Shenmen (HT7)
Shenmen (HT7), “Spirit Gate”, is a point on the Heart meridian. It is point 7 of the 9 on the channel. Calms the mind (Shen), nourishes the Heart, clears heart fire, treats all Shen disturbances.
Location
At the wrist crease, in the depression at the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
Functions according to tradition
Calms the mind (Shen), nourishes the Heart, clears heart fire, treats all Shen disturbances. The most important point for the mind.
Traditional indications
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Palpitations
- Depression
- Poor memory
- Mania
- Cardiac neurosis
Indications described by tradition; they do not amount to proven clinical effectiveness for each one.
What its classification means
Where the original Qi of the organ manifests. Tradition uses it both to examine and to treat the channel's organ.
Third of the transport points: the Qi “flows”. It is associated with heaviness of the body and joint pain; in the yin channels it coincides with the Source point.
Precautions
No specific contraindications. Avoid the ulnar artery, which lies nearby.
Points on other channels with similar indications
They share several traditional indications with this point. Comparing them helps understand why one or the other is chosen.
- GV11 Shendao (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Anxiety, Insomnia, Palpitations, Poor memory
- PC6 Neiguan (Pericardium): Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Palpitations
- BL15 Xinshu (Bladder): Anxiety, Insomnia, Palpitations, Poor memory
- EX-HN22 Anmian (Extraordinary points): Anxiety, Insomnia, Palpitations
- GV20 Baihui (Du Mai (Governing Vessel)): Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia
- CV14 Juque (Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)): Anxiety, Insomnia, Palpitations
Point profile
- Code
- HT7
- Pinyin name
- Shén Mén
- Characters
- 神门
- Translation
- Spirit Gate
- Meridian
- Heart
- Element
- Fire
- Classification
- Yuan-Source, Shu-Stream
- Topics
- Mental, Insomnia, Anxiety
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
