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Alternate names: 曲节 qū jié, Bending Joint

Channel: HT, hand lesser yīn (shào yīn) heart channel

Modern location: An acupoint located at the bend of the elbow, at the medial end of the cubital crease, in the depression just anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Classical location: On the inner side of the elbow, behind the joint, off the big bone [i.e., the medial epicondyle of the humerus], five fēn from the tip of the elbow when the arm is flexed toward the head. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The basilic vein, the inferior ulnar collateral artery, the ulnar recurrent artery and vein. The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

Action: Courses heart qì; clears the pericardium; stabilizes the spirit-mind; transforms phlegm-drool.

Modern indications: Heart pain; hypertonicity of the elbow; armpit and rib-side pain; scrofula.

Classical indications: Toothache; headache and dizziness; ejection of foamy drool; trembling hands and hypertonicity of the elbow; axillary pain; forgetfulness; mania and withdrawal; qì counterflow; numbness in both arms; heart pain.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.3‒0.8 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3‒5 cones; pole 5‒15 min.

Point groups: Uniting (hé) (water) point.

Point name meaning:

• 少 shào: lesser, minor (also shǎo, few, little
• 海 hǎi: sea

HT-3 is the uniting (hé) point of the heart channel as well as the water point. Where the waters unite is the sea; because this is the lesser yīn (shào yīn) channel, this point is called Lesser Sea. The quality of the qì at uniting (hé) points is described as a river uniting with the sea. Thus, the name recalls the nature of the qì at the point. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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