陰郄 : Yinxi : Yin Cleft

Classifications:

Xi-Cleft point

Location:

On the radial side of the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris, 0.5 cun proximal to He-7

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 0.3 - 0.5 cun, or oblique proximal or distal insertion 0.5 - 1 cun

Classical Needling:

"The Shaoyin usually has little Blood and much Qi" (Su Wen 素問 ch. 24) implying this channel should normally be needled.
"The hand Yin and Yang receive their Qi via nearby paths so their Qi arrive swiftly. The depth of piercing must not exceed 2 fen and must not remain inserted for longer than one exhalation" (Ling Shu 靈樞 ch. 12).
". It is needled to a depth of three fen and moxaed with three cones" (Huangfu Mi 皇甫謐, 3rd Century, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing 針灸甲乙經).

TCM Actions:

Regulates Heart Blood
Calms the Shen
Moderates acute conditions
Clears deficiency Fire and alleviates night sweating

TCM Indications:

• Heart pain, unbearable stabbing pain of the Heart, fullness of the chest, palpitations, fright palpitaitons, fright, counterflow inversion fright qi, epilepsy, loss of voice, Sudden Turmoil (霍亂, Huo Luan) Disorder with cardiac pain.
  
• Nosebleed, vomiting blood, counterflow qi.
  
• Night sweating, Steaming Bone Disorder.

I Ching Hexagram:

䷱ Ding 鼎 Cauldron

Shared with Yanglao SI-6 and balanced by ䷂ (Yongquan Kid-1 or Shugu Bl-65).

Hexagram attributions are my own with an explanation given in the glossary.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Ulnar nerve (palmar branch) from C8 - T1

Dermatome Segment: C8, T1

Deeper Structures: Ulnar nerve from C8 - T1

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

Heart 4, 5, 6 & 7 are all so close together they are usually attacked together with a grab causing great Qi loss and immobilisation, just before a more dangerous attack.

If struck by itself, it is said to cause madness and weaken the heart (Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com).

Major Combinations:

• Profuse night sweating:
    Yinxi He-6 with Houxi SI-3
    (Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Bai Zheng Fu, 百症賦, Ode of a Hundred Symptoms).
  
  
• Excessive fright:
    Yinxi He-6 with Jianshi Pc-5, Erjian LI-2 and Lidui St-45
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Heart pain with fullness, agitation and stiff tongue:
    Yinxi He-6 with Zhongzhong Pc-9
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
  
  
• Heart pain:
    Yinxi He-6 with Xingjian Liv-2
    (Wang Zhizhong, 王執中, 1220: Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, 針灸資生經, Classic of Supporting Life with Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here