Palace Of Weariness: The Palms Of The Hands

When we practice TCC we often feel tingling or heat in the palms of the hands. Have you ever wondered what the significance of that is?

The palms of the hands are considered to be, in Qi Gong practice, a mirror of the Bubbling Spring on the soles of the feet. The acupuncture points are located at the center of the palms. That means access to powerful Qi is optimal at these points. This is the Heart Protector or Pericardium meridian. In Chinese Medicine, these points serve as the transmitting points for all virtues of this channel: warmth, openness, safety and protection. These feelings of wellbeing are available to us directly through the stimulation of these points.

The Heart Protector channel begins between the breasts at heart-center, the same place where so many of our TCC movements begin for the hands. (I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Justin chose that spot for the hands to start.) The meridian continues to descend, after connecting with the Pericardium, to the diaphragm and the abdomen, giving it considerable influence over the digestive tract as well as the heart and blood. Another branch runs horizontally to the lateral side of the nipple, arches over the armpit and down the center of the anterior arm, through the center of the palm and down the middle finger. Of the nine points on the Pericardium channel, the center of the palm has most access to the Qi.

Yes, it is the moving Qi and heat that you feel in the palms of your hands, but it is considerably more than that because Qi is intelligent and specific. In the Five Element tradition of Chinese medicine, Heart Protector 8 belongs to the Fire Element, and as such is able to summon a good deal of heat, or reduce heat in the body as needed. Warmth for ourselves, as well as to share with others is available there.

The name of this point is most often translated as “Palace of Weariness.” That is in keeping with the hierarchy of the body’s “Officials” or the organs and their respective energy channels. The Heart is considered the “Emperor” or the “Supreme Controller” and the other organs are the generals and ministers that serve to protect and aide the Heart Official. Therefore, the Heart Protector Official serves as the bodyguard, if you will, for the Heart. It is dedicated to taking all the insults and injuries it has to, to protect the Heart.

The stresses of modern life can place a heavy toll on the heart. It is the Heart Protector that selflessly takes on the burden for the Emperor. When we are traumatized or suffer a physical shock, when we over-indulge or eat harmful food or drugs, it is the Heart Protector that takes the hit. But its true mission is to allow the Heart to stay open and receptive, full of eternal hope and joy. It does what is needed with very little guidance. It can resurrect a heart that is unfulfilled and weary from loving, or calm and quiet an anxious heart. It can help to find the memory of our Heart’s original desire or passion. It can unearth and restore the memory of safety and joy buried in the depths of the self.

On a physical level, this point clears heat (or stimulates it), reduces heat in the stomach or blood, treats insomnia or anxiety, stimulates the circulation, treats manic-depression, and reawakens the Heart’s fire. As part of the Heart Protector meridian it is responsible for all the arterial and venous circulation, and it is also known as the Circulation/Sex Official because it regulates all the sexual secretions of the body. But since its protection extends to body, mind and spirit, it is easy to see that protection of the spirit of the Heart Official must be its most important task.

The Fire Element is all about connection, compassion and love. J.R. Worsley, the founder of Five Element Classical Acupuncture, has said, “The spirit of the love which comes from the Fire Element is our connection to the universal spirit in Nature, and no more important connection can exist in man and woman.” The Heart Protector meridian is located in the center of the inner arm, from the Heart all the way to the tip of the finger. When we open our arms in a welcoming embrace, this channel opens as we receive another into our hearts and into our arms.