ACUPUNCTURE
Nei Guan: TCM Acupoint Guide
NEIGUAN
Name
Nei Guan (Neiguan)
Location
Two cun proximal to the transverse crease of the wrist, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, on the line connecting PC-3 Quze and PC-7 Daling. Note: in the absence of the tendon of the palmaris longus, locate this point on the ulnar side of the flexor carpi radialis.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1.5 cun, reaching as far as SJ-5 Waiguan on the opposite side of the forearm. Sensation: local distention, soreness and numbness possibly extending to the fingertips.
- Slanted insertion pointed proximally, 1 to 2 cun, for diseases of the trunk. Sensation: a numb, distended sensation possibly extending to the elbow, axilla or chest.
- For numbness of the fingers, point the needle slightly toward the radial side of the arm, 0.3 to 0.5 cun. Sensation: a numb, electric sensation extending toward the fingertips.
- Oblique proximal insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun, for diseases of the chest.
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun, or joined to SJ-5 Waiguan.
- Caution: the median nerve lies directly beneath this point, and needling it commonly induces a significant electric sensation. This is an acceptable manifestation of De Qi, the arrival of Qi, but once elicited, further manipulation is inappropriate and may damage the nerve.
Command Functions
- Luo-Connecting point of the Pericardium channel
- Confluent (Master) point of the Yinwei Mai
- Coupled point of the Chong channel
Actions
- Regulates the Middle Jiao
- Regulates Heart Qi
- Regulates and tonifies Heart Qi, Yang, Yin and Blood
- Transforms Heart Phlegm
- Regulates and clears the San Jiao
- Facilitates Qi flow
- Regulates and opens the Yinwei Mai
- Regulates Jue Yin
- Clears Heart Fire
- Causes vasoconstriction
- Calms the Heart and Shen
- Suppresses pain
- Opens and unbinds the chest
- Reduces fear
- Clears the Brain
- Dispels Wind-Phlegm
- Regulates Liver Qi
- Regulates the qi of the Middle Jiao
- Harmonizes the Stomach
- Eliminates nausea and vomiting
- Spreads Liver Qi
- Clears Heat and Fire
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Dampness, Damp-Summerheat and Phlegm
- Calms the fetus
- Descends Rebellious Qi
- Benefits the diaphragm
- Expels gallstones
- Expedites and facilitates lactation
Indications
- Luo Mai Excess with Heart pain
- Sudden Heart pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Epigastric pain
- Stabbing epigastric pain
- Psychosis
- Cough
- Asthma
- Flexor and extensor disorders of the arm and hand
- Wind-Heat
- Cramping of the elbow
- Diseases of the neck, when reinforced
- Stomach ache
- Epilepsy
- Febrile diseases
- Malaria
- Depression
- All Stomach disorders
- Sunstroke
- Headache
- Summerheat diseases
- Rheumatic Heart disease
- Hyperthyroidism with excessive sweating
- Pain and shock, especially post-surgical
- Asphyxia due to near drowning
- Dizziness
- Postpartum dizziness
- Dysenteric disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation
- Childhood nutritional impairment with vomiting
- Acute diseases of the biliary tract
- Jaundice
- Yellow eyes
- Pancreatitis
- Appendicitis
- Migraine
- Epigastric distention
- Diarrhea with vomiting
- Morning sickness
- Acute mastitis
- Angina pectoris
- Tidal fever
- Apoplexy
- Pounding sensation of the Heart
- Disorders of Heart rate and rhythm
- Fear
- Fright
- Loss of memory following Windstroke
- Windstroke
- Deficiency cold of the Spleen and Stomach with incessant vomiting
- Disharmony of the Spleen and Stomach
- Blood masses
- Borborygmus
- Fever with no sweat
- Red eyes
- Cardiac pain
- Myocarditis
- Endocarditis
- Pericarditis
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- All disorders of the arm due to Wind or Heat
- Gastric pain
- Cerebral hemorrhage
- Postpartum syncope
- Postpartum vertigo
- Swollen and painful throat
