少海 (Shàohǎi) — Lesser Sea
Heart channel · point 3
Traditionally used for
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Cough & breathing
- Mood & calm
- Nerves & recovery
- Heart & circulation
Location
On the anteromedial aspect of the elbow, just anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, level with the cubital crease; with the elbow flexed, midway between the medial end of the cubital crease and the medial epicondyle.
How to locate: With the elbow flexed and the forearm turned palm up, find the medial end of the elbow crease and move toward the medial epicondyle; the point is in the depression about midway between the two.
Distances are in cun, a proportional unit — how to measure.
3D view
3D view not available for this point: its position can't be carried onto the 3D model reliably (it failed a placement check). The 2D maps above show it.
Needling
Cited needling
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Oblique insertion — distally or proximally, or directed towards Quchi LI11Depth 0.5–1.5 cunskindeeper
Depths describe average adult habitus in the cited population, never a single safe number for the patient in front of you. Palpate and adjust.
Sources (1)
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Hove: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications; 1998 — p. 214 Supports: techniques (names this point)
Site notes · not cited
Functions
- Calms the spirit and clears Heart fire
- Transforms phlegm and dissipates nodules
- Activates the channel and benefits the elbow
Indications
Balance Method partners
Under Dr. Tan's six systems, HT3 at the elbow balances these channels at the regions its segment images.
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1. Same Chinese nameKidney channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Kidney channel →
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2. Branching (Bie Jing / Zang Fu Bie Tong)Gallbladder channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Gallbladder channel →
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3. Interior–exterior pairSmall Intestine channelElbow · Same segment, opposite sideUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Small Intestine channel →
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4. Chinese clock oppositeGallbladder channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Gallbladder channel →
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5. Chinese clock neighbourSpleen channelKnee, Back of knee · Mirror (arm ↔ leg)Knee, Back of knee · Reversed mirrorUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Spleen channel →
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6. Same channelHeart channelElbow · Same segment, opposite sideUpper abdomen, Lower back · Image, head at the hand/footChest, Upper back · Image, head toward the elbow/kneeSolve for the Heart channel →
Classical calendar method · 子午流注
When the tables open HT3
The hours Zi Wu Liu Zhu names this point at, by method. Times are the double-hour's start in UTC.
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丁丑 01:00–03:00 Na Jia Fa, 己-day sequence · He-Sea (合)
「丁丑時合少海心」
Next: Fri 23 Oct, 01:00
A classical reference, not a recommendation: the tables say when the method opens this point, not that it is the point to needle. Open points by the hour →
Clinical Notes
Combinations Using This Point
Sources
- World Health Organization. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region. Manila: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2008. (Location.)
- Focks C, ed. Atlas of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2008. (Locating method and actions.)
📝 Notes
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