Daling Point (PC-7 / Great Mound, also known as Xinzhu, Guixin)
Clears heart fire and drains heat, calms the heart and settles the spirit. Based on its properties, it is mainly used for heart diseases, mental disorders, and hand disorders.
Indications
Insomnia, heart and chest pain, palpitations, mental disorders, incessant laughter, and manic speech with unhappiness. (1) Cardiac disorders: Palpitations, chest and hypochondriac pain, heart pain. (2) Mental disorders: Insomnia, hysteria, manic disorders. (3) Oral disorders: Oral ulcers, halitosis. (4) Others: Finger pain and numbness, wrist pain and numbness, heel pain, stomach pain, vomiting, etc.
Precise Location
Located on the Pericardium Meridian, at the midpoint of the palmar wrist crease, between the palmaris longus tendon and the flexor carpi radialis tendon.
Location Method
Sit upright with the hand extended, palm facing up, slightly clenched fist. Hold the wrist with the other hand, four fingers on the outside, bend the thumb and press vertically with the fingertip (or nail tip) into the point.
Massage Method
Press vertically with the fingertip or nail tip – a stinging sensation will occur. Apply for 1–3 minutes per session. Therapeutic actions: Calms the heart and settles the spirit, harmonizes the nutritive qi and unblocks the collaterals, soothes the chest and harmonizes the stomach.
Compatibility
Halitosis: Combine with Shuigou (GV-26) and Daling (PC-7). Disease overview: In TCM, halitosis arises from various acute and chronic conditions – chest and abdominal disharmony with turbid qi ascending, stomach yin depletion with deficiency heat, fluid insufficiency with deficiency fire rising; lung yin damage with qi counterflow; qi-blood-essence damage with deficiency fire and heat accumulation; and spleen deficiency with qi stagnation, cold-heat binding, and impaired ascending/descending. Massage sequence: First press Shuigou (at the upper 1/3 of the philtrum), then press Daling for 3 minutes. Insomnia: Combine with Shenmen (HT-7), Shangwan (RN-13), and Daling (PC-7). Stomach pain: Combine with Zusanli (ST-36), Huaroumen (ST-24), and Daling (PC-7). Palpitations: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6) and Xinshu (BL-15). Post-stroke wrist movement limitation: Combine with Yangxi (LI-5) and Wangu (SI-4). Manic disorders with qi stagnation and phlegm binding: Combine with Taichong (LR-3) and Fenglong (ST-40). Chest tightness and palpitations due to heart blood stasis: Combine with Xinshu (BL-15), Geshu (BL-17), and Tanzhong (RN-17). Insomnia: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6). Palpitations with restlessness due to phlegm-fire: Combine with Shenmen (HT-7) and Fenglong (ST-40).
Efficacy & Actions
Daling belongs to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and is the Shu-Stream point where the meridian qi flows, corresponding to the Earth element in the five-element theory. It is also the Yuan-Source point of this meridian. It calms the spirit and settles the mind, clears the heart and unblocks the collaterals, regulates qi and relieves pain, relaxes the sinews and unblocks the collaterals. It is a commonly used point for treating heart disease and insomnia. First documented in Lingshu · Benshu. "Great" refers to what is lofty and noble; "Mound" refers to what is high and elevated. Located behind the prominence of the wrist bones – hence the name Daling (Great Mound). It is also known as "Xinzhu" and "Guixin." The Bronze Figure Manual states: "It treats febrile disease with anhidrosis, arm contracture with axillary swelling, incessant laughter, palpitations with hunger, and alternating joy, sorrow, weeping, and fear." This point can even treat halitosis. If troubled by bad breath, daily pressing of Daling can improve the condition and restore fresh breath. (1) Primary Point for Heart Disease: As the Yuan-Source point of the Pericardium Meridian – the Neijing states: "The twelve Yuan-Source points treat disorders of the five zang and six fu." Therefore, heart disorders are treated at Daling, commonly used for palpitations, heart pain, and chest and hypochondriac distension with pain. (2) Effective Point for Mental Disorders: As the Yuan-Source point of the Pericardium Meridian – the Pericardium receives pathogens on behalf of the heart, and the heart governs the spirit – it has excellent regulatory effects on mental disorders. Sun Simiao included this point as one of the Thirteen Ghost Points, named "Guixin" (Ghost Heart), a specific point for treating manic disorders, hysteria, insomnia, excessive dreaming, and alternating laughter/sorrow/fear. (3) Treats Halitosis: This point is specific for halitosis, with application by physicians throughout history. The Yulong Ge states: "Halitosis is the most detestable condition; needling Daling and Renzhong brings coolness and peace." The Shengyu Ge states: "Daling drives away heart heat and bad breath." TCM holds that halitosis originates from long-standing pericardium heat accumulation scorching the blood vessels, or spleen deficiency with damp-turbidity ascending. As the Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source point of the Pericardium Meridian, corresponding to Earth, and the child point of this meridian, it both clears heart fire and strengthens the spleen to resolve dampness – thus treating halitosis. (4) Effective Point for Heel Pain: The clinical efficacy of Daling for heel pain has been confirmed by long-term practice. When using this point, do not limit yourself to the standard point location – find the tender point below Daling for the most specific effect. The principle is based on the hand-foot correspondence method – Daling is located at the base of the palm, corresponding to the heel. (5) Treats Upper Limb Disorders: Clinically used for finger, wrist, shoulder, and arm pain and numbness. Located at the center of the wrist, needling improves local blood circulation, reduces nerve edema, and promotes qi and blood flow.
Contraindications
Avoid the median nerve when needling – do not needle too deep. Reducing technique is generally preferred over reinforcing. Moxibustion is generally not used.
