HT03 Shaohai (Lesser Sea)

Location

With elbow flexed, at the midpoint of the line connecting medial end of the cubital crease and medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Categories

• He-Sea point of the Heart meridian

The classical groups this point belongs to, from Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture.

Indications

Conditions for which HT03 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

TCM actions

What classical sources say HT03 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Protocols using HT03

• Tremor, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Disorder, Bradykinesia, Rigidity Cogwheel, Balance Disturbance – LU05, LI05, LI11, LI15, ST41, SP09, HT03, SI06, SI09, BL36, BL40, KD03, PC02, PC03, PC07, TB02, TB04, TB14, GB30, GB34, LV04 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60004-2 ↗)
• Anxiety, Immune Nk Cell Deficiency – LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, HT03, HT05, SI03, BL60, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB34, GB43, LV02, CV03, CV04, CV06, CV15, GV20 (doi:10.1093/ecam/nep236 ↗)
• Pruritus, Itch Atopic-dermatitis, Skin Hypersensitivity – LI11, ST34, SP10, HT03 (doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02789.x ↗)
• Weakness, Numbness, Tingling, Neuropathic Pain, Neuropathy Peripheral Chemotherapy-induced – LI04, LI11, SP09, HT03, SI03, GB34, GB41, LV03 (doi:10.1155/2013/349653 ↗)
• Hemiplegia, Stroke Sequelae, Spasticity Upper Extremity, Motor Dysfunction Upper Limb – HT03, PC06 (doi:10.2147/CIA.S53814 ↗)
• Palpitations, Knee Pain, Tremor Hand, Tremor Essential, Tremor Jaw – LU08, HT03, LV02, LV04, CV17, CV23 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.022 ↗)
• Tremor Hand, Tremor Essential, Tremor Jaw – LU08, HT03, LV02, LV04, CV17, CV23 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.022 ↗)
• Headache, Nausea, Tremor Essential, Tremor Jaw – LU08, HT03, LV02, LV04, CV17, CV23 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.022 ↗)
• Back Low Pain, Disability Functional, Back Chronic Pain – LI04, ST36, SP06, HT03, BL23, BL30, BL58, BL60, KD07, TB05, GB41, GV04 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0850-7 ↗)
• Spasticity Elbow Poststroke, Stroke Sequelae Chronic – HT03, PC06 (doi:10.1155/2020/6415083 ↗)
• Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Stiffness Morning – LI11, HT03, TB10 (doi:10.1155/2021/4827123 ↗)
• Coronary Heart Disease, Chest Pain, Angina Stable – HT03, HT06, HT07, PC03, PC06, CV17 (doi:10.1155/2021/7228033 ↗)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis, Joint Pain, Inflammation Joint – LI05, LI11, LI15, ST36, SP05, SP09, HT03, SI05, SI08, BL40, BL62, KD06, PC07, TB04, TB10, TB14, GB34, GB40 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
• Tremor, Parkinson's Disease, Bradykinesia, Postural Instability, Balance Impaired, Gait Impaired, Rigidity Muscular – ST34, SP04, HT03, HT07, KD03, KD07 (doi:10.1016/j.prdoa.2025.100324 ↗)
• Diarrhea, Dyspepsia Functional, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Bloating Abdominal, Satiation Early, Tightness Epigastric – LU05, LU11, HT03, HT09, SI02, SI03, BL66, KD10, GB41, LV01 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1545687 ↗)
• Airway Hyperresponsiveness, Asthma Intermittent, Asthma Mild – LU01, LU05, LU07, LU09, LU11, LI04, LI06, LI20, ST13, ST25, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP03, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, HT05, HT07, SI03, BL13, BL17, BL18, BL20, BL21, BL23, KD03, KD06, KD08, KD27, PC06, TB05, TB15, GB03, GB34, GB40, GB41, LV02, LV03, LV08, LV13, CV04, CV06, CV09, CV17, CV21, GV04, GV13 (doi:10.1186/s13052-015-0155-1 ↗)
• Anxiety, Depression, Stress Post-traumatic, Stress Psychological – SP06, HT03, HT07, TB03, CV04, CV06, CV12, CV17 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101251 ↗)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Wrist Pain, Hand Weakness, Hand Numbness – LU05, LI05, LI10, HT03, SI04, PC03, PC07, TB05 (doi:10.2147/JPR.S551446 ↗)
• Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia Chronic – HT03, HT07, PC03, PC07 (doi:10.27127/d.cnki.ghlzu.2023.000646 ↗)
