Hunmen BL47: Nomenclature, Location, Functions, Indications

Nomenclature:

Hun: soul Men:door
The liver stores the soul. The point is at the level of Ganshu, (BL18) like a door for the Qi of the liver.
Point: BL47
Chinese Name: 魂门
Name: Hunmen
English Name/Meaning: Gate of the Ethereal Soul
Pinyin: hún mén
Han Geul 한글: hon mun 혼문
Romaji: kon mon?
Vietnamese: Hồn môn

Location:

3 cun lateral to Jinsuo (GV8), at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the ninth thoracic vertebra.

Functions of Hunmen:

• Clears Liver qi stagnation.
• Roots ethereal soul (Hunmen).
• Regulates the spleen and stomach.

Indications:

• Fear, depression, frustration, Manic behavior, mental confusion, excessive dreaming.
• Pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, back pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

Method:

Oblique insertion towards lateral 0.3 to 0.5 cun.

Remarks:

Good for depression, frustration, long-standing resentment.

Precautions:

Deep perpendicular or needling in a wrong direction carries a substantial risk of causing a pneumothorax.