I often treat patients who have an imbalance in the Pericardium meridian.
The pericardium is described as the membrane which surrounds the heart and its primary function is to protect the heart.
Protect Your Heart – This protocol can reduce the following 5 Symptoms
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- Disorders of the heart–pain, palpitations, irregular heart rhythm
- Emotional disturbances–irritability
- Disorders of the chest and lung–difficulty breathing, fever
- Disorders of the upper and middle jiao–from Liver Qi Stagnation
- Swelling and pain–axilla, lateral ribcage, ear, throat, chest, breast, neck
I have been treating Ren 17 (CV 17) for any imbalances in the Pericardium channel. I was a massage therapist for about a dozen years before I became an acupuncturist.
In my experience, patients hold many emotions in the chest. Since the pericardium’s role is to protect the heart, I feel like this channel has a huge emotional component.
Stuck emotions can cause a lot of physical problems in the body. I have found Ren 17 to be a very powerful point, for the following four reasons:
#1: Ren 17 is the front Mu point for the Pericardium channel.
The term ‘mu’ means to collect or gather. The qi of the pericardium channel gathers at Ren 17. Often I find tenderness with palpation at this point. When there is a blockage at Ren 17, the energy from the lung and heart will be deficient. Once I put a needle in Ren 17 the patient is able to breathe deeper, allowing energy to flow into the lower jiao.
#2: Ren 17 is a crossing point for the Spleen, Kidney, Small Intestine, and San Jiao channels.
Ren 17 has the powerful effect of moving qi down into the lower jiao. This fact makes sense given that it is a crossing point for so many other channels. Think about how often patients have imbalances in the Spleen, Kidney, Small Intestine, and San Jiao channels. Most patients only take shallow breaths, even when I talk to them about focusing their breath down to their umbilicus. 
Once you open Ren 17, the patient naturally breathes deeper because the flow of energy opens between the upper jiao and the middle jiao.
#3: Ren 17 is known as the “Chest Center.”
When the “Chest Center” is in excess there is fullness in the chest, difficulty with breathing, and redness in the complexion. When it is deficient there is breathlessness and difficulty speaking. The movement of qi is the key factor in the movement of blood. I have found that when the pulses are hard to feel or when the qi energy level is low, Ren 17 will make an immediate change in the quality of the pulse. If a pulse is deep, slow and hesitant–even finger pressure on Ren 17 will make an immediate change in the pulse (blood) because you have tapped into the “Sea of Qi.”
#4: Ren 17 is convenient to needle.
The tonification point for the Pericardium channel is PC 9 and the sedation point is PC 7. I am not a fan of needling PC 9 because it hurts! My choice for a channel point would be PC 7 because it is the source point of the channel, which means you can tonify and sedate with the same point, but sometimes it isn’t convenient to needle PC 7 because of how the patient is lying. Ren 17 is easy to needle AND incredibly effective.
When I palpate Ren 17, patients usually ask me why it is so tender. They love when I explain to them that this point is responsible for protecting their heart from the every day emotional build up that life has to offer. I usually get a response such as: “Wow–I must have a lot of emotional build-up.” I just smile, insert the needle, and remind them to relax and breathe. When the treatment is over, I like to go back to palpate Ren 17 again. Patients are quite surprised to find that Ren 17 is no longer sore.
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Finally, I teach my patients how to find Ren 17 is so that they can treat themselves with acupressure on a daily basis.
Remember, there are many ways to balance the graph. Ren 17 is just one more little trick that I have found to be incredibly effective.
You’ll find tips and tricks like this in the AcuGraph diagnostic system. I wish they would have taught me about how to use technology in Acupuncture school! This is one of the BEST TOOLS in my practice.
Here’s the Video link to learn more about AcuGraph. It’s worth every dollar invested!
Have an exceptional week!
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Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac.
Acupuncture Research Analyst
Miridia Technology Inc.
Thanks for your efforts
very knowledgable n experienced lnformation shared thamks alot wlll try.
THANKS ….for giving such information about Ren17
Kimberly, nice post about Ren 17. Talking about Pericardium Channel, I want to ask you why only Pericardium 6, Neiguan, is the point almost exclusively used in prevencion and treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. Im Anesthesiologist and Im doing literature search on this issue. Best Regards. Nestor
Probably because it is a point directly connected to the stomach Qi which when it is rebellious or inverted cannot go downwards ensuing anesthetics effects on it.So this is why in stomach Qi inversion and for all chest troubles it is very efficient.
Hello Nestor and Alain,
I thought that I would share some thoughts…
Peter Deadman’s Manual of Acupuncture says that PC6 is especially good for stomach disorders due to Liver Qi Stagnation. The pericardium and the liver have a JueYin relationship.
I find that PC6 isn’t always effective for nausea and vomiting. I work with a lot of cancer patients and morning sickness patients. Stomach 44 seems to be very effective for me. There are times when I use PC 6, but ST 44 allows me to pull the energy down the stomach channel very effectively. Even a tack at ST 44 that you can touch occasionally seems to anchor that stomach qi.
I interned at Children’s Hospital with cancer patients and we found that sometimes PC 6 would cause the patient to vomit because it created so much movement.
I would love to hear thoughts from others on their experience with PC 6 or if they have other avenues that they like to pursue.
Kimberly
Thanks Kimberly, I am a volunteer Shiatsu Therapist at The Cancer Care Centre here in Adelaide South Australia. I regularly palpate Ren 17 whilst monitoring P7, Ht7 and Lu7 when a client is a little stressed. Within a minute or so the clients pulses go from chaotic to calm and the client is then ready for treatment.
I also find that P6/St44 can restore rebellious chi to normal flow, I tend to use those points in combination, middle finger of each hand holding or palpating points simultaneously.
I have found that when clients are having Chemo even gentle treatments (like Reiki) may cause a”healing crisis ” and vomiting.
thanks for all the great info
Tony
THANKS for the valuable information about Ren17
how great it is working with you people am very delighted to have known you and the teaching accupunture has help me to help other people i look for word for more help from you people. the grace of God be with you.
stay bless.
Thanks for your kind information for Ren17.I want the acu point of ovry cyst.
thanks Kimberley. I love to read your info !
The term Reiki is the Eastern word for Universal Life Pressure Energy. It is a quite simple and easily acquired recovery technique that uses universal life electricity, the power which permeates our entire universe and all living things.
The information on ren 7 is so valuable for practioners and lay men alike keep the good work God will surely reward you
I just had acupuncture Ren 17 treatment and now feel my heart pounding more heavily. Do you know why this might be?
Hello Christine,
I have not experienced anyone experiencing heavy pounding in the heart after a Ren 17 treatment. Is it possible that there is a blockage in the Dai Mai (upper body versus lower body). I would focus on making sure energy is running smoothly in the lower body.
~Kimberly
“Ren 17 is known as the “Sea of Qi.”
No, Ren 6 surely?
You are correct. Ren 6 is the Sea of Qi. I will edit that post. Thank you!