
NEI GUAN – PC6
Location
Between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis 3 cun proximal to the wrist crease.
Biomechanisms overview
Nei guan is by far the most researched point on the hand yin meridians. For that reason this is not a full literature review, but is still a very broad view of the biomechanisms of Neiguan. A few studies were omitted due to being a combination of points rather than just Neiguan. Others were omitted for being for similar conditions as the below studies.
Needless to say, Neiguan has an impressive range of effects and mechanisms associated with it that benefit the system physically and mentally; being anti-inflammatory, pain killing, regulating the central nervous system and related conditions, having a huge amount of benefit on the cardiovascular system and knocking onto the digestion as well.
Anti-inflammatory
Acupuncture attenuates signs of endo-toxin induced liver injury, regulating the cytokine inflammatory cascade and the migration of neutrophils into liver tissue (1).
Anti-nocioceptive
Acupuncture at PC6 and PC7 help ease carpal tunnel syndrome by improving symptomatology, grip strength, electrophysiological function (significantly increased distal median motor amplitude) and physical provocation sign (2).
Cardiovascular regulation
Electroacupuncture at PC6-PC7 regulates the mean arterial pressure and heart rate variability, probably via balancing the sympathetic nervous system and the vagus nerve (7).
Electroacupuncture at Neiguan inhibits expression of protein kinases A, C and G in myocardial ischemic rats. Thus beneficially regulating cells and improving outcomes (8).
Electroacupuncture at Neiguan improved mean arterial pressure, end-diastolic volume, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and end-systolic pressure in dogs undergoing open chest surgery (9).
Electroacupuncture pretreatment at Nei guan promotes autophagy flux and alleviates myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. It reduces the infarction size and tissue weight, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure reduces, whilst left ventricular systolic mean pressure, fractional shortening and ejection fraction increase. It decreases creatine kinase (CK)-MB, inducible nitric oxide synthase and increases total antioxidant capacity, widens myocardial fiber space, reduces necrosis and myocardial cell swelling and maintains the nucleus and mitochondria structure intact (10, 11).
Nei guan (PC6) may potentiate the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and up-regulate Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA expression, which may contribute to its protective effect on ischemic cardiocytes (12).
Electroacupuncture at Nei guan increased vagus nerve activity, prevented the development of hyperlactatemia, attenuated the decline of left ventricle ejection fraction, suppressed systemic and cardiac inflammation and alleviated the histopathological manifestations of heart in sepsis rats. Furthermore, the cardiac tissue from EA treated rats showed increased expressions of α7nAChR on macrophages (13)
Acupuncture at Nei guan (PC6) can reduce the duration of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride, improve the induced pathological changes, down regulate L-type calcium channel a1C subunit mRNA expressions level and increase Ca2 +-Mg2 +-ATPase activity in rabbits (14).
Acupuncture at Nei guan helps stable angina pectoris by reducing the frequency of attacks, and the need for medication. It also lowers the blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. The researchers suggested these changes may also be preventative for coronary heart disease (15).
PC6 stimulation results in a significant and long lasting reduction in the average blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery, most likely via vasodilation (16).
Electroacupuncture at Nei guan attenuated the decreases in almost all investigated functional parameters of the heart (including mean arterial and left intraventricular pressures) in thoracic surgery rats. EA significantly decreased the number of Fos-immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and the rostral ventrolateral medulla, significantly decreased the Max L. slope of the PVN neurons, and increased the inductivity of the postsynaptic potentials in the PVN neurons thus protecting cardiac function (17).
It also improves outcomes for myocardial hypertrophic rats by modulating upstream neuroendocrine cytokines that regulate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalling pathways (18).
Central nervous system regulation
Acupuncture at Neiguan activates the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe in the healthy adults. And, the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe and the cingulate gyrus as well as the cerebellum in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (3)
Acupuncture at PC6 increases, ‘the amplitude and average logarithmic power of the alpha band during manual acupuncture [on EEG]. In addition, the frequency peaks in alpha band of 12-channels were more synchronized during and after acupuncture. It is believed that the power and synchronized rhythms in brain oscillation may have to do with autonomic nervous system’ (4). Alpha waves correspond to wakeful rest.
Electroacupuncture at PC6 resulted in downregulation of adenosine, adrenaline, γ-aminobutyric acid, glycine, and glutamate majorly in hippocampus, and then in cerebral cortex (5).
Continuous electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) vs. routine western medicine has a better therapeutic effect for comatose patients with severe cranio-cerebral trauma, especially for those with diffuse axonal injury (6).
Gastrointestinal regulation
Electroacupuncture at PC6 and PC7 significantly reduces nausea and vomiting in postoperative patients (19, 20, 21). As well as in patients undergoing intraoral procedures (22) and those in intensive care settings (23).
Acupuncture at PC6 and Zu san li (ST36) reduces constipation and acute renal colic pain (24, 25)
Along with Tian shu (ST25), acupuncture at Nei guan improves colonic motility in IBS rats (26).
