HT 6 Yīn Xì — Yin Cleft
陰郄 | Yīn Xì | Heart 6
Overview
HT 6 (Yīn Xì — 阴鋇) is the Xi-Cleft point of the Heart meridian and one of the most important points for nourishing Heart Yin and stopping night sweats. Its name — "Yin Cleft" — reflects its function of accessing the deeper Yin levels of the Heart to clear empty heat and restore the balance of Yin and Yang within the chest.
As the Xi-Cleft (Accumulation) point of the Heart channel, HT 6 is particularly effective for acute and severe conditions involving the Heart — acute chest pain from Blood stasis, panic attacks, sudden emotional disturbance and bleeding from the upper body. For further information on the Heart meridian and the acupuncture points along it, see the acupuncture points directory.
I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto, a member of the British Acupuncture Council with 25+ years of clinical experience. I use HT 6 as part of individually tailored acupuncture prescriptions at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.
Location
On the palmar (anterior) aspect of the forearm, on the radial side of the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris, 0.5 cun proximal to the transverse wrist crease — half a cun above HT 7 (Shén Mén), on the line connecting HT 7 to HT 3.
Needling
Perpendicular insertion, 0.3–0.5 cun. Moxibustion is applicable. Take care to avoid the ulnar artery and nerve, which pass along the ulnar side of the tendon.
Important: Acupuncture should only be performed by a fully qualified practitioner. Never attempt self-needling. All needles I use are sterile, single-use and disposed of immediately after treatment in a clinical sharps container.
Classical Actions
- Nourishes Heart Yin
- Clears Empty Heat
- Stops sweating, in particular night sweats
- Calms the Shen (spirit)
- Invigorates Blood and relieves stasis in the chest
- Regulates counterflow Qi and stops bleeding
Indications
HT 6 is clinically indicated for a wide range of Heart and Yin-deficiency patterns. The most common presentations include:
- Night sweats — particularly from Yin deficiency with Empty Heat; often combined with KI 7 (Fù Liū) or SI 3 (Hòu Xī)
- Five-palm heat and steaming bone disorder — the classical Yin-deficiency heat pattern
- Palpitations and anxiety — especially when associated with Heart Yin or Heart Blood deficiency
- Insomnia, mental restlessness and difficulty falling asleep
- Acute chest pain from Heart Blood stasis — the Xi-Cleft point is invaluable for acute presentations
- Panic attacks and sudden emotional disturbance, mania, shock
- Sudden loss of voice (aphonia)
- Haemoptysis and epistaxis — bleeding from rebellious Qi rising upward
- Menopausal hot flushes with night sweats — an important point in combination formulas
Point Category
Xi-Cleft (Accumulation) point of the Heart channel. Xi-Cleft points are used preferentially for acute conditions along their meridian and for bleeding disorders.
Clinical Combinations
- HT 6 with KI 7 — for night sweats from Yin deficiency
- HT 6 with HT 7, PC 6 and SP 6 — for palpitations, anxiety and insomnia
- HT 6 with SI 3 — a classical pairing for night sweats
- HT 6 with CV 14 (Jù Què) — for acute chest pain and anxiety
TCM Patterns Treated
HT 6 is used as part of tailored acupuncture prescriptions for conditions including:
Each treatment is individually designed following a full TCM assessment. I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Visit the prices page for consultation fees.
Return to the acupuncture points directory or the acupuncture main page.
