ACUPUNCTURE
Shen Men: TCM Acupoint Guide
SHENMEN
Name
Shen Men (Shenmen)
Location
At the wrist joint, on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris, in the depression at the proximal border of the pisiform bone. Note: when it is necessary to needle a patient in the prone position with the arms toward the head, this point may be located and needled on the ulnar side of the flexor carpi ulnaris, very close to the tendon insertion, with the needle directed toward the radial side.
Needling
- Straight insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, pointed slightly toward the ulnar side, causing local distention and soreness and possibly a numb, electric sensation extending toward the fingertips.
- Caution: the ulnar artery and ulnar nerve lie adjacent to this point.
- Perpendicular insertion, 0.3 to 0.5 cun, or oblique insertion proximally, medially or distally, 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Shu-stream point
- Yuan-source point
- Sedation point
Actions
- Calms the Spirit
- Regulates and tonifies the Heart
- Pacifies the Heart
- Clears the channels
- Nourishes Heart Blood
- Opens the Orifices
Indications
- Insomnia
- Frequent talking during sleep
- Poor memory
- Mania-depression
- Epilepsy
- Dementia
- Desire to laugh
- Mad laughter
- Insulting people
- Sadness
- Fear and fright
- Disorientation
- Restless Zang disorder
- Agitation of the Heart
- Malaria accompanied by agitation of the Heart
- Malaria with irritability
- Loss of voice
- Wrist Bi
- Pain in the sides
- Yellow sclera
- Tongue paralysis
- Neurasthenia
- Absent-mindedness
- Heart disease
- Angina pectoris
- Mental illness
- Paralysis of the hypoglossal muscle
- Hypertension
- Hyperthyroidism with dream-disturbed sleep
- Desire for cold drinks
- Fever and chills, chills predominant
- Bloody stool
- Pulmonary tuberculosis with irritability and insomnia
- Delirious speech
- Nocturnal emission
- Electric shock
- Loss of taste
- Stress
- Lack of determination
- Hallucinations
- Uncontrollable talkativeness
- Sensation of Heat in the Heart with pain
- Schizophrenia
- Madly running around
- Palms of the hands very hot
- Protracted chills
- Fever of short duration
- Heart pain
- Palpitations
- Fright palpitations
- Pounding of the Heart
- Throat Bi
- Dry throat with no desire to drink
- Vomiting Blood
- Yellow eyes
- Pain of the lateral costal region
- Red face
- Heat of the palms
- Dyspnea with Heat in the body
- Shortness of breath
- Cold shivering
- Enuresis
- Easily frightened
- Apprehension
- Irritability
- Psychosis
- Hysteria
- Nervous palpitations
- Seizures
- Jaundice
- Rib pain
- Panting
- Sensation of the Heart being enlarged
- Dizziness
- Aphasia
- Asthmatic wheezing
- Malaise
- Hemoptysis
- Eczema with intense itching
- Hyperactivity
- Restlessness
- Urinary incontinence
- Impotence
- Heart failure
- General weakness
- Stuttering
- Suffocation
- Psychopathy
- Madness
- Madness with crying or crazy laughter
- Excessive dreaming
- Heat penetrating the Heart
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| HT-9 Shaochong, GB-34 Yanglingquan, PC-6 Neiguan | Fear and fright with Heart pain |
| LIV-5 Ligou, REN-14 Juque | Fright palpitations with diminished Qi |
| LIV-1 Dadun, LU-10 Yuji | Heart Bi, sadness and fear |
| UB-15 Xinshu, ST-41 Jiexi, PC-7 Daling | Weeping with grief |
| LU-11 Shaoshang, KI-1 Yongquan, UB-15 Xinshu | Dementia |
| SI-5 Yanggu | Manic laughter |
| ST-42 Chongyang, SI-3 Houxi | Mania, desires to ascend to high places and sing, discards clothes and runs around |
| REN-13 Shangwan | Manic rushing around |
| PC-6 Neiguan, SI-3 Houxi, UB-15 Xinshu, SP-1 Yinbai | Epilepsy |
| REN-15 Jiuwei, SI-3 Houxi | The five types of epilepsy |
| UB-14 Jueyinshu, GB-41 Zulinqi | Heart pain |
| PC-3 Quze, LU-10 Yuji | Hematemesis |
| ST-22 Guanmen, LU-1 Zhongfu or LU-10 Yuji, LIV-3 Taichong, LIV-1 Dadun, REN-4 Guanyuan | Enuresis |
| ST-22 Guanmen, UB-40 Weizhong or UB-28 Pangguangshu, HT-5 Tongli, LIV-1 Dadun, LIV-3 Taichong, UB-40 Weizhong | Enuresis |
| UB-15 Xinshu, PC-6 Neiguan, GB-34 Yanglingquan joined to SP-9 Yinlingquan | Cardiac arrhythmia |
Notes
An essential point to treat all disorders of the Spirit and all Deficiency disorders of the Heart. It is the foremost point to calm and regulate the Spirit. It has a sedative and regulatory function on the Internal organs. This is known as a courage point. It is a first aid point for shock, and is said to raise the I.Q.
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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