Nei guan reduces transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations in cats with gastric distention, probably via the nitric oxide (NO), CCK-A receptor and mu-opioid receptors (27).
Mental health conditions
Another study found Nei guan modulates anxiety by activating or deactivating brain anxiety-related regions (increasing the activity of the left parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and right superior temporal gyrus and decreasing the activity of the right middle frontal gyrus, right precuneus, and cuneus) and provides potential explanations for the application of PC6 acupuncture in mental diseases (28).
Another study found Nei guan activated the bilateral cingulated gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus and medial frontal gyrus, as well as bilateral declivis and left lingual gurus. These regions have the close relationship with the mental disorder and nervous diseases (29).
Musculoskeletal conditions
Acupuncture at Nei guan can improve hand spasm in post-stroke patients, with more intensive manipuation techniques giving a stronger response (30).
Acupuncture at Nei guan and Tai chong (LV3) reduces pain, stiffness and function impairment in people with osteoarthritis of the knee (31).
Stress response
Acupuncture at PC6 reduces the stress response in rats, seen in attenuating rises in c-fos expression in the hypothalamus and regulating appetite, this was not seen with the control acupoint, Wai guan (SJ5). It also improved anxiety and anhedonia scores, the researchers thus posited that acupuncture at neiguan can help anxiety and depression (32).
References
- Liu, H. W., Liu, M. C., Tsao, C. M., Liao, M., & Wu, C. (2011). Electro-Acupuncture at ‘neiguan— (Pc6) Attenuates Liver Injury in Endotoxaemic Rats. Acupuncture in Medicine, 29(4), 284–288. https://doi.org/10.1136/aim.2010.003525
- Ho, C., Lin, H., Lee, Y., Chou, L., Kuo, T., Chang, H., Chen, Y., & Lo, S. (2014). Clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for Carpal tunnel Syndrome. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 42(02), 303–314. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x14500207
- Fu, P., Jia, JP., Zhu, J., Huang, JJ., (2005) Effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on human brain functional imaging in different functional states. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 25(11):784-786. Available at: https://europepmc.org/article/med/16335206
- Chang, S., Chang, Z., Li, S., Chiang, M., Ma, C., Cheng, H., & Hsieh, S. (2009). Effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on electroencephalogram. Chinese Journal of Physiology, 52(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4077/cjp.2009.amg070
- Lee, D., Jiu, Y., & Hsieh, C. (2020). Electroacupuncture at Zusanli and at Neiguan characterized point specificity in the brain by metabolomic analysis. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67766-0
- Fan, P., Chen, Z., & Luo, J. (2010). [Clinical observation on continuous electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) for arousing consciousness of comatose patients with severe craniocerebral trauma]. PubMed, 30(6), 465–468. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20578383
- Gao, Y., Chen, S., Wang, J., Xu, Q., & Liu, J. (2009). [Effects of electroacupuncture of different acupoints groups on blood pressure and heart rate variability in rats]. PubMed, 34(1), 21–26. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19526803
- Wang Y, Li D, Dai JY, et al. (2015). Effect of electro-acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) and Lieque (LU7) on the expression of protein kinases in cardiomyocytes of myocardial ischemia rats. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2015, Mar;35(3):338-342. Available at: https://europepmc.org/article/med/25951641
- Syuu, Y., Matsubara, H., Kiyooka, et al. (2001) Cardiovascular Beneficial Effects of Electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC-6) Acupoint in Anesthetized Open-Chest Dog. The Japanese Journal of Physiology, 51(2) 231-238. https://doi.org/10.2170/jjphysiol.51.231
- Han, Y., Chen, S., Peng, XM,. (2021) Electroacupuncture Pretreatment at Neiguan (PC 6) attenuates autophagy in rats with myocardial ischemia reperfusion through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 41(3), p455. Available at: https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A2%3A1383490/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A152354125&crl=c
- Wang, SZ., Ren, L., Jia, L., (2015) Effect of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on cardiac function using echocardiography in myocardial ischemia rats induced by isoproterenol. Journal of Chinese Medicine. 35(6) 653-658. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6272(15)30155-2
- Yan, J., Yang, X., Yi, S., Chang, X., Lin, Y., Wang, C., & Diao, L. (2007). [Effect of electroacupuncture of “Neiguan” (PC 6) on Na+-K+-ATPase activity and its gene expression in cardiocyte membrane in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury]. Acupuncture Research, 32(5), 296–300. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18050619/
- Wu, ZY., Xia, YQ., Wang CF, et al. (2023). Electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) attenuates cardiac dysfunction caused by cecal ligation and puncture via the vagus nerve. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114600
- Gu, C., Cheng, K. Y., Yang, S., Ran, S., Tai, H., Gao, X., & Pang, D. (2021). Efficacy on rabbits with arrhythmia: needling acupoint of Neiguan (PC6) at shallow or deep depth, and retaining needles for 10, 20, or 30 min. PubMed, 41(6), 968–973. https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A13%3A26999229/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A158839414&crl=c&link_origin=none
