Acupressure is a form of alternative medicine with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It involves applying pressure to specific points on the body, often mirroring the points used in acupuncture, but without needles.

The Shen Men point, also known as Heart 7, is a particularly significant point in acupressure therapies owing to its reputed calming and restorative effects on the body.

In TCM, the body is believed to contain meridians or energy channels through which life force, or ‘Qi’, flows. The Shen Men point is traditionally associated with calming the mind and regulating the heart, making it a focal point for both physical and emotional well-being.

The Shen Men point is located on the wrist, on the crease of the wrist on the pinky side. To find it, position your hand palm-up and look at the crease where your hand and wrist meet. The Shen Men point is situated in the indentation just below the base of your pinky finger’s joint.

Using a gentle pressing or rubbing motion on this point can stimulate the meridian associated with the heart and is believed to offer various health benefits.

The Shen Men point, also known as ‘Spirit Gate’, has been recognized for centuries in TCM as a vital spot for enhancing mental clarity and emotional stability. Texts and manuscripts from ancient China describe its use in treating anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia, as it is believed to help balance the heart’s energy, promoting tranquility and inner peace.

Practitioners of TCM have long utilized the Shen Men point in their protocols to harmonize the mind and heart, which are closely linked in Chinese health philosophy.