Heart 8 is a perfect summer point because it is used for Heart heat. The season of summer is associated with the element of fire, and the element of fire is connected to the Heart. In Chinese Medicine, the Heart is emotionally associated with the Mind + Spirit (also known as Shen).
Heart heat and the indications for using Heart 8 often show up as:
- Mental restlessness
- High anxiety
- Agitation
- Feeling manic
- Nightmares or vivid dreams
- Insomnia
Combined with symptoms like:
- Palpitations
- Feeling overheated or aversion to the heat
- Chest pain
- Thirst
Any of those babies sound familiar? Fear not! Heart 8 balances the excess heat of summer with it’s cooling and clearing properties, while helping you to feel more grounded. One of the amazing things about this point is that it is VERY fast acting. You may feel the effects of it almost immediately after a needle is inserted here, or pressure is applied.
Ok, so this point can be a little bit spicy due to its location. Your acupuncturist may or may not have already had the chutzpah to needle this point on you in the treatment room. If not, and this sounds like a point you need, you can also easily apply pressure at this point when you’re having any of the acute symptoms of Heart heat listed above. Heart 8 is on the palm of the hand and can be found where the tip of the pinkie finger lands when a loose fist is made (see the above picture on the left, with the mango colored nails). The point typically lies between the two palmar creases. You can use your thumbnail to dig into this point and massage it on one or both palms.
If, for whatever (unimaginable) reason, Heart 8 isn’t calling your name, but you have a boatload of summer Heart heat going on, eating watermelon is also tremendous for cooling and calming!
