There is a very important acupoint on the Pericardium meridian – the Danzhong point. This point is located on the central line between the two breasts. Danzhong is also a major point for releasing stagnation. In daily life, if we are upset, we often unconsciously tap our chests, which is actually tapping the Danzhong point. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Pericardium governs ‘joyful expression’, that is, our joy all comes from the Danzhong point in our chest. Therefore, there is a saying that ‘the heart blooms on the road’. The core of ‘the heart blooms on the road’ refers to the Danzhong point. The Danzhong point is very important for the body, and from the perspective of Western medicine, it is equivalent to the pancreas. So, where are the location diagrams of the Heart and Pericardium meridians?

The location diagram of the Heart meridian

The Heart meridian, also known as the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian, is responsible for the heart, mainly treating cardiovascular diseases, mental diseases, neck and shoulder nerve blockages, palpitations, depression, and other diseases. ‘The Spiritual Pivot’ says: The pulse of the Hand Shaoyin originates from the heart, belongs to the viscera below the diaphragm, and connects to the colon. Its branch: From the viscera, upwards, holding the pharynx, connecting to the eye system. Its straight branch: Again from the viscera, upwards to the lung, downwards diagonally from under the armpit, downwards along the inner side of the diaphragm, passing through the Taiyin and the Heart, downwards along the inner side of the elbow, along the inner side of the arm, to the tip of the sharp bone behind the palm, entering the inner side of the palm, along the little finger within, and exiting from its tip.

The Heart meridian, also known as the Hand Shaoyin meridian, originates from the heart in the body, belongs to the viscera, that is, the tissues around the heart, downwards according to the diaphragm, and connects to the colon. Its branch meridians: From the viscera, upwards, holding the esophagus, connecting to the eyes; its main trunk, again from the viscera, upwards to the lung, downwards diagonally from under the armpit, and along the inner side of the upper limb, to the elbow, and along the inner side of the upper arm, to the back of the palm, and along the radial side of the little finger to its tip. The Qi of the meridian thus connects to the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine meridian.

The location diagram of the Pericardium meridian

The precise location of the Pericardium meridian: Starting from the heart in the body, superficially belongs to the pericardium, according to the diaphragm, experiences the chest, upper abdomen, and lower abdomen, and connects to the Sanjiao.

Its branch meridians: Run along the chest internally to the side of the ribs, from three cun below the armpit (Tianchi point) upwards to the armpit, along the inner side of the arm (Tianquan point), between the hand Shaoyin and hand Shaoyang meridians, into the elbow (Quze point), down to the forearm, walking between two tendons (radial wrist flexor tendon and palmaris longus tendon) (Shiguan point, Jianshi point, Neiguan point, Dalang point), into the palm (Laogong point), along the radial side of the middle finger from the tip. Its branch meridians: Separate from the palm, along the radial side of the little finger of the right hand, connect to the Shaoyang Sanjiao meridian.

There are 9 acupoints on one side of this meridian (a total of 18 acupoints on both sides). Among them, 8 points are distributed in the middle of the palm of the upper limb, and 1 point is at the top of the chest. The first point is Tianchi, and the last point is Zhongchong. They mainly treat respiratory system symptoms, nervous and mental symptoms, and symptoms along the meridian.

The meridian acupoints: Tianchi point, Tianquan point, Quze point, Shiguan point, Jianshi point, Neiguan point, Dalang point, Laogong point, Zhongchong point.