I freakin’ LOVE this point! Think of it like a gate or a bodyguard that protects the inner depths of your heart. On a spiritual level, our heart is a sacred and holy place and its main job is to shine our destiny, to shine our Truth. But this leaves it vulnerable with no protection of its own… enter Inner Frontier Gate! (p.s. there is an outer frontier gate too on the other side of the wrist!)

When someone is habitually ‘‘wearing their heart on their sleeve’, the gate is wide open - the heart is just shining away, leaving them inappropriately vulnerable to being hurt. On the other hand When someone is habitually ‘cold hearted’ that gate is closed shut and doesn’t let anything in or out.

Stimulating this point is like oiling the gate, allowing it to open and close with ease depending on life’s ebbs and flows. It strengthens appropriate boundaries.

When someone’s emotional heart has been hurt through trauma - the gates naturally close to protect that person from the pain - sometimes that gate gets stuck closed. This point safely, and in a balanced way, allows the gates to open when appropriate and lets them have access again to the depths and beauty of their heart.

With that said, my choice to share this point was based on a request from one of our Village Wellness Online members Jody. She was interested in a point to help increase physical energy and mental alertness during times of limited sleep and poor sleep schedule ( night shifts ). I told her that massaging the ears was one of the simplest and best ways to do this! But PC 6 - Inner Frontier Gate, came to mind too.

Though this point is not used to increase energy and alertness when tired, Stimulation of PC6 has been proven to “increase Vagal activity and suppression of cardiac sympathetic nerves.* ” These effects were shown to help patients who have circadian rhythm issues, including night-shift workers. (*nih study- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18785846/)

Spirit of the Acupuncture Points

Inner Frontier Gate- PC 6 內關

Luo-Connecting point of the Pericardium channel, Confluent point of the Yin Linking vessel

Indications:

Physical Level

• Insomnia

• Regulates circadian rhythm

• Epilepsy

• Heart Issues - hypertension. sudden heart pain (call 911), palpitations, Heart rate & rhythm problems

• Cough & Asthma

• Nausea & Vomiting

• Hiccups

• Bloating and belly pain

• Menstrual Issues

• Febrile Disease, Malaria

• Pain in the upper arm and armpit

Emotional/Mental

• Feeling manic

• Poor memory

• apprehension, fear, and fright

• sadness

• loss of memory or inability to speak after a stroke

Spirit Level

A powerfully calming point that regulates our boundaries and gives deep access to our heart. An important point for balancing us when we are either ‘wearing our heart on our sleaves’ or ‘feel completely shut down and protective’. It balances our ability to be appropriately open and appropriately closed as needed.

Location:

On the inside of the forearm, 2 cun proximal (towards your body) to the wrist crease between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. These 2 tendons tense when you make a tight fist.

cun = anatomical inch. 1 cun is equal to the width of your thumb tip

How to Stimulate:

You can stimulate this point by gently massaging it directly with your finger for 30 seconds or until you are inspired to take a deep breath.

Feel Amazing!

Love, Lance

P.S. Want more Spirit of the Acupuncture Points?
👉🏼 villagewellness.net/spirit

If you would like to experience the benefits of acupuncture,  you can schedule an appointment using our online booking system. If you would like a referral for an acupuncturist near you just let us know where you are located!