Shaofu HE-8
Chinese: 少府
Pinyin: Shǎo Fǔ
Location
On the palmar surface, between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones. When a fist is made, the point is where the tip of the little finger rests.
How to locate
Shaofu HE-8 is mostly likes between the two transverse palmar creases and is sensitive to pressure.
When a fist is made, HE-8 is mostly below the tip of the little finger, in the depression between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones.
Main actions
- Clears Fire, Empty-Fire or Phlegm Fire in the Heart
- Calms the Mind
- Benefits the Bladder
Needling
Vertically 0.5–1 cun.
Caution: Needling this point may be painful. Provide a competitive stimulus by pressing the palm with the fingernail close to the point before inserting the needle. Ask the patient to breathe out during needle insertion.
Commentary for Shaofu HE-8
Like Shenmen HE-7, Shaofu HE-8 can also calm the Mind. Thus it is able to treat various mental issues such as palpitations, sadness, worry, agitation or mental restlessness.
However, it is a much stronger point and is particularly used in Excess cases of the Heart such as excessive Fire or Heat regardless being Empty or Full Heat. There might be Phlegm on top of the Fire or Heat. The typical symptoms are insomnia with restless dreams, thirst, bitter taste, mental restlessness or hypomania, dark urine, tongue ulcers, and a red tongue with redder tip and yellow coating.
The Heart Channel connects to the Small Intestine Channel, which then is related to the Bladder Channel through the Greater Yang. Therefor, Shaofu HE-8 can influence the Bladder function and treat enuresis or urination difficulties. It can also clear Fire from the Kidneys, so as to treat genitalia skin itchiness.
Finally, due to the Heart's connection to the Uterus via the Uterus Vessel, Tonifying method should be applied on Shaofu HE-8 to ease Uterus prolapse by lifting the sinking Qi there.