ACUPUNCTURE
Xin Shu: TCM Acupoint Guide
XINSHU
Name
Xin Shu (Xinshu)
Location
1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra, level with DU-11 Shendao. Note: locate at the highest point of the paraspinal muscles.
Needling
- Transverse insertion, pointed downward along the muscle, 1 to 2 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness.
- Caution: perpendicular insertion, or oblique insertion away from the spine, carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.
- Caution: care should be taken not to insert the needle too deeply, to avoid puncturing the Lung.
- Straight insertion, slanted slightly toward the spine, 1 to 1.5 cun. Sensation: local distention and soreness sometimes extending towards the ribs.
- Transverse-oblique insertion, 1 to 1.5 cun.
- Oblique insertion towards the spine, 0.5 to 1 cun.
- Puncture obliquely, 0.5 to 0.7 cun.
- Moxibustion is applicable.
Command Functions
- Back-Shu, Associated, point of the Heart
Actions
- Regulates and tonifies the Heart
- Nourishes the Heart
- Regulates the Upper Jiao
- Tonifies Ancestral qi
- Clears Heart Fire
- Regulates Heart qi
- Cools Blood Heat
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Heart phlegm
- Expands and relaxes the chest
- Calms the Shen
- Calms the Heart
- Strengthens, stimulates and clears the Brain
- Transforms Wind-Phlegm
- Invigorates the Blood
- Regulates qi and Blood
Indications
- Menopausal syndrome
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Rheumatic Heart disease
- Neurasthenia
- Mutism
- Night sweats
- Fever and chills
- Cough with or without Blood
- Epistaxis
- Dream-disturbed sleep
- Insomnia
- Nocturnal emissions with erotic dreams
- Heart Fire
- Mental retardation in children
- Atrial fibrillation
- Psychosis
- Vomiting without eating
- Spermatorrhea
- Cardiac pain
- Palpitations
- Palpitations with fear
- Heart pain
- Oppression of the chest with restlessness
- Worried and oppressed sensation in the chest with inability to catch the breath
- Irregular pulse
- Heart qi Deficiency in children
- Vomiting
- Hematemesis
- Difficult ingestion
- Redness of the lips accompanied by sweating
- Lack of strength in the root of the tongue
- Eye pain
- Windstroke
- White turbidity
- Chest pain with irritability and depression
- Chest pain penetrating the upper back
- Five-sole Heat
- Seizures
- Mania
- Hysteria
- Hallucinations
- Depression
- Forgetfulness
- Disorientation
- Anxiety and palpitations
- Arrhythmias
- Heart Yin Deficiency Heat
- Tachycardia
- Hemoptysis
- Tidal fevers
- Absent-mindedness
- Panic
- Epilepsy
- Irritability
- Weeping with grief
- Frightened and cautious with Heart Deficiency
- Excessive dreaming
- Delayed speech development
- Mania-depression
- Dementia
- Mad walking
- Seminal emission
- Lachrymation
- Hemiplegia
- Jaundice
Combinations
| Points | Indications |
|---|---|
| REN-14 Juque | Neurasthenia, agitation of the Heart |
| UB-14 Jueyinshu | Rheumatic Heart disease |
| HT-7 Shenmen, PC-6 Neiguan, GB-34 Yanglingquan or SP-9 Yinlingquan | Cardiac arrhythmias |
| HT-7 Shenmen, ST-40 Fenglong | Pulmonary Heart disease |
| UB-17 Geshu, SP-10 Xuehai, SP-6 Sanyinjiao | Buerger's disease |
| UB-23 Shenshu | Weak Kidneys and lumbar region with spermatorrhea |
| HT-7 Shenmen, ST-41 Jiexi, PC-7 Daling | Weeping with grief |
| SJ-10 Tianjing, DU-11 Shendao | Sadness, anxiety and disorientation |
| SJ-10 Tianjing, REN-14 Juque | Heart disorientation |
| HT-7 Shenmen, LU-11 Shaoshang, KI-1 Yongquan | Dementia |
| PC-6 Neiguan, SI-3 Houxi, HT-7 Shenmen, SP-1 Yinbai | Epilepsy |
| UB-18 Ganshu, ST-12 Quepen, REN-14 Juque, REN-15 Jiuwei | Coughing and spitting Blood |
| UB-11 Dazhu | Depression in the chest |
Notes
A very important point for many Heart conditions. Use with moxibustion to stimulate the brain; be careful, only three cones per treatment. It is equally useful for Excess and Deficiency.
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.
Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.
Did this article help you?
Your answer shapes what gets rewritten next.
Keep readingRelated entries
Tian Zong: TCM Acupoint Guide
Tian Zong (Tianzong). On the scapula, in the center of the infraspinous fossa, in the depression one-third of the distance from the midpoint of the inferior.
Kuan Jiu: TCM Acupoint Guide
Kuan Jiu (Kuanjiu) is 0.5 cun directly above the greater trochanter of the femur. Needling: straight insertion, 1.5-2 cun. Indications: relaxed hip joint.
Bai Hui: TCM Acupoint Guide
Bai Hui (Baihui). On the midline of the head, at the vertex, in the depression halfway between the frontal hairline and the external occipital protuberance.
Lan Wei Xue: TCM Acupoint Guide
Lan Wei Xue (Lanweixue) is about 2 cun distal to ST-36 Zusanli on the right leg. Actions: activates qi and blood, clears heat and fire toxicity from the.
Something this article did not cover?
Ask us directly. We reply within two days, and good questions become public articles.
Ask a question →