Shenmen Point (HT-7 / Spirit Gate, also known as Duichong, Zhongdu, Duigu, Ruizhong, Duhou)
Clears heart fire and drains heat, calms the spirit and soothes the mind. Based on its properties, it is mainly used for insomnia and psychiatric disorders.
Indications
Heart pain, restlessness, numbness, poor appetite, forgetfulness, dizziness, heart pain, and insomnia. (1) Mental disorders: Restlessness, forgetfulness, insomnia, dementia, manic-depressive disorders, neurasthenia, hysteria, infantile convulsions. (2) Cardiac disorders: Heart pain, arrhythmia, palpitations, severe palpitations. (3) Others: Wrist-arm pain, chest and hypochondriac pain, finger numbness, yellow eyes with hypochondriac pain, hematemesis, hemoptysis, aphonia, palm heat, dizziness, hypertension, etc.
Precise Location
Located on the Heart Meridian. On the palmar side of the wrist joint, in the depression at the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
Location Method
Sit upright, extend the arm with the palm facing up, elbow flexed at approximately 45°. With the other hand, hold the wrist with four fingers, bend the thumb – the point is in the depression below the pisiform bone at the ulnar end, where the thumbnail tip reaches.
Massage Method
Press with the middle fingertip – once each morning and evening, for 1–3 minutes on each side, left first then right. Therapeutic actions: Benefits heart qi, unblocks the meridians and collaterals.
Compatibility
Forgetfulness: Combine with Zhizheng (SI-7) and Shenmen (HT-7). Disease overview: Forgetfulness is characterized by poor memory and easy forgetfulness – mostly caused by heart-spleen deficiency, aging with insufficiency of essence qi, or phlegm-stasis obstruction. Commonly seen in mental fatigue, brain atrophy, head trauma, and toxicity. Massage sequence: First massage Zhizheng (on the ulnar side of the forearm, on the line connecting Yanggu and Xiaohai, 5 cun above the dorsal wrist crease) for 3 minutes; then press Shenmen 30 times. Manic disorders: Combine with Shuigou (GV-26), Baihui (GV-20), Yamen (GV-15), Shenmen (HT-7), and Fenglong (ST-40). Constipation: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36), Dachangshu (BL-25), Shenmen (HT-7), and Tianshu (ST-25). Insomnia due to heart-spleen deficiency: Combine with Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Insomnia due to heart-kidney disharmony: Combine with Shenshu (BL-23), Taixi (KI-3), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Cardiac disorders: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6). Infantile thrush: Combine with Yongquan (KI-1). Psychiatric disorders: Combine with Fenglong (ST-40) and Dazhui (GV-14). Palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6), Daling (PC-7), and Xinshu (BL-15). Hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematochezia: Combine with Xuehai (SP-10) and Geshu (BL-17). Throat obstruction: Combine with Hegu (LI-4) and Fengchi (GB-20). Arm contracture with pain: Combine with Shaohai (HT-3).
Efficacy & Actions
Shenmen is the Yuan-Source point of the Heart Meridian. Reinforcing it benefits heart qi and calms the spirit; reducing it clears heart fire – it has bidirectional regulatory functions. Clinically used for heart pain, restlessness, palpitations, severe palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, and manic-depressive disorders. First documented in Zhenjiu Jiayijing. "Shen" refers to the spirit; "Men" means gate or door. The Heart is the monarch organ, where the spirit resides. The heart stores the spirit – this point is the gateway for spirit qi to enter and exit – hence the name Shenmen (Spirit Gate). It is also known as "Duichong," "Zhongdu," "Duigu," "Ruizhong," and "Duhou." As the saying goes: "If you can't sleep at night, press Shenmen." In modern society, fast-paced lifestyles, intense work competition, and stressful rhythms often lead to sleep deprivation and mental fatigue – especially for office workers who frequently stay up late. Regular pressing of Shenmen can refresh the mind and improve mental well-being. (1) Key Point for Mental Disorders: As the Yuan-Source point of the Heart – "diseases of the five zang are treated at the twelve Yuan-Source points" – and the heart stores the spirit, it treats various mental disorders. Needling Shenmen harmonizes yin and yang, calms the spirit, regulates qi movement, and nourishes the brain – effective for insomnia, memory loss, senile dementia, mania, hysteria, and infantile convulsions. The Yulong Ge states: "Dementia is treated by Shenmen alone." It treats both insomnia and excessive sleepiness, both mania and depression – demonstrating excellent bidirectional regulatory effects. (2) Treats Heart-Related Disorders: As the Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source point of the Heart Meridian, it treats heart conditions such as heart pain, restlessness, palpitations, and hypertension. (3) Treats Certain Bleeding Disorders: The heart governs the blood vessels – when blood does not follow its proper pathway, it relates to the heart. Thus used for menstrual disorders, hematuria, and hematemesis. (4) Treats Limb Pain: As the Shu-Stream point, it treats disorders along the meridian pathway – wrist-arm pain, chest and hypochondriac pain, and ankle sprains.
Contraindications
Heart Meridian points should not be needled deeply – generally no more than 0.5 cun, especially Shenmen. Excessive depth may stir heart fire, disturb the spirit, and injure blood vessels and nerves. Moxibustion is rarely used. When locating the point, the wrist should be relaxed with the palm upright.
