Equine Acupuncture Point Charts – The Pericardium Meridian in the Horse

In this article, we are diving into the most important acupuncture points on the equine Pericardium Meridian. We’re exploring their functions and where they are located on the horse’s body. Let’s jump right in!

Acupressure Points on the Equine Pericardium Meridian

The Pericardium meridian is one of the Yin meridians of the Fire element. This meridian is actually quite short. It runs basically down the front leg and ends in the hoof.

The Pericardium Merdian in Horses

• PC 01 – Respiratory problems, recurrent airway obstruction, pain in the trunk region.
• PC 06 – Masterpoint for the upper abdomen, stomach problems such as ulcers, and problems of the respiratory tract, heart, and anxiety.
• PC 09 – Local point for laminitis and palmer foot pain, and anxiety.

How to Treat Pressure Points

There are multiple different ways how to work with acupuncture points. Professional practitioners use needles or acupuncture lasers to stimulate them. But you can achieve a beneficial effect by massaging them with your hand as well. This technique is called acupressure.

Massage Techniques for Acupressure

During acupressure, you will use your hands to be aware of any changes happening in the body. These could either be an existing blockage or the free flow of Qi after removing a blockage by acupressure treatment. Learning to sense what the body is communicating takes practice. You can educate your hands by focusing on the various sensations experienced during these sessions and by learning what the sensations indicate.

Massage Techniques:

• The One-Finger Technique: During this technique, you’ll use the finger pad of your thumb. Place it on the acupressure point and apply gentle pressure to it. Depending on the location, you can gently move your thumb and work a little bit deeper into the tissue. This technique is best used on fleshy, well-muscled body parts or on the legs.
• The Two-Finger Technique: To perform this technique, place your middle finger over the nail on your pointer finger and apply gentle pressure on your horse’s body surface. This technique works very well in the back area.

Practise, Practise, Practise!

The meridians and acupoints that will be treated are just under the skin, so you only need to apply gentle pressure. Extreme pressure could cause additional pain. If your horse ever shows signs of discomfort at any point, stop to apply pressure and move on to a different area.

If you are unable to feel changes in your horse’s body at first, that’s ok! It takes time to learn how to feel the sensation of moving Qi and removing blockages through the hands. Simply apply gentle pressure to the acupoint for approximately 30 seconds. If you don’t manage to stay on the point for the full 30 seconds, don’t worry, that’s ok too, it will still work. While performing your acupressure session, look for signs in your horse.

Recommended Acupressure Books & Videos

How do I Know it’s Working?

Your horse’s body will give you clear signs that your massage is having a positive effect on their well-being. Releasing blockages and promoting the free flow of Qi will make your horse gradually relax and show you release signs such as:

• Yawning
• Stretching
• Chewing
• Playing with their tongue
• Blinking with their eyes
• Releasing tension by shifting weight from one leg to the other

The Five Elements

The Five Elements theory forms the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each of the five elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Water, and Metal include subcategories such as climate, body tissue, emotion, internal organ…

You can find more information on the five elements here.

The five-element system also applies to your horse’s personality and physical constitution. Every horse can be categorized into one of the five elements. This gives us more information on dietary preferences and disease predispositions.

The Fire Element Horse

Earth-element horses are full of energy. They are very friendly, love to get attention, and willing to please.