PC4 Ximen: On the palm-facing forearm, measure five B-cun from the wrist towards the elbow and locate the interval between palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. Landmark schematic; not to scale.

PC4 (Ximen / Cleft Gate) Acupuncture Point Guide

October 18, 2026

Practitioner Guide from The Acupuncture Supply Co.

PC4 Ximen belongs to the Pericardium channel. This Project Lotus guide focuses on reliable surface landmarks, nearby-point distinctions and safe professional assessment.

Quick reference

Point	PC4 — Ximen
Channel	Pericardium — Hand Jueyin
Traditional classification	Xi-Cleft
Region	Anterior forearm
Laterality	Bilateral

Location and landmark sequence

On the palm-facing forearm, measure five B-cun from the wrist towards the elbow and locate the interval between palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

Support the limb so the illustrated surface is accessible. Confirm the thumb or little-finger side for hand and forearm points, or the inner or outer ankle for foot points.
Palpate the named joint, bone or tendon landmarks before estimating a position.
On the palm-facing forearm, measure five B-cun from the wrist towards the elbow and locate the interval between palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.
Check the relationship to nearby points and reassess on the individual patient.

Use the patient’s proportional B-cun measurement. For these forearm locations, the wrist-to-elbow reference interval is twelve B-cun. A centimetre ruler or a universal finger-width estimate cannot replace that assessment.

Distinguishing nearby points

If palmaris longus is absent, use the ulnar side of FCR. PC4 is one unit wristward of the forearm midpoint.

Traditional context

Xi-Cleft is the traditional classification used here. Classification helps organise channel theory; it is not evidence that an individual point treats a particular disease. Selection depends on a complete assessment and a coherent treatment principle.

Traditional functions and applications

Within traditional East Asian medicine, this point is described in terms of blood movement and cooling; shen calming.

Historical references discuss acute Pericardium-channel presentations. Chest symptoms require medical assessment before any such interpretation. These are historical treatment concepts, not proven disease-specific effects of this point alone. Select points from the full assessment rather than a symptom list.

Moxibustion

Moxa is not an automatic addition. Assess the treatment principle, skin condition and sensation; use appropriate training, supervision and burn prevention if heat is considered.

Anatomy and essential safety

Forearm tendons, cutaneous nerves and vessels vary between patients. Assess the tissue rather than transferring a fixed image distance. Avoid provoking electric pain, numbness or a sharp neurological sensation. The median nerve and deeper structures must be considered. Palmaris longus is absent in some people.

Inspect skin, circulation and sensation; avoid infected, ulcerated or otherwise unsuitable tissue.
Review relevant medication, bleeding risk, pregnancy, surgery and previous reactions.
Use sterile single-use needles, appropriate infection control and safe sharps disposal.
Choose depth, angle and stimulation through accredited training and patient-specific anatomical assessment.

When assessment takes priority

A hot swollen limb with fever, new weakness, persistent numbness, significant trauma or an infected wound needs medical assessment. Acute chest pain, collapse or severe breathlessness requires emergency care; a traditional channel association must never delay referral.