Acupressure to calm heart palpitation

racing cartoonPericardium 6 for heart palpitations

There are many reasons for heart palpitations. Of course, if you are experiencing a racing heart, it’s best to consult with a health practitioner to understand the cause and hopefully find a solution. While you are waiting for help (your heart may still be pounding or racing), acupressure is worth a try.

One point to soothe a racing heart

Pericardium 6 can have a powerful impact on the heart – I know from personal experience. I occasionally experience heart palpitations. These are moments in time when seemingly, for no particular reason, my heart beats at a very rapid pace.
The experience can be very scary. I was alone the last time my heart “did its thing.” Fortunately, I knew about Pericardium 6 (P6). I focused my mind and pressed deeply on Pericardium 6.  After a few short moments, my heart immediately shifted back to its normal resting pace.

I have passed this practice on to a few friends who have similar experiences, and to their amazement and joy, Pericardium 6 has also soothed their heart palpitations.

Anxiety and Pericardium 6

Pericardium 6 is famous for relieving anxiety too!
Anxiety often manifests as a racing heart. By applying steady pressure to Pericardium 6 you can reduce your sense of anxiety and the racing heart.

How to locate Pericardium 6

Pericardium 6 (P 6) is located on both forearms. It is on the inside or palm side of the forearm, close to the wrist.

Pericardium 6 picture

Pericardium 6 is on the inner surface of the forearm, near the wrist.

Steps to locate P 6

how to locate Pericardium 6

Measure 2 thumb widths back from the center of the wrist crease

  1. Find the center of the wrist crease (palm side).
  2. Measure two of your thumb widths from the center of the wrist crease toward the elbow.
  3. You might feel a large tendon in that area. P 6 is very close to that tendon, toward the pinky side of the forearm.
applying pressure to Pericardium 6

Acupressure to Pericardium 6

How to use P 6 to ease heart palpitations and anxiety

Acupressure points are used to activate Qi (energy).
Qi responds best to focused awareness.
As you apply pressure to Pericardium 6, do your best to bring your attention to this point. Feel and sense this area with your inner awareness, while applying pressure with your fingers or thumb. Sink your pressure into the point, try to ease your breathing, and keep your mind focused on the point.

**Alternate applying pressure to Pericardium 6 on both wrists.
You may notice a stronger response on one wrist, so be sure to experiment with both.  If you do notice that one side gives a better response just spend more time on that wrist.

To continue learning, check out the “All About the Pericardium Meridian” video on demand.

Cindy Black

Cindy Black is the Founder of Big Tree School of Natural Healing and the author of Meridian Massage, Pathways to Vitality. She is appreciated for her ability to make the complex accessible, fun, and practical.

23 Comments

  1. Jingle Bailo on December 6, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Hello Cindy, tonight my husband had a very hard cough with fast breathing. I notice that the vein in his neck beat fast also. I search through google about acupuncture for slowing breathing and it lead.me to you P6. I try to concentrate on the puncture to his P6. Thank God it works. The coughing stop and his breathing is now normal and he sleeps soundly. I will always tried it every.time if it occurs again. Very helpful to us your work. A many thank you to you.

    • Cindy Black on December 6, 2021 at 8:44 pm

      You are welcome – I am very happy to hear that it helped!

  2. ana monter mazas on August 16, 2020 at 1:53 am

    cindy, tu trabajo es impresionante y tambien tu ayuda GRACIAS

  3. Beth on June 3, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Years ago when I ate soy I would get a fight-or-flight reaction that would start with arrhythmia then go into tachycardia. This could last 36 hours, also mildly restricting breathing and preventing sleep. So I stopped all soy, but these days soooo many foods, solid and liquid are cross-contaminated with soy. This morning tried using organic sorghum flour with which to make pancakes and can feel my heart working fast and hard. Have tried using the technique you suggested in the past but it didn’t work. Tried again just now. Pressed harder and longer on both sides. Still not helping much. Maybe a little. May have to continue for a bit.

  4. Jamie on January 19, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Help me get rid of my hart pain please please help me

    • Cindy Black on January 20, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Jamie,
      I’m sorry that you are in pain – if I was experiencing heart pain I would go to a Medical Doctor asap.

      • Kathleen Yorke on August 13, 2020 at 9:28 am

        P.S. I love your work. Thank you. I use the pressure points all the time. Your suggestions are very helpful.

    • Cyndee on August 13, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      Thank you for the info!

