Acupoints

1 Acupoint, 2 Big Wins: Lesser Sea Eases Elbow Pain, Regulates Blood Pressure

Stimulating the acupoint Shao Hai helps regulate heart rhythm, improve emotional well-being, and supports the kidneys.
1 Acupoint, 2 Big Wins: Lesser Sea Eases Elbow Pain, Regulates Blood Pressure
HT03 Shao Hai Lesser Sea.Epochtimes
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
|Updated:
checkCircleIconMedically reviewed byJingduan Yang, M.D.
0:00

You might not think of your inner elbow as the key to better sleep, a healthier heart, and relief from arm pain—but traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) certainly does. Lesser Sea (Shao Hai, HT3) is an important acupoint on the Heart meridian widely used in clinical practice.

Shao Hai helps regulate heart rhythm, improve emotional well-being, and ease tension in the arm. It’s also one of the best points for harmonizing two vital organ systems: the heart and kidneys. Ancient insights and modern science both point to the power of Shao Hai. To locate it, bend your elbow at a 90-degree angle and find the tender spot midway between the inner elbow crease and the bony bump on the inside of the elbow.

A Useful He-Sea Point

Shao Hai is a unique acupoint classified as a He-Sea point. He-Sea points are where qi (vital energy) enters the body’s interior, influencing the associated organ—in this case, the heart. According to the foundational acupuncture text, “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (The A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion),” written almost 2,000 years ago, Shao Hai has long been recognized for regulating heart function.
Moreen Liao
Moreen Liao
R.Ph. of TCM (Taiwan)
Moreen was born into a family with a lineage of four generations of traditional Chinese medicine doctors and professors. She was Dean of the Natural Therapies Institute in Sydney, Australia. Drawing on her family heritage, she created a certified organic wellness brand, and co-founded the largest Chinese medical image encyclopedia online.