- Pain associated with surgery
- Prolapsed rectum
- Cardiac asthenia
- Placenta does not descend
- Congestion of Blood in the eyes
- Cracked and bleeding tongue
- Palpitations
- Fright palpitations
- Shock
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Buerger's disease
- Chest pain and fullness
- Hiccups
- Contracture and pain of the elbow and arm
- Pre-cordial pain, when reduced
- Hypochondriac pain
- Mental disorders
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular menstruation
- Heavy period one month, followed by no period the next
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Collapsing syndrome
- Closed-type Windstroke
- Insanity
- Hysteria
- Seizures
- Stifling sensation in the chest
- Stuffiness of the chest with agitation of the Heart
- Depression with epigastric fullness
- Forgetfulness
- Bronchitis
- Pertussis
- Diaphragmatic spasms
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Dyspnea
- Gallstones
- Insufficient lactation due to Excess
- Neck ache on the occiput
- Stiffness and pain of the head and neck
- Pain of the lateral costal region and Heart in women
- Mania
- Apprehension
- Sadness
- Inability after Windstroke
- Hypertension
- Spleen and Stomach qi Deficiency with fullness and distention
- Low-grade abdominal pain
- Food masses
- Focal distention
- Diarrhea
- Hemafecia
- Red face with hot skin
- Painful urinary dysfunction
- Swelling of the axilla
- Inflammation of the Heart
- Neuralgia of the arm or elbow
- Brachial neuralgia
- Neuralgia of the forearm
- Abdominal pain with fullness of the chest
- Diaphragmatic spasm
- Migraine
- Hyperthyroidism
- Diseases of the chest
- Disharmony between the Stomach and Spleen
- Stomatitis
- Inflammation of the eyes
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| SP-4 Gongsun | Fullness of the chest and epigastrium with vomiting and diarrhea; Liver qi invades the Spleen; abdominal pain |
| LU-7 Lieque | Vague pulses |
| PC-5 Jianshi, HT-8 Shaofu | Rheumatic Heart disease |
| PC-5 Jianshi, ST-36 Zusanli | Angina pectoris |
| DU-25 Suliao | Low Blood pressure |
| KI-1 Yongquan, ST-36 Zusanli | Septic shock |
| KI-6 Zhaohai | Pain and lumps in the abdomen, quickly treating abdominal disease |
| REN-11 Jianli | Chest oppression |
| PC-3 Quze, PC-7 Daling | Heart and chest pain |
| HT-7 Shenmen, HT-9 Shaochong, GB-34 Yanglingquan | Fear and fright with Heart pain |
| SI-3 Houxi, HT-7 Shenmen, UB-15 Xinshu, SP-1 Yinbai | Epilepsy |
| ST-9 Renying, SJ-1 Guanchong, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, ST-36 Zusanli | Sudden turmoil disorder, headache, chest pain and dyspneic rales |
| LU-10 Yuji, ST-36 Zusanli | Difficult ingestion |
| ST-36 Zusanli, REN-12 Zhongwan | Abdominal pain |
| LIV-3 Taichong, REN-7 Yinjiao | Cracked and bleeding tongue |
| ST-25 Tianshu, ST-44 Neiting, SP-1 Yinbai, REN-6 Qihai, KI-6 Zhaohai | Red, bloody dysenteric disorder |
| ST-18 Rugen, REN-17 Shanzhong, SI-1 Shaoze, LIV-3 Taichong | Insufficient lactation due to Liver qi Stagnation |
Notes
A major point for Heart pain. The classical Yuan-Luo coupling of SJ-4 Yangchi with PC-6 Neiguan is rarely used. This is a major point for Stomach, Heart and Shen, a major point to suppress nausea, stop vomiting and relieve epigastric pain, and a major point for peripheral vascular disorders of the arm and hand. For the sides and chest, Neiguan is best. This is a major point for anesthesia during thoracic surgery, including open-heart surgery. This point is also known as the Perfect Love point, the Broken Heart Gate, the Gate to Success and the Conserver of Yin. It works on balance, especially the imbalance of the mind, and is the best point on the channel for restoring balance between the body and the mind. It treats all kinds of pain of the Zang Fu.
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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