I love teaching about the Heart Meridian as it contains so many beautiful points to treat mental-emotional issues AND it only contains 9 acupoints (as opposed to the 67 acupoints of the Bladder Meridian - eek!).

However, one point stands out compared to most and I want to tell you all about its properties and how to use it in practice for great effect. ❤️

About the Heart in Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine places great importance on the ‘Heart Organ’, which is slightly different to what we consider the Heart in Western Medicine.

Chinese Medicine considers Organs as abstract or functional entities rather than truly physical entities with tissues, plugs and valves.

The ‘Heart’ in Chinese Medicine is responsible for circulating Blood (a function similar to Western Medicine), so acupoints on the Heart Meridian can be used to treat physical heart disease or cardiac issues. 🫀

The Heart is the Home of the Spirit

The Chinese Heart is also the home of the ‘Shen’ or ‘Mind’, one of the five concepts of the ‘Spirit’ in Chinese Medicine (the others being the Po, Hun, Zhi and Yi).

The Shen is responsible for compassion, love, and connectedness to Higher Self. It is thus not surprising that points on the Heart Meridian can be used for great effect to treat mental-emotional issues. ❤️

The Shen retreats to the Heart at night and so a healthy Shen and Heart are also very important for a good night’s sleep. 😴

Western Medicine is just recognising the importance of the heart as a ‘third’ brain (after the actual brain and guts) as the heart has its own nerve network and electro-magnetic field (which extends about 6 feet away in a human).

The Best Heart Meridian Acupoint to Treat Mental-Emotional Issues

The best point on the Heart Meridian to treat mental-emotional issues is Heart 7 (or HE7) as it is the ‘Source’ Point of the Heart (meaning that it receives the maximum energy).

In Small Animals, Heart 7 is located in the lateral crease of the carpus on the front leg. To find HE7, flex the carpus and palpate the side to find the ‘wrist’ crease. At the front and deepest area of the crease you will find Heart 7. Needle with a 13 mm needle to about 5 mm depth.

HE 7 The point lies just behind the styloid process, on the postero-lateral aspect of the wrist, on the wrist crease. Insertion is into the depression with a 13mm needle inserted about 4mm deep. (C) Animal Acupuncture Academy.

In Horses, Heart 7 is also located on the lateral side of the front leg but more towards the top of the fetlock (at around 11 o’clock viewed from above). Needle again with a 13 mm needle at a depth of 5 mm.

HE7 is located just above the front fetlock and antero-lateral. Insertion max of 5mm. (C) Animal Acupuncture Academy.

How to Use Heart 7

The main action of HE7 is to Calm the Mind or Calm the Shen.

This means that HE7 can be used if an animal is anxious, agitated, restless, stressed, over-vocalizing, or has insomnia.

I am sure you can think of many applications for HE7 in an animal’s life, for example going to competitions, the vets, or when changing homes or going on holidays. You can also use HE7 in a preventative way to prevent any anxiety about these events or just to relax the animal further during an acupuncture treatment.

Heart 7 is a very gentle point and is well tolerated in most cases.

Heart 7 can also be used in conjunction with two friends, Lung 9 (LU9) and Pericardium 6 (PC6) to form a ‘triangle’ on the front leg of the animal. This triangle is called ‘Buddha’s triangle’ and is excellent to relax all animals, once you have mastered the use of HE7.

Perhaps I am a bit simplistic, but I always tell my students that there is only one point on the Heart Meridian to remember and know how to needle - Heart 7. How easy!

Summary

There you have it, the most powerful point of the Heart meridian. Hopefully this blog post has made you curious about what it would be like to study Animal Acupuncture. The AAA Certificate in Animal Acupuncture breaks down acupuncture into simple steps that are easy to learn.

If you would like to join us in our course and community, please click here for more information. If you are a current AAA student, this blog post may have shed some new light on one of your favourite acupoints!