Pathway

Begins on the palmar surface of the middle finger, crosses the palm of the hand and inserts at the center of the wrist (PC-7). Ascends along the middle of the forearm and inserts at the elbow around PC-3. Ascends along the medial aspect of the arm to the axilla and joins with all the Yin sinew channels of the hand at point (GB-22). There it bifurcates:

• One branch reaches the nipple and then CV-17, then goes to the diaphragm and the mouth of the stomach.
• A second branch: ramifies throughout the hypochondrium.

Symptoms

Pain, tightness, contracture, spasm along the pathway.

• Contracted tendons of the hand (Dupuytren's contracture), or contracted tendons of the arm which remains bent.
• Reflux: due to poor diet or emotions. Palpate between CV-17 and CV-14 and then needle.

Treat the insertion points, the painful Ashi points, tonify the primary channel and needle the corresponding sinew channel gathering point.