PC-4 - Xi-Cleft Gate

郄门 - Xī mén

Point Region: Forearm

PC

Pericardium Meridian

手厥阴心包经 - Shǒu Juéyīn Xīnbāo Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the front of the forearm, between the two tendons in the middle of the wrist (palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis), 5 cun above the wrist crease. It lies 1 cun below the midpoint of the line from PC-3 to PC-7. Where the palmaris longus tendon is absent, the point is on the little-finger side of the flexor carpi radialis tendon.

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. Make a fist and turn your palm up so the two middle tendons stand out
  2. Find the midpoint between the elbow crease and the wrist crease
  3. Move one thumb-width down from it, toward the wrist
  4. The point is between the two tendons
PC-4 (Xi-Cleft Gate) acupressure point location: On the front of the forearm, between the two tendons in the middle of the wrist (palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis), 5 cun above the wrist crease.

How to Apply Pressure

When PC-4 is located, relax your hand and rest a fingertip between the forearm tendons with gentle, non-painful pressure. Do not press after recent arm surgery or during an acute cardiac event; seek immediate medical attention for chest pain or severe heart symptoms.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Palpitations
  • Anxiety
  • Emotional distress
  • Panic attacks

Related Health Concerns

Panic AttackAnxiety

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

Important Precautions

Avoid this point with:

  • Recent arm surgery
  • Severe heart disease
  • Acute cardiac events