Heart meridian

The **Heart meridian** is one of the twelve primary meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It represents a conceptual channel through which Qi (vital life energy) is believed to flow, originating in the heart and running down the inner arm to the little finger. In TCM, the Heart meridian is thought to govern blood and vessels, regulate emotional and mental activity, and "house the Shen," which is the spirit or mind. Unlike receptors or proteins in Western medicine, the Heart meridian has no molecular structure, gene, or chemical entity. Imbalances or blockages in this meridian are theorized—by TCM—to cause disorders ranging from palpitations and insomnia to emotional disturbances and memory issues. Therapeutic approaches may involve acupuncture, acupressure, or herbal medicine, but there are no drugs or biomarkers, in the scientific sense, that target the Heart meridian[1][2][5][7][9]. In summary, the Heart meridian is a key functional and symbolic component of TCM, not a biomedical target, so most molecular and drug-related fields are "null" or not applicable.

Other names

Heart channelHeart Qi meridianHand Shaoyin meridian