Pericardium Channel

1
XIMEN P-4
Xi-Cleft Gate
Xi-Cleft point of the Pericardium channel
LOCATION
On the flexor aspect of the forearm, 5 cun proximal to
Daling P-7, on the line connecting Daling P-7 and Quze
P-3, between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor
carpi radialis.
LOCATION NOTE
i. In the absence of the tendon of palmaris longus, locate
this point on the ulnar side of the tendon of flexor carpi
radialis; ii. Divide the distance between the cubital crease
and Daling P-7 into half and locate this point 1 cun distal
to this midpoint.
NEEDLING
Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun or oblique proximal
insertion 1 to 1.5 cun.
ACTIONS
Invigorates blood and dispels stasis
Cools blood and stops bleeding
Calms the spirit
Moderates acute conditions
Quze P-3
Daling P-7
Ximen P-4
7

c
u
n
5

c
u
n
palmaris longus
flexor carpi radialis
INDICATIONS
Chest pain, Heart pain, Heart pain with vomiting,
vomiting blood, coughing blood, nosebleed, five
palms agitated and hot.
Agitation, insomnia, melancholy, fear and fright of
people, insufficiency of spirit qi, epilepsy.
Chronic malaria, chronic haemorrhoids.
COMMENTARY
Ximen P-4 is the xi-cleft point of the Pericardium channel.
The xi-cleft points are where the qi and blood, which flow
relatively superficially along the channels from the jing-
well points, gather and plunge more deeply. The xi-cleft
points in general are indicated in the treatment of acute
conditions and pain, whilst the xi-cleft points of the yin
channels have an additional action of treating disorders of
blood. Ximen P-4 is an important point to treat both acute
stasis of blood and heat in the blood.
Through its dual actions of invigorating blood and
moderating acute conditions, Ximen P-4 is a primary
point for treating stagnation of blood in the chest and
Heart, giving rise to acute pain which may radiate to the
neck, back or left arm, or be accompanied by vomiting. Its
important role in the treatment of Heart pain was both
emphasised in the classics and is borne out by modern
clinical practice and research.
By virtue of its ability to clear heat from the blood and
stop bleeding, Ximen P-4 is indicated for hot reckless
bleeding in the upper jiao giving rise to nosebleed, and
vomiting or coughing of blood.
The second principal group of indications for Ximen P-4
includes a variety of mental and emotional disorders such
as agitation of the Heart, insomnia, melancholy, and fear
and fright of people. The relationship between Ximen P-4
and emotional disorders is expressed through its effect on
the blood and the Heart qi. The Heart rules the blood and
houses the spirit, and there is therefore a reciprocal rela-
tionship between blood and disturbance of the spirit. On
the one hand when the blood is stagnant and does not
flow freely, essential nourishment will not reach the Heart
and the Hearts function of housing the spirit may be
disrupted. On the other hand, emotional disturbance may
lead to stagnation of blood. The Spiritual Pivot
5
states ...
Internally a person may be injured by worry and anger;
when this occurs the qi will rebel upwards; when the qi
rebels thus the six shu [points of the six channels] will not
flow, the warm qi will not circulate and internally the
congealed blood will coagulate and not scatter .... By
resolving stasis of blood Ximen P-4 is able both to treat
emotional disharmony and to resolve the Heart blood
stasis that results from it.
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Lung
L. Intestine
Stomach
Spleen
Heart
S. Intestine
Bladder
Kidney
Pericardium
Sanjiao
Gall Bladder
Liver
Conception
Governing
Extra Points
See Notes
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CONTENTS
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Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Pericardium Channel 2
Blood stasis in the Heart most commonly occurs as a
result of deficiency of Heart qi and yang. These patterns
frequently give rise to feelings of fear, melancholy and a
diminished spirit, typically seen in patients after a myo-
cardial infarct or cardiac surgery (the shock of which may
further injure the Heart qi). Ximen P-4 is able to regulate
the Heart qi, as well as the blood, and is classically
indicated for insufficiency of the spirit qi.
Finally there may be symptoms of mental and emo-
tional agitation, as well as haemorrhage, when heat enters
the nutritive or blood levels during febrile disease and
rises to disturb the spirit. Thus the Treatise on Epidemic
Warm Febrile Disease stated When the nutritive system is
invaded by heat, the blood is consumed, the spirit is
disturbed and there is insomnia. Ximen P-4 is able to
calm the spirit in such cases by clearing heat from the
nutritive and blood levels.
COMBINATIONS
Heart pain: Ximen P-4, Quze P-3 and Daling P-7
(Thousand Ducat Formulas).
Heart pain with retching, agitation and fullness:
Ximen P-4 and Jiquan HE-1 (Supplementing Life).
Coughing blood: Ximen P-4 and Daling P-7 (System-
atic Classic).
Fright and fear of people, spirit qi insufficient: Ximen
P-4 and Dazhong KID-4 (Thousand Ducat Formulas).
Pain of the chest and lateral costal region: Ximen P-4,
Dabao SP-21, Sanyangluo SJ-8, Yangfu GB-38 and
Zulinqi GB-41.
Heart pain radiating to the shoulder and arm: Ximen
P-4, Tianquan P-2, Neiguan P-6 and Shanzhong
REN-17.
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
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CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Combinations Index
Points Index General Index Indications Index Point Names Index Glossary
Next Point Previous Point
CONTENTS
Lung
L. Intestine
Stomach
Spleen
Heart
S. Intestine
Bladder
Kidney
Pericardium
Sanjiao
Gall Bladder
Liver
Conception
Governing
Extra Points
See Notes