ACUPUNCTURE
Shao Hai: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHAOHAI
Name
Shao Hai (Shaohai)
Location
With the elbow fully flexed, midway between PC-3 Quze and the medial epicondyle of the humerus, at the medial end of the transverse cubital crease.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.5 to 1.5 cun, causing local distention and soreness, or an electric, numb sensation extending through the forearm.
- Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
- Oblique insertion, distally or proximally, or directed toward LI-11 Quchi, 0.5 to 1.5 cun.
- Note: according to a number of classical sources, moxibustion is contraindicated.
Command Functions
- He-Sea (Uniting) point
- Water point
Actions
- Calms the Shen
- Clears the vessels
- Transforms Phlegm
- Clears Heat
- Activates the channel
- Benefits the arm
- Invigorates the collaterals
- Relaxes the tendons
Indications
- Neurasthenia
- Psychosis
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Ulnar nerve neuralgia
- Lymphadenitis
- Numbness of the forearm
- Diseases of the elbow
- Pain in the cardiac and hypochondriac regions
- Pain in the shoulder and arm
- Chest pain with nausea and vomiting
- Hand tremors
- Fever and chills
- Sudden loss of voice
- Inability to turn the head
- Inability to lift the arm
- Swelling
- Any Damp condition
- Pleurisy
- Coughing with mucus
- Swelling which causes immobility of the limbs
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Fainting
- Dry cough
- Heart pain
- Fullness of the chest
- Pain in the lateral costal region
- Mania and laughter
- Tongue thrusting
- Vomiting of foamy, watery saliva
- Scrofula
- Trembling of the hand and arm
- Numbness of the upper limb
- Inability to raise the four limbs
- Mental retardation
- Sequelae of windstroke
- Contracture of the elbow
- Contracture causing fixation of the elbow
- Elbow joint arthritis
- Goiter
- Torticollis
- Cold fingers
- Sensation of energy rising to the top of the body
- Hiccups
- Headache and dizziness
- Visual dizziness
- Stiff neck
- Toothache
- Chest pain
- Vomiting
- Nodular growths in the neck
- Pain in the axilla
- Absent-mindedness
- Madness
- Debility of the limbs
- Seizures
- Disorientation
- Pain due to dental caries
- Attack of Cold and/or Heat
- Vertigo
- Madness with agitation
- High fever
- Lack of stability
- Nervous exhaustion
- Glandular diseases
- Tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis
- Stuttering
- Muteness
- Lack of articulation with words
- Hesitant speech
- Mouth parched
- Stiff tongue
- Flaccid tongue
- Red eyes
- Toothache accompanied by chills and fever
- Erosion and swelling of the gums
- Swelling and pain of the elbow joint
- Flaccidity of the elbow
- Wind Bi
- Hypomania
- Atrophy syndrome
- Heart pain with nausea and vomiting
- Heart pain with hand tremors
- Pain in the nape of the neck
- Schizophrenia
- Ulnar nerve neuralgia
- Epilepsy, bleats like a lamb
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| LI-10 Shousanli | Numbness in the arm |
| M-HN-54 Anmian, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Neurasthenia |
| ST-33 Yinshi | Chest pain |
| DU-27 Duiduan, GB-13 Benshen | Vomiting of foam |
| KI-9 Zhubin | Vomiting of foamy, watery saliva |
| PC-1 Tianchi, LIV-13 Zhangmen, GB-41 Zulinqi, SJ-6 Zhigou, GB-38 Yangfu, GB-21 Jianjing, LI-10 Shousanli or SJ-10 Tianjing | Scrofula |
| SI-7 Zhizheng, LU-10 Yuji, LI-4 Hegu, LI-11 Quchi, SI-4 Wangu | Manic raving, fear and fright |
| ST-24 Huaroumen, LI-7 Wenliu | Stiff tongue and tongue thrusting |
| LI-10 Shousanli | Stubborn numbness of both forearms |
Contraindications
Some sources say that moxibustion is contraindicated. Some sources say that cauterization is to be used in emergency situations only.
Notes
This is a very calming point, even with acupressure. This is a first aid point for exhaustion. It is a reservoir of vital Qi. This is an important point for numbness and trembling of the arm and hand and disorders of the elbow. This is a special point for scrofula.
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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