Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often considered a gentle, wellness-focused system—great for stress relief and general balance. However, some of its tools were historically used in urgent, even life-threatening situations.
One such acupoint is Xi Cleft Gate (Xi Men, PC4). In ancient China, this point was revered as an emergency measure for severe conditions. Today, it remains equally relevant for physical ailments and emotional distress. Its reputation as a therapeutic and calming point continues to grow.
Xi Men in Classical Texts
Xi Men was first documented in the “Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing—the A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,” one of the oldest surviving texts in Chinese medicine. The book compiled centuries of empirical knowledge and remains a cornerstone of acupuncture theory. Xi Men is classified as a Xi-Cleft point, which in TCM terminology refers to a location where qi (vital energy) and blood pool. When energy and blood gather at a point, that location becomes uniquely powerful for resolving acute issues. That’s why Xi Men is frequently used to treat sharp chest pain, palpitations, and cardiac distress.
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.