  5. Thirumalai on June 18, 2018 at 2:58 pm

    Its working, but you have to concentrate and take some deep breath during this time

    • Cindy Black on June 19, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      Yes, it helps to take long slow breaths and do what you can calm your mind while holding the point – thanks!

  6. Rena on September 10, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Thank you for this article. I have experienced hormone-related tachycardia throughout menopause. Though I haven’t had an episode in months, I feel better just knowing that this exists for the next time. Thank you.

  7. Oumayma on June 9, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    Hi Cindy! I’m fond of your courses.
    Very interesting, very helpful.
    I’m always thirsty for knowledge!
    Keep up the good work.thanks for the great posts

    • Cindy Black on June 10, 2017 at 12:12 pm

      Oumayma,
      You are most welcome – thank you for saying hello!
      🙂

  8. Kathy on May 31, 2017 at 9:18 am

    Thank you, for nearly a year I have been noticing my heart racing mostly at night as I try to sleep and during extreme stress. I switched to decaf coffee, it didn’t help much. I retired from my stressful full time job in April and took a part time one in May, still having the issue a bit. I just tried P 6 and it worked! Thank you so much!

    • Cindy Black on May 31, 2017 at 9:19 am

      Kathy,
      Thanks so much for writing – I am really happy to hear about your experience with P 6!!! Yay!
      Rest well
      🙂

  9. Birgit on April 21, 2017 at 9:41 am

    Thanks Cindy great article . Using it not for palpitations but anxiety from nervousness and excitement . anticipation of an upcoming event . Like the info on how to approach feeling and pressing into the point

    • Cindy Black on April 25, 2017 at 2:00 pm

      Hi Birgit,
      Yes, P 6 is used for many different manifestations. I hope you feel at ease during your event.
      🙂

  10. Jill on April 20, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Timing!!! Am having problems with new medication and it is causing palms. Thanks Cindy.

  11. bonnie on April 20, 2017 at 11:04 am

    great to know this about the pericardium area for tachycardia issues, I am a retired Cardiology tech. (still on the very casual list,so can experiment occasionally with this) there is a lot of atrial fibrillation for some reason in the world today. I have tried squeezing the heart meridian and sometimes this works, but mostly not. I have an amazing story about the heart meridian actually that a lot of people would find hard to believe, but you will love and appreciate this. Years ago just after reading Donna Edens book about Energy, I was waiting in the trauma room of the acute care hospital where I have since worked for 35 years. I and many others were waiting for a “code Blue” victim being brought in by ambulance. They came in, doing con’t CPR and this was cont with the team in the trauma room.. they eventually called a STOP resuscitation order on him. As they started to walk away from the table I thought to myself (what the heck have I got to loose by trying this) so I walked over and started squeezing his left pinky finger on the sides.. the nurse who I knew, asked me what I was doing and I told her to squeeze the other pinky on her side and for some strange reason she did as I asked.. well…. to my surprise, his heart started beating on the monitor and nurse yelled at the doctor to look at this.. no one, in that room could believe what was happening and doc kept saying that he had never seen that before and asked what happened.. nurse told him that Bonnie was squeezing his fingers and this happened ( I told him I was squeezing his heart meridian which stimulates energy to the heart..as everyone was back doing CPR on him again his heart rate increased and looked good, BUT, eventually his heart started to die again, and doc told me not to press his fingers again.. ended up it was not his heart but some abdominal rupture that killed him ( in autopsy found out) SO, what a story hey? over the years I have told a few people about this and told them in the event that they are out in an area away from 911 calling or even while waiting for ambulance to come if any chest tightness to press the heart meridian. The cool thing here too was that day I planted many seeds of how dealing with the meridians can play an amazing part in acute care medicine. Even save a life…

    • Marian on March 19, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      I LOVE Donna Edens work. It has changed my life.
      She does talk about your story.

      • Cindy Black on March 19, 2020 at 6:42 pm

        There are so many wonderful teachers!
        Enjoy your adventures with Qi,

        Cindy

  12. Shauna on April 20, 2017 at 9:36 am

    How does wearing a fitbit effect this? I noticed that my fitbit sits just over pericardium 6.
    Enjoying your posts, Thanks,
    Shauna

    • Cindy Black on April 20, 2017 at 6:50 pm

      Hi Shauna,
      I’m not sure how that would affect it – keep track of your experience – that’s always the best teacher
      Thanks for writing!

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