(178) PC6 (Inner Gate)

[HB KIM]

Clinical indication of PC6 (Nei Guan)

1. Name
"Inner Gate" means that it opens all the inner pathes, ie, esophagus, airway, ST, SI, LI.
SJ5 (Outer Gate) opens all the "outer gates", ie, pores and 9 or 10 (men or women) orifices.

2. Action Site
a. It can be used when food does not go down, or phlegm coming up.
b. Chest: With PC4, we use for Chest and Heart acute disease. We can needle both points to strengthen the actions.

3. Electrical sensation
There are a lot of electrical current at this point, so the body can be strengthen by such stimulation.

4. PC5 as Deputy of PC6
Because it is a strong stimulation point, One can use PC5 instead of PC6 if someone has a weak heart.  Deputy of PC6 is PC5. (Deputy of SJ5 is SJ6)

5. Needling Caution
Don't needle PC6 and SJ5 at the same time in the same side. One can penetrate one way direction, but don't use two needles. If both points were needled at the same time, a patient may faint, or cause heart attack, in severe case.

6. Moxa
For bell's palsy, one can moxa PC6 on the affected side.

7. Hands and Fingers
a. If someone can't grasp the hands completely, PC6 can be used. (If one can't open the hands completely, SJ5 can be used)
b. If someone can't bend fingers due to median nerve problem, needle PC6 45 degree toward that finger.