Spring of the Sea

海泉Hǎi Quán

Anatomical location

At the midpoint of the lingual frenulum.

Main function

Benefits the tongue, clears Heat.

Therapeutic indications

Vomiting
thirst
dysarthria
stomatitis

Name and classical tradition

Haiquan, 海泉, is the "spring of the sea": 海, sea; 泉, spring. It lies under the tongue, at the center of the frenulum, and like its neighbor above, EX-HN10, it takes its name from the water of the mouth.

The Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) records it with a single indication: "海泉一穴，在舌下中央脈上是穴，治消渴", on the vessel at the center under the tongue, for the thirst disease, which was treated by bleeding with the three-edged needle. The connection between a point under the tongue and a disease of thirst and dry mouth is direct, and its neighbors follow the same logic, EX-HN12.

Location of point EX-HN11, Spring of the Sea — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-HN11 on the anatomy

Needling techniqueLancet bloodletting.

DepthSuperficial

MoxibustionNot applicable.

PrecautionsHighly vascular area.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.