Tongli Point (HT-5 / Connecting Interior)
Discover the exact location and acupressure method for Tongli (HT-5 / Connecting Interior). Learn its benefits for calming the spirit, restoring voice, treating palpitations, insomnia, and aphasia – the Heart meridian Luo-Connecting point – plus classic combinations for comprehensive treatment.
Indications
Heart pain, palpitations, headache, dizziness, night sweats, and wrist-arm pain. (1) Mental disorders: Insomnia, excessive dreaming, intellectual disability, forgetfulness, phobias, neurasthenia, schizophrenia, hysteria. (2) Aphonia disorders: Sudden loss of voice, stiff tongue with inability to speak. (3) Cardiac disorders: Palpitations, severe palpitations, angina pectoris, arrhythmia. (4) Others: Wrist-arm pain, childhood enuresis, wooden tongue, double tongue, etc.
Precise Location
In the anterior forearm region, 1 cun above the distal palmar wrist crease, at the radial border of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
Location Method
With the palm facing up and the fist clenched tightly, locate the point along the medial edge of the tendon on the little finger side, 1 finger-width (approximately 1 cun) above the wrist crease – firm pressure produces a distinct sore and distending sensation.
Massage Method
① Massage: Press, knead, or pluck with the thumb. ② Scraping therapy: Scrape from top to bottom for 3–5 minutes, once every other day. Pressing, kneading, or plucking Tongli with the thumb treats forearm numbness and palpitations. Therapeutic actions: Calms the spirit and soothes the mind, resolves stasis and restores voice, clears heat and relieves pain.
Compatibility
Epilepsy: Combine with Lingdao (HT-4) and Yinxi (HT-6). Aphasia: Combine with Lianquan (RN-23) and Yamen (GV-15). Chest impediment with heart pain: Combine with Neiguan (PC-6) and Xinshu (BL-15). Arrhythmia: Combine with Xinshu (BL-15). Headache and dizziness: Combine with Taiyang (EX-HN5), Baihui (GV-20), and Fengchi (GB-20). Insomnia: Combine with Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Medial wrist-arm pain: Combine with Wangu (SI-4). Vocal cord hoarseness and paralysis: Combine with Lieque (LU-7) and Zhaohai (KI-6). Stiff tongue with inability to speak: Combine with Lianquan (RN-23) and Yamen (GV-15). Excessive menstrual bleeding: Combine with Xingjian (LR-2) and Sanyinjiao (SP-6). Wind headache with red face and eyes: Combine with Jiexi (ST-41).
Efficacy & Actions
Calms the spirit and soothes the mind, resolves stasis and restores voice. Based on its properties, it is clinically used for mental disorders and aphonia. Tongli is the Luo-Connecting point of the Heart Meridian, branching to the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. It calms the spirit and soothes the mind, stabilizes the exterior and restores voice, clears heat and relieves pain. It is used for heart pain, palpitations, severe palpitations, and many other conditions – the Heart Meridian point with the widest range of applications. First documented in Lingshu · Jingmai. The pathway is "Tong" (to connect); the gathering place of meridian qi is "Li" (interior). As the Luo-Connecting point of the Heart Meridian connecting to the Small Intestine Meridian, and where Heart Meridian qi converges – it is named Tongli (Connecting Interior). (1) Treats Aphasia and Speech Disorders: Tongli is a commonly used point for aphasia, especially effective for acute and chronic laryngitis, vocal cord polyps and nodules, and hysterical aphonia. The throat is a key pathway for meridians – the Heart Meridian "ascends from the heart system, passes along the throat, and connects to the eye system." Speech is the voice of the heart, and the tongue is one of the speech organs – "the branch of the Heart Meridian enters the heart and connects to the root of the tongue." Thus Tongli is used to treat loss of voice by unblocking the heart vessel, benefiting heart qi, clearing the throat, and facilitating the tongue. (2) Treats Mental Disorders: As the Luo-Connecting point of the Heart Meridian, it nourishes heart blood and calms the spirit – used for palpitations, severe palpitations, insomnia, excessive dreaming, heart pain, hysteria, and other mental conditions, often combined with Sanyinjiao (SP-6) and Shenmen (HT-7). (3) Treats Tongue Disorders: As the Luo-Connecting point of the Heart Meridian branching to the Small Intestine, the heart opens to the tongue – the collateral of the Heart Meridian connects to the root of the tongue, and the Small Intestine Meridian ascends to the throat – making it especially effective for stiff tongue, tongue sores, wooden tongue, and double tongue, often combined with Jinjin (EX-HN12) and Yuye (EX-HN13) for bloodletting. (4) Other Therapeutic Effects: Also used for hiccups, wrist-arm pain, childhood enuresis, mouth pain, anhidrosis, distension, and metrorrhagia. A clinical report: needling Tongli and Dazhong (KI-4) for childhood enuresis – 1 cun needle inserted to 5 fen depth, retained for 15–30 minutes with one manipulation, 10 sessions as one course (1–3 courses). Of 30 cases, 24 cured, 4 improved, 2 ineffective – 93% total effective rate.
Contraindications
When locating Tongli, the wrist should be relaxed with the palm upright – identify the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. Needling should not be too deep to avoid injury to blood vessels and nerves. Moxibustion is generally not used.
