PC-1 - Celestial Pool

天池 - Tiān chí

Point Region: Chest

PC

Pericardium Meridian

手厥阴心包经 - Shǒu Juéyīn Xīnbāo Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the front of the chest, in the fourth space between the ribs, 5 cun out from the midline of the chest.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find the fourth space between the ribs: in men it is level with the nipples
  2. The nipples are 8 cun apart, so each is 4 cun from the midline
  3. The point is in the fourth rib space, one thumb-width beyond the nipple line, toward the armpit
PC-1 (Celestial Pool) acupressure point location: On the front of the chest, in the fourth space between the ribs, 5 cun out from the midline of the chest.

How to Apply Pressure

Once you have located PC-1, use only a light, gentle fingertip hold on the surface; never press deeply into the breast tissue or rib space. Skip it after recent breast surgery, during an acute breast infection or mastitis, or over inflamed tissue; check with your care team about breast concerns or cancer.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Cough
  • Insufficient lactation
  • Chest congestion
  • Axillary swelling
  • Breast inflammation
  • Respiratory problems

Related Health Concerns

Cold and Flu Onset

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Acute breast infections
  • Breast cancer
  • Recent breast surgery
  • Severe mastitis

Take care:

  • Consult healthcare provider for breast concerns
  • Avoid during acute breast inflammation