Ren17, also called “Sea of Qi,”,  “Chest Center,”  or “Revealing the Heart”

This is a powerful acupoint to open the chest. I tend to use it when a person has a “heavy heart” or perhaps holds tension in their chest due to anxiety. I know it will be useful when a person catches themself holding their breath throughout the day, as one of its many benefits is to “unbind the chest.” This point is indicated to clear phlegm/congestion of chest, loosen the chest, disinhibit the diaphragm, resolve anxiety or panic attack, calm heart palpitations, and because of its downward action, resolve acid regurgitation. Think of Ren 17 as a place to calm fear or anxiety, to catch what feels like a panicked uprising and send it gently, with love, downward back to the earth. With intention, one could stimulate this point to free the heart of tension while connecting to the body as a whole.

When you look at the location of Ren 17 you may notice that it matches the location of the Heart Chakra, which when open, enhances our ability to open our hearts allowing us to love deeply and completely.

To locate Ren 17: On the midline of the sternum, in a depression level with the junction of the 4th intercostal space and the sternum – start under the clavicle and count down the spaces between each rib, then move to the center of the chest. 

How to use it: apply gentle pressure while breathing deeply for several breath cycles. Option to add a bit of essential oil with Q-Tip, try Eucalyptus to open the chest and deepen the breath.

Aubrey Lewis, L.Ac., Mend Acupuncturist
Aubrey is devoted to helping others feel empowered through their own healing process. She is drawn to treating pain, migraines, digestive issues, women’s health, and insomnia, with a particular passion for leveraging the benefits of nutrition, herbal medicine, biohacking.