HT6 (Yinxi / Yin Cleft) Acupuncture Point Guide
Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.
Professional acupuncture supplies and clinical reference material for qualified practitioners.
HT6 Yinxi is close to HT7, but sits a short distance up the forearm rather than on the wrist crease. The two common errors are to mark the outer edge of the wrist or to use the wrong side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. This guide keeps that tendon relationship central.
Practitioner only. This is an educational reference, not a self-needling guide.
HT6 Yinxi quick reference
| Point name | HT6 — Yinxi (Yin Cleft) |
|---|---|
| Channel | Heart channel of Hand Shaoyin |
| Classification | Xi-Cleft point |
| Region | Palmar aspect of the distal ulnar forearm |
| Laterality | Bilateral |
| Core landmark | Half a B-cun towards the elbow from the palmar wrist crease, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. |
Location of HT6 Yinxi
With the palm facing upwards, locate the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon on the little-finger side of the wrist. From the palmar wrist crease, measure 0.5 B-cun proximally towards the elbow. HT6 lies immediately radial to the tendon at this level, rather than on the outside edge of the forearm.
Landmark checks
- Confirm the tendon and its relationship to the pisiform at the wrist.
- Keep proximal, meaning towards the elbow, distinct from movement into the palm.
- Use proportional measurement and palpation; half a cun is not a fixed number of millimetres.
Traditional functions of HT6
- Traditionally associated with regulating Heart Blood.
- Used within traditional approaches to calming the Shen.
- Discussed in Yin-deficiency and deficiency-Heat patterns, particularly night sweating.
These terms belong to traditional acupuncture theory. They should be distinguished from evidence about clinical outcomes.
Traditional clinical applications
Night sweating and disturbed rest are familiar traditional contexts for HT6. Both are nonspecific symptoms with many possible causes, including medicines and medical conditions. The traditional Heart-channel label does not make this point a treatment for acute heart symptoms or a way to assess cardiac health.
Common point combinations
- HT6 + KI7: a traditional pairing discussed in strategies for night sweating, selected according to the wider pattern.
- HT6 + HT7: a same-channel pairing considered when settling the Shen forms part of the treatment aim.
These are traditional treatment-planning examples, not fixed prescriptions. Assess each point separately and select a combination only when it fits the full presentation and your training.
Anatomy and practitioner notes
The ulnar side of the distal forearm contains the ulnar nerve and vessels close to the flexor carpi ulnaris region. A landmark drawing cannot show their exact course in an individual. Consider previous wrist injury, surgery, swelling and numbness affecting the ring or little fingers.
Needling and essential safety
Avoid forceful manipulation or deliberately producing an electrical sensation into the hand. Review anticoagulants, bleeding tendency and changes in sensation. Unexplained drenching night sweats, especially with fever or weight loss, warrant medical assessment. Chest pain, collapse or severe breathlessness requires urgent medical care rather than point treatment.
Technique must follow individual anatomy and accredited training. Use sterile, single-use needles and suitable infection-control measures. Review health history, medicines, skin condition and consent before treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is HT6 directly on the wrist crease?
No. HT7 is at the crease; HT6 is 0.5 B-cun proximal to it.
Does radial mean the thumb side of the whole wrist?
Radial describes the side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon facing towards the thumb. HT6 is still in the ulnar-side forearm region.
Is this a guide to self-needling?
No. Needling requires appropriate professional training, anatomical assessment and a safe clinical setting.
Continue exploring Project Lotus
Read the HT7 guide and PC6 guide, or browse all Acupuncture Point Guides.
For clinic supplies, browse our professional acupuncture needles and the wider Practitioner Guides.
Professional reference: Written for qualified acupuncture practitioners. Traditional functions and pairing examples describe a clinical tradition; they are not claims of proven efficacy for an individual point. The guide does not replace accredited training, diagnosis, informed consent or a patient-specific treatment plan. Surface illustrations cannot determine safe needle depth or direction.
References and further reading: eLotus CORE: Yinxi (HT6); WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations, 2008; revised reprint 2009; NCCIH: Acupuncture — Effectiveness and Safety; NHS: Complementary therapies and safety. Accessed 18 September 2026.
