HT-4 Lingdao - Spirit Path

More Spirit Names: Mind Path

English:	Spirit Path
Also Known As:	Spirit's Path Route of the Spirit Mind Path

Location

With the palm facing upward, this point is located 1.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.
On the ulnar side of the wrist, 1.5 cun above HT-7 Shenmen.

Needling

Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
Oblique proximal or distal insertion 0.5 to 1 cun.
Moxibustion is applicable.
Straight insertion 0.5 to 0.8 cun.

Command Functions

Metal point
Jing-River point

Actions

Calms the Shen
Benefits the voice
Relaxes the muscles and tissues
Removes obstruction from the channel

Indications

Rigidity
Arthritis
Inability to bend the hands or wrists
Loss of sensation
Sudden inability to speak
Fear
Sadness
Restless Zang disorder*
Ice-cold feeling in the bones and marrow
Cardiac pain
Anxiety
Weakened, broken or suppressed spirit
Contraction of the elbow and arm
Muscle spasms
Neuralgia of the ulnar nerve
Arthritis of the elbow
Itching of the hand

Aphasia with stiffening of the tongue
Convulsions
Chest pain
Retching
Nausea
Throat abscess
Redness and swelling of the eyes
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Hysteria
Psychosis
Restlessness
Melancholy
Incoherent thinking or speech
Spasmodic pain of the elbow and arm
Clonic spasm
Swelling and pain of the fingers

Combinations

REN-22
Tiantu
SI-16
Tianchuang

SI-16
Tianchuang
LI-18
Futu
GB-7
Qubin

REN-22
Tiantu
KI-10
Yingu
KI-7
Fuliu
ST-40
Fenglong

Sudden loss of voice

Loss of voice

Contraindications

Notes

This point has more of a mental effect than physical effect.
Use this point on someone whose spirit is weak and has lost their way.
Use this point if you see a lot of rigidity and loss of movement.
This point is mostly used for channel problems and has a special action on joints and bones.
*Restless Zang disorder is characterized by unpredictable emotional responses, melancholy, disturbed behavior, restlessness, loss of voice, insomnia and possibly mania.

Five Elements Spirit Perspective

Spirit of the Point	A spirit point at the deepest level. It brings a sense of Spirit, being aware and bringing into your life a sense of Heavenly guidance, which the Heart needs; a Heart with a good connection to this will be on a spiritual path, not a superficial one. The emperor's task is to guide his people along the way of the Tao, and for that he must know what the way is. Many people's spirits fail, and this point reaches inside the spirit to return the patient to the path, the Tao. It brings depth, substance and quality to joy. When the Heart is the weak link and purpose is missing, it sets the Heart on a higher path, as if to say: the joy is here, so what will you do with it now?
Worsley	As the Metal point it refines the spirit and builds strength within, working through the alchemical transformation of Water and Fire. The Metal has to be in the right state, at the right temperature, with warmth in it; otherwise you get a dogmatic rigidity of mind or spirit, or rigidity in the body, and with extreme coldness even a sudden loss of speech. Open the Spirit Gate first, then lead the spirit along this path. At this Metal point, the Metal ought to be no colder or warmer than the Earth. When it turns cold and inert, the person can freeze up with fear; when it runs too hot, anxiety sets in. Location: On the front of the forearm, over the ulnar artery, 1½ ACI above HT-7. The artery runs in the furrow separating the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon from the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon. Needle depth: 3 fen Moxa: 3-5 cones
When to Consider	When there is futility, speechlessness and no laughter, all the senses are paralyzed, and the patient has no will When the spirit's path is blocked When a person is losing their way; it helps them stay on track, connects them with their inner journey and guides them home to their integrity and to what is right for them For someone who is lost, with a weak spirit When the Fire is of poor quality, lacking strength, consistency or structure When we become so caught up in the pull of mundane things and the ego's passing gratifications, like money, sex, power and prestige, that we lose our way and grow anxious, worried and preoccupied with what is transient. This point lights the way home to the one path that truly meets our needs and shows us our next step When the spirit has been weakened, suppressed or broken, and the person has 'given up the ghost' When contact with the Father, the Heavenly source of Fire, needs restoring through the essence of Fire For someone who feels cut off from any purpose and cannot see that the pain, sadness and loss they are going through actually belong to their spiritual path For the patient who feels life has burned them, where the Heart fire has been over-controlling Metal
Combinations	HT-7 Spirit Gate with HT-4 Spirit Path: first open the Gate, then guide the Spirit along the path; it gets energy moving along
Notes	Metal point: the quality of Fire with Metal, a heart directed toward quality goals, not superficial ones As the Metal point it speaks to the bond between Fire and Metal: it can help the Heart and Lungs work in step, keeping the Heart lined up with its higher purpose through the Lung's link with the Qi of Heaven Shares its function with DU-11, whose name can also be translated Spirit Path

From Class

HT-4 Lingdao and HT-4–7: Range of heart points to quiet the shen, to be differentiated by function. (Yuen)
HT-4 Lingdao — Abundance palace: Reconnects with one's deeper path and an inner sense of sufficiency (scarcity reveals forgotten connection to source). (Lewis)
Month 9 Shen/Po points: HT-4, HT-7, LU-3, LU-7, BL-42; avoid LI-11: Calm the spirit and Po; avoid LI-11 this month. (Lewis)