Yinxi HE-6
Chinese: 阴郄
Pinyin: Yīn Xī
Location
On the radial side of the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, 0.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist when the palm faces upward.
How to locate
The flexor carpi radialis muscle has a distinct tendon which can be easily palpated ulnar and proximal to the wrist crease. It attaches to the pisiform bone.
Yinxi HE-6 is located directly on the radial side of the tendon, 0.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist when the palm faces upward.
Shenmen He-7, Yinxi HE-6, Tongli HE-5 and Lingdao HE-4 are all located on a line on the radial aspect of the tendon at 0.5 cun intervals.
Main actions
- Nourishes Heart Yin and clears Empty-Heat of the Heart
- Invigorates Heart Blood
- Subdues rebellious Qi
- Calms the Mind
Needling
0.3–1 cun vertically or obliquely in a proximal or distal direction.
Caution: Ulnar artery/nerve. Painful point!
Commentary for Yinxi HE-6
Yinxi HE-6 is mostly applied to nourish Heart Yin, especially if there are also Empty-Heat symptoms such as night sweating, dry mouth, insomnia, mental restlessness or the feeling of 'steaming bones'. It is often used together with Fuliu KI-7 for this pattern of Heart Yin Deficiency.
In additional to that, as the Accumulation-Xi point of the Heart Channel, it can strongly invigorate the Blood and Qi. Therefore it can treat Blood Stagnation in the chest with typical symptoms like stabbing pain or fullness in the chest as well as palpitations.
Finally Yinxin HE-6 subdues Rebellious Qi so as to avoid Blooding going upward. Thus it can treat vomiting of blood or nose blood.