reviewed research on this point will be summarised here, with citations linked to PubMed, via our research integration.