Woodblock illustration from a work on 'Chinese' medicine by the 18th century Japanese physician Hara Masakatsu, published in 1807 (4th year of the Bunkwa era). The heart channel of hand shaoyin is one of the Twelve Channels. It originates in the heart, exits via the heart nexus (xinxi) and descends to connect with the small intestine. It has a branch terminating in the eye. There are nine acu-moxa locations on this channel on each side of the body, i.e. 18 altogether -- jiquan (Bourne Spring), qingling (Blue/Green Spirit), shaohai (Lesser Sea), lingdao (Spirit Path), tongli (Penetrating the Interior), yinxi (Yin Cleft), shenmen (Numinous Portal), shaofu (Lesser Palace) and shaochong (Lesser Rushing).
