Neiguan Point (PC-6 / Inner Pass, also known as Yinwei)
Nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, regulates qi and relieves pain, soothes the chest and disperses nodules, harmonizes the stomach and descends rebellious qi. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for various heart diseases, chest disorders, digestive system diseases, and related conditions.
Indications
Vomiting, cardiac weakness, stomach pain, hiccups, and motion sickness. (1) Cardiac disorders: Palpitations, chest tightness, chest pain, arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, myocarditis, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease. (2) Gastric disorders: Stomach pain, vomiting, hiccups, belching. (3) Mental disorders: Headache, insomnia, depression, hysteria, epilepsy. (4) Meridian pathway disorders: Finger numbness, elbow and arm pain. (5) Emergency: Syncope, shock, heatstroke, needle syncope. (6) Others: Breast disorders, motion sickness, pulseless disease, thromboangiitis obliterans, knee pain, goiter, globus hystericus, hyperthyroidism, malaria, etc.
Precise Location
Located on the Pericardium Meridian, on the palmar side of the forearm, 2 cun above the center of the wrist crease.
Location Method
Bring the three fingers of the right hand together, place the ring finger on the left wrist crease – the point where the index finger rests at the center of the wrist is Neiguan.
Massage Method
Press vertically with the thumb tip or nail – a distinctly sore, distending, and slight painful sensation will occur. Apply once each morning and evening for 1–3 minutes on each side, left first then right. Therapeutic actions: Calms the heart and settles the spirit, regulates qi and relieves pain, harmonizes the stomach and descends rebellious qi.
Compatibility
Dysmenorrhea: Combine with Suliao (GV-25), Neiguan (PC-6), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Disease overview: Dysmenorrhea is spasmodic lower abdominal pain before, during, or after menstruation with systemic symptoms – classified as primary (functional, no pelvic organ abnormalities) and secondary (with organic lesions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, tumors). Massage sequence: Gently massage Suliao (at the tip of the nose) for 2 minutes, press Neiguan for 3 minutes, then scrape Sanyinjiao for 3 minutes. Morning sickness: Combine with Zhongwan (RN-12), Zusanli (ST-36), and Neiguan (PC-6). Stiff neck: Combine with Jianjing (GB-21), Jianliao (TE-14), Houxi (SI-3), Waiguan (TE-5), and Neiguan (PC-6). Stomach, heart, and chest disorders: Combine with Gongsun (SP-4). Various gastric disorders: Combine with Zhongwan (RN-12) and Zusanli (ST-36). Emergency: Combine with Shuigou (GV-26) and Yongquan (KI-1). Breast disorders: Combine with Hegu (LI-4), Taichong (LR-3), and Tanzhong (RN-17). Pulseless disease: Combine with Taiyuan (LU-9). Insomnia, palpitations, severe palpitations: Combine with Shenmen (HT-7). Heart qi deficiency: Combine with Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Hegu (LI-4), and Zusanli (ST-36). Manic disorders: Combine with Hegu (LI-4), Taichong (LR-3), Fenglong (ST-40), and Xinshu (BL-15). Various heart diseases: Combine with Jianshi (PC-5). Hypochondriac pain and abdominal distension: Combine with Taichong (LR-3) and Qimen (LR-14). Hiccups and vomiting: Combine with Gongsun (SP-4).
Efficacy & Actions
Neiguan belongs to the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and is the Luo-Connecting point of the Pericardium Meridian, one of the Eight Confluent Points, connecting to the Yin Wei Vessel. It regulates qi and soothes the chest, harmonizes the stomach and descends turbidity, nourishes the heart and calms the spirit, revives the mind and opens the orifices. It has broad clinical applications and high practicality, making it one of the most commonly used key points, mainly treating disorders of the stomach, heart, chest, and mental conditions. First documented in Lingshu · Jingmai. "Nei" refers to the interior of the chest and diaphragm, and the medial side of the forearm; "Guan" means pass or gateway. As one of the Eight Confluent Points connecting to the Yin Wei Vessel – Yin Wei disorders affect the zang organs – this point excels at treating internal organ disorders, hence the name Neiguan (Inner Pass). It is also known as "Yinwei." The Great Compendium records: "It treats wind-heat in the hand, loss of memory, heart pain, red eyes, and elbow contracture. For excess with sudden heart pain – reduce it; for deficiency with stiff neck – reinforce it." This point is highly effective for discomfort caused by improper diet, excessive alcohol consumption, persistent vomiting, or nausea. Regular massage of Neiguan also treats cardiovascular and digestive system disorders. (1) Common, Key, and Primary Point for Heart Disorders: As a Pericardium Meridian point, the Pericardium acts as the outer defense of the heart, receiving pathogens on behalf of the heart. Thus this point has excellent therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases and is the first choice for treating them. Neiguan has obvious bidirectional regulatory effects on the heart – reducing heart rate in tachycardia and increasing it in bradycardia – earning it the title "First Point for Heart Disease." It treats various cardiac conditions including palpitations, severe palpitations, heart pain, myocarditis, arrhythmia, premature beats, coronary heart disease, and other cardiac disorders. (2) Common Point for Mental Disorders: As a Pericardium Meridian point, the Pericardium is connected to the heart – the heart governs the spirit. Needling dispels pathogens, calms the heart, and settles the spirit, treating conditions such as stroke with pathogen invading the pericardium, phlegm-heat disturbing the spirit, and mental derangement – including hysteria, manic-depressive disorders, and insomnia. Clinically used for dizziness, insomnia, epilepsy, headache, depression, hysteria, and various other mental disorders. (3) Key Point for Stomach Disorders: As the Luo-Connecting point of the Pericardium Meridian connecting to the Sanjiao Meridian, and as an Eight Confluent Point connecting to the Yin Wei Vessel, it unblocks Sanjiao qi movement, descends rebellious qi and harmonizes the stomach, providing analgesic, antiemetic, and antispasmodic effects. Used for various stomach conditions including stomach pain, vomiting, and hiccups – especially effective for vomiting, earning it the title "First Point for Stopping Vomiting." Clinically combined with Zhongwan (RN-12) and Zusanli (ST-36) as the "Stomach Three Needles" for treating various gastric disorders. Often combined with Gongsun (SP-4) for stomach, heart, and chest disorders as part of the Eight Confluent Point application. (4) Effective Point for Upper Limb Flaccidity/Bi-Syndrome: The Pericardium Meridian "courses along the inner arm, between Taiyin and Shaoyin, enters the elbow, runs between the two tendons, enters the palm, follows the middle finger; its branch separates from the palm and runs along the ring finger to its end." According to "where the meridian passes, there it treats," it treats finger numbness, upper limb paralysis, and pain. (5) Common Point for Soothing the Liver and Relieving Depression: The Pericardium Meridian and the Liver Meridian are meridians of the same name – according to the principle "the same qi communicates," this point effectively soothes the liver and relieves depression. Clinically used for chest tightness, chest pain, belching, breast disorders due to liver qi stagnation, as well as headache, hypertension, and dizziness due to liver yang rising – often combined with Taichong (LR-3). (6) Key Emergency Point: As the Pericardium receives pathogens on behalf of the heart, and the heart governs the blood vessels, this point revives the brain, opens the orifices, and secures collapse. Used for heart yang decline, shock, hypotension, heatstroke, and syncope – often combined with Shuigou (GV-26) and Yongquan (KI-1).
Contraindications
The median nerve lies beneath Neiguan – needling should be performed with care. If the needle stimulates the nerve and sensation radiates to the middle finger, change the needling direction. Manipulation should not be too forceful to avoid injuring the median nerve. Moxibustion is permissible.
