Chinese Medicine Series 12: Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.2

Chinese Medicine Series 12:
Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.2

The following post is an excerpt from ’Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 2 from the chapter ‘The Hand Juéyīn Pericardium Network Channel & Points’ translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur. It explains succinctly why the points are named the way they are. This second volume completing the series is available at a reduced price compared to other outlets on the Purple Cloud Institute website:

https://purplecloudinstitute.com/…/explanations-of…/

Hand Juéyīn Pericardium Network Channel & Points:

思蓮子曰：心包絡，心之包也，爲手厥陰經，多血少氣。
Master Sīlián says, the pericardiac network is the wrapping of the heart, it is the hand juéyīn channel, its blood is copious and qì is scant.

心包絡第三穴曲澤
Third Point of the Pericardium Network
Qū Zé – Marsh at the Bend (PC-3)

注：水所聚者爲澤，此穴乃在肘臂曲折之處，故曰曲澤。又爲本經所入爲合水，亦爲澤象。
Explanation: a place where water accumulates is a Zé (Marsh); as this point is located at the place where the arm Qū (Bends) and extends, thus it is called Qū Zé (Marsh at the Bend). Also, it is where this channel enters as the uniting and water point, which also has the image of Zé (Marsh).

心包絡第六穴内
Sixth Point of the Pericardium Network
Nèi Guān –Inner Pass (PC-6)

注：穴名内關者，第四穴名郄門，而間使穴在於其中，既過門，而復有關焉。内者，與外相對也，皆離肘而入掌骨節交經之處，有關象焉，故曰關。又手厥陰别走手少陽之絡，亦有關象。《内經》云：手心主之别，名曰内關，去腕二寸，出於兩筋之間循經以上系於心包絡，心系實則心痛，虚則爲頭强，取之本穴。
Explanation: regarding the point name Nèi Guān (Inner Pass), the fourth point is called Xī Mén (PC-4, Cleft Gate), and Jiān Shǐ (PC-5, Intermediary Courier) is located between them; such that, after [the courier] has gone past the gate, there is another Guān (Pass) ahead. Nèi (Inner) is the counterpart of Outer,both of which are at the location where the channels intersect as they depart the elbow to enter the bone joints of the palm; as such, they both have the image of a Guān (Pass), thus they are called Guān (Pass).
In addition, as it is the network-vessel of the hand juéyīn that diverges to the hand shàoyáng, it also has the image of a Guān (Pass). The Nèijīng states, “The divergence of the hand heart governor, it is called Nèi Guān (Inner Pass); it is 2 cùn from the wrist, it emerges in the space between the two sinews and follows the channel in order to ascend and connect with the pericardiac network. When the heart connector is replete, there will be heart pain; when it is vacuous, there will be stiffness of the head; [in either case], choose this point.”

心包絡第七穴大陵
Seventh Point of the Pericardium Network
Dà Líng – Great Mound (PC-7)

注：陵者，土也，以此穴爲本經之腧穴，故曰陵。又其穴在掌後骨下，其上骨肉豐隆，而穴在其下，故曰大陵。
Explanation: Líng (Mound) is earth, as this point is the stream point147 of this channel, thus it is Líng (Mound). In addition, this point is located behind the palm and below the bone; above this [point], the flesh and blood are bountiful and
bulging, as this point is located at the base of it, thus it is called Dà Líng (Great Mound).

心包絡第八穴勞宫
Eighth Point of the Pericardium Network
Láo Gōng – Palace of Toil (PC-8)

一名五里
Alternate name: Five Li

一名掌中
Alternate name: Centre of the Palm

注：人勞於思，則此穴之脈大動，蓋以此穴爲本經之火，心勞則火動，火動則脈大動於此穴，故曰勞宫。禁灸者，以火濟火，而心火愈熾也。
Explanation: when a person Láo (Toils) oneself in contemplation, there will be great pulsations at this point, because this point is the fire [point] of this channel. When the heart is Láo (Toiled), fire will be stirred up; when the fire is stirred, there will be a great pulsation of the vessel at this point, thus it is called Láo Gōng (Palace of Toil). Moxibustion is prohibited, as this is fire assisting fire, which will make the heart fire ever more intense.

PS: The original work is extensively footnoted, which is omitted in this abbreviated post.
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PPPS: Image Source: Wellcome Collection