Heart meridian

HT-3 (Shàohǎi, 少海) — Lesser Sea

Meridian
Heart (HT)
Anatomical view
anterior
Point classification
He-sea and Water point of the Heart channel.
Depth reference
0.5–1.0 cun perpendicular
Moxibustion
Conflicting traditional guidance: some checked references permit moxa, while others restrict it to exceptional use
Reference aliases
HT3; Shaohai; 少海; Lesser Sea

Anatomical location

At the anteromedial elbow, just anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus and level with the cubital crease.

Traditional actions

Clears Heart heat; transforms phlegm; calms the spirit; benefits the elbow.

Recorded indications

Primary: Elbow and medial arm pain; palpitations; agitation; tremor.

Secondary: Forgetfulness; swollen lymph nodes in the neck or axilla.

How to read this reference

AcuAtlas separates anatomical location, traditional classification, recorded actions, indications, insertion-depth references, and moxibustion notes because these fields answer different study questions. The location statement is the orientation anchor. The classification and actions describe traditional reference categories, while indications summarize how checked educational sources associate the point with established teaching material. They are not a recommendation to select or stimulate the point.

Depth and moxibustion entries are reproduced as bounded reference notes rather than procedural instructions. Individual anatomy, technique, angle, clinical setting, and local professional standards can change what is appropriate. Review the cited documents and supervised training material before using any technical field. The normalized map coordinate is included only to place the point on the matching AcuAtlas body plate; it is not a substitute for palpation or anatomical assessment.

Sources

References displayed on this page were recorded with the point dataset.

  1. WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region HT3, p. 83
  2. American Dragon Acupuncture Point Reference HT-3: Command Functions, Actions, Indications, Needling and moxa disagreement

Frequently asked questions

Where is HT-3 located?

At the anteromedial elbow, just anterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus and level with the cubital crease.

What reference actions and indications are recorded for HT-3?

Clears Heart heat; transforms phlegm; calms the spirit; benefits the elbow. The dataset lists these primary indications: Elbow and medial arm pain; palpitations; agitation; tremor. Secondary indications are recorded as: Forgetfulness; swollen lymph nodes in the neck or axilla.

Is HT-3 safe during pregnancy?

This dataset does not identify HT-3 as one of its five mandatory pregnancy-caution points. That is not a declaration of safety. Pregnancy-related point selection requires individualized assessment by a qualified clinician.