- Wang, M., Chen, H., Lu, S., Wang, J., Zhang, W., & Zhu, B. (2015). [Impacts on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients of chronic stable angina pectoris treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6)]. PubMed, 35(5), 417–421. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26271132Quirico, P. E., Allais, G., Ferrando, M., De Lorenzo, C., Burzio, C., Bergandi, F., Rolando, S., Schiapparelli, P., & Benedetto, C. (2014). Effects of the acupoints PC 6 Neiguan and LR 3 Taichong on cerebral blood flow in normal subjects and in migraine patients. Neurological Sciences, 35(S1), 129–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1754-0Zhang, H., Chen, J., Xia, C., Jiang, M., Wang, J., Cao, Y., Shen, L., Wang, M., & Zhu, D. (2012). Protective effects of electroacupuncture on cardiac function in rats subjected to thoracic surgery trauma. Brain Research Bulletin, 89(1–2), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.06.008
- Li, J., Li, J., Liang, F., Hong, Y., Wu, S., Tang, H., & Wang, H. (2012). Electroacupuncture at PC6 (Neiguan) improves extracellular Signal-Regulated kinase signaling pathways through the regulation of neuroendocrine cytokines in myocardial hypertrophic rats. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/792820
- Kim, K. S., Kim, D. S., Shin, K. I., & Kim, Y. S. (1995). Effect of electric acupuncture stimulation of PC 6 and PC 7 antiemetic point on postoperative nausea and vomiting. Daehan Macwi’gwa Haghoeji, 28(3), 433. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1995.28.3.433
- Lu, J., Feng, R., Pan, H., & Li, N. (2013). [A randomized controlled clinical trial for acupuncture stimulation of Neiguan (PC 6) to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting]. PubMed, 38(3), 245–248. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24006673
- Zhu, H., Xu, Y., Meng, S., Feng, H., Yuan, L., & Su, X. (2010). [Preventive effect of acupoint injection at neiguan (PC 6) on postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery]. PubMed, 30(1), 72–74. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20353120
- Zotelli, V. L. R., Grillo, C. ́. M., & Da Luz Rosa ́Rio De Sousa, M. (2014). Nausea control by needling at Acupuncture Point Neiguan (PC6) during an intraoral Impression-Taking procedure. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 7(6), 318–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2014.04.009
- Bataille, B., Chan-Shun, C., Nucci, B., Verdoux, B., Mora, M., Cocquet, P., & Silva, S. (2017). Effect of transcutaneous electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on refractory vomiting in patients in intensive care unit. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37(4), 554–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(17)30163-2
- Liu, J., Chen, H., Wu, D., Wei, R., Lv, C., Dong, J., Wu, D., & Yu, Y. (2020). Ameliorating Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation at Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36) Acupoints Combined with Adaptive Biofeedback Training on Functional Outlet Obstruction Constipation. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8798974
- Ju, B., & Niu, L. (2012). [Analysis of therapeutic effect of acupuncture at neiguan (PC 6) and zusanli (ST 36) on acute renal colic]. PubMed, 32(11), 975–978. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23213979
- Wang, S., Guo, M., Gao, Y., Ren, X., Lan, Y., Ji, M., Wu, Y., Li, K., Tan, L., & Sui, M. (2018b). [Effect of electroacupuncture at “Neiguan” (PC 6) and “Tianshu” (ST 25) for colonic motility and D 2 receptor in irritable bowel syndrome rats]. PubMed, 43(1), 25–29. https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.170416
- Wang, C., Zhou, D., Shuai, X., Liu, J., & Xie, P. (2007). Effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture at PC6 on frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation in cats. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 13(36), 4873. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v13.i36.4873
- Li, C., Wang, Y., Li, B., & Su, S. (2022). Effects of acupuncture at neiguan in neural activity of related brain regions: A Resting-State FMRI study in anxiety. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Volume 18, 1375–1384. https://europepmc.org/article/med/29383890
- Han, Y., Yin, H., Zhou, Y., Zhang, G., Wu, Y., Xing, W., Sun, F., Jin, X., & Xu, H. (2009). Investigation on the changes of dependent signal on the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations at blood oxygen level in brain after acupuncture Neiguan (PC 6). Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 29(8), 647–651. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/19947271
- Wang, L., Wang, Z., Kang, X., & Jia, L. (2008). [Comparative study on effects of different acupuncture manipulation methods at neiguan (PC 6) on hand spasm in the patient of stroke]. PubMed, 28(7), 503–506. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18678163
- Liu, K., & Tian, L. (2013). [Knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Taichong (LR 3)]. PubMed, 33(2), 105–108. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23620932
- Kim, S., Park, H., Han, S., Hahm, D., Lee, H., Kim, K., & Shim, I. (2009). The effects of acupuncture stimulation at PC6 (Neiguan) on chronic mild stress-induced biochemical and behavioral responses. Neuroscience Letters, 460(1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2009.05.008

