ACUPUNCTURE
Hun Men: TCM Acupoint Guide
Name
Hun Men (Hunmen)
Location
3 cun lateral to the midline, level with the lower border of the spinous process of the ninth thoracic vertebra and level with UB-18 Ganshu. Note: when the shoulder is relaxed, the 3 cun line corresponds to the medial border of the scapula.
Needling
- Caution: deep perpendicular or deep oblique needling in a medial direction carries a substantial risk of causing pneumothorax.
- Slanted insertion, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Oblique insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Puncture obliquely, 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Actions
- Regulates Liver qi
- Roots the Etherial Soul, Hun
- Spreads Liver qi
- Relaxes the sinews
- Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
- Drains Heat from the Liver
Indications
- Pain in the chest and hypochondria region
- Back pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hopelessness
- Stress
- Long-term frustration
- Hypertension
- Jaundice
- Borborygmus
- Contraction of the sinews
- Bone and joint pain of the whole body
- Aversion to Wind and Cold
- Neurasthenia
- Liver and Gall Bladder diseases
- Pleurisy
- Stomachache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Long-term resentment
- Mid-back pain and stiffness
- Difficulty swallowing food
- Fullness and distention of the chest and lateral costal regions
- Irregular defecation
- Dark urine
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| UB-18 Ganshu | Liver qi stagnation |
| UB-13 Feishu, LU-2 Yunmen, LU-1 Zhongfu, SP-1 Yinbai, LIV-14 Qimen, PC-7 Daling | Chest pain |
| UB-21 Weishu | Cold Stomach with difficulty digesting food |
Notes
Used for emotional problems related to the Liver, and generally for cleansing the spiritual soul. Good for alcoholics and drug addicts, and it helps get off medication. When used with UB-18 Ganshu, it can increase a person's capacity for life planning by grounding and steadying the Hun. It can help one find a sense of direction and purpose in life.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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