• Forgetfulness, Memory Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment – LU03, LU07, HT03, HT07, BL15, BL43, KD01, KD21, GV11, GV20 (doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.022173 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LI04, LI11, LI15, SP06, SP09, HT01, HT03, BL60, KD01, KD03, PC06, PC07, PC08, TB04, TB05, GB30, GB31, GB33, GB34, GB39, LV03, LV08 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Muscle Hypertonia Post-stroke – LU07, LI05, LI11, LI15, ST32, SP06, SP09, HT01, HT03, BL37, BL60, KD03, PC06, TB05, GB34, GB39 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke – LI04, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST31, ST32, ST34, SP06, SP09, SP10, HT03, SI03, BL54, KD01, PC06, TB05, GB30, GB34, GB39, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Paralysis Spastic Post-stroke Limb Spasticity – LI04, LI11, LI14, LI15, ST36, SP06, SP09, HT03, SI03, BL57, BL60, KD01, KD06, PC06, TB05, GB34, GB39, GB40, LV03 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30071-6 ↗)
• Back Low Pain, Disability Functional, Low Back Pain – ST36, HT03, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL30, BL40, BL58, GV04 (doi:10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.6.219 ↗)
• Chest Pain, Postoperative Pain – HT03, HT04, HT05, HT06, HT07, PC03, PC05, PC06, PC07 (doi:10.51507/j.jams.2023.16.4.133 ↗)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – LU09, LU10, LI04, LI10, LI11, HT02, HT03, HT07, PC04, PC06, PC07, PC08 (doi:10.1089/photob.2024.0106 ↗)
• Parkinson's Disease, Gait Disturbance, Rigidity Muscular – ST34, SP04, HT03, HT07, KD03, KD07 (doi:10.1016/j.prdoa.2025.100324 ↗)
• Spasticity Upper Limb, Hemiplegia Post-stroke – LI11, LI14, LI15, SP06, SP09, HT03, GB34, GB39 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20190531-k0005 ↗)
• Dyspepsia Functional – LU05, LU11, HT03, HT09, SI02, SI03, BL66, KD10, GB41, LV01 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1545687 ↗)
• Tremor Essential – LU08, HT03, LV02, LV04, CV17, CV23 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.022 ↗)
• Osteoarthritis Knee – LI11, HT03, TB10 (doi:10.1155/2021/4827123 ↗)
• Angina Pectoris – HT03, HT06, HT07, PC03, PC06, CV17 (doi:10.1155/2021/7228033 ↗)
• Postoperative Pain – SP06, HT03, SI06, BL62 (doi:10.1007/s11695-023-06654-8 ↗)
• Stroke, Spasticity Post-stroke, Spasticity Upper Limb – HT03, PC06 (doi:10.2147/CIA.S53814 ↗)
• Insomnia – ST03, ST41, ST43, HT03, HT07, SI05, KD10, GB41 (doi:10.1177/09645284231210582 ↗)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – LU10, LI04, LI10, LI11, HT03, HT07, PC04, PC06, PC07, PC08 (doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0107 ↗)
• Anxiety, Depression, Long Covid – SP21, HT03, HT07, LV03, CV17, GV20 (europepmc.org ↗)
• Itching, Dermatitis Atopic – LI11, ST34, SP10, HT03 (doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02789.x ↗)
• Itching, Dermatitis Atopic – LI11, HT03 (doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02789.x ↗)
• Itching, Dermatitis Atopic – LI11, HT03 (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-s1-o32 ↗)
• Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Qi Stagnation – LI17, LI18, ST09, ST15, ST16, ST18, ST25, ST26, ST27, SP13, SP18, HT03, HT04, SI11, BL14, BL16, BL18, BL31, KD21, XB02T9 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• Agitation – LU05, LU07, LI04, LI11, ST36, SP06, HT03, HT07, KD03, LV03, GV20, GV24 (Acupuncture to Improve Comfort of Children on a Ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01848158)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – HT03, HT04, PC03, PC05 (Local Effects of Acupuncture and Nerve Conduction Studies. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03036657)
• Numbness, Pulseless Disease, Elbow Pain – HT03, HT05, HT07, PC03, PC06, PC07 (Chen Jirui, Nissi Wang (eds). Acupuncture Case Histories from China. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1988)
• Scrofula Neck – ST36, SP06, SP09, HT03, SI14, BL13, BL18, BL43, GB21, GB30, GB34, GV14, XU01 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Numbness, Paresthesia – ST31, HT03, HT05 (Zhang Dengbu. Acupuncture Cases from China: A Digest of Difficult and Complicated Case Histories. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994)
• Qi Stagnation, Stasis Blood, Paralysis (infant), Benefit Regulate Yin, Benefit Regulate Wei, Intorsion, Hand Extorsion Stiffness, Qi Stagnation, Stasis Blood, Paralysis (infant), Benefit Regulate Yin, Benefit Regulate Wei, Hand Extorsion Stiffness – LI05, HT03, SI03, TB04, TB09 (sacredlotus.com ↗)

Most often selected alongside HT03

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with HT03. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• LI11Pond At The Bend18 protocols
• HT07Spirit Gate15 protocols
• PC06Inner Gate15 protocols
• SP06Three Yin Intersection12 protocols
• GB34Yang Mound Spring11 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley10 protocols
• SP09Yin Mound Spring10 protocols
• CV17Chest Centre9 protocols
• PC07Great Mound9 protocols
• PC03Marsh At The Bend8 protocols
• SI03Back Stream8 protocols
• ST36Leg Three Miles8 protocols

Other points on the Heart Meridian