What is Ju Que (CV14) used for?

Ju Que is the Front-Mu (alarm) point of the Heart, used mainly for chest and epigastric conditions: chest tightness or pain, palpitations, heartburn, acid regurgitation, and a feeling of fullness just below the sternum. Because it relates to the Heart, it is also used for anxiety, restlessness, and emotional distress with cardiac-type symptoms.

Where is Ju Que located?

Ju Que is on the midline of the abdomen, 6 cun (roughly the width of four fingers laid sideways, measured with your own hand) directly above the umbilicus (belly button), at the lower border of the sternum (breastbone). It sits in the epigastric notch, the small depression where the ribs meet.

Ju Que (巨阙 CV14): The Front-Mu Point of the Heart for Chest and Mental Distress

The Heart’s “Alarm Point” on the Midline

Ju Que (巨阙, CV14) — “Great Tower Gate” — is the Front-Mu (募) point of the Heart, located on the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) at the midpoint where the chest meets the abdomen. As a Mu point, it is where the Heart’s energy collects on the front of the body, making it both a diagnostic site and a powerful treatment point.

This dual location — at the border of chest (Heart territory) and upper abdomen (Stomach territory) — explains Ju Que’s range. It is called upon for heart symptoms (palpitations, chest pain, anxiety) and for epigastric symptoms (heartburn, fullness, acid regurgitation) that sit right at the same anatomical crossroads. The fact that the Heart and the upper digestive tract share this region is also why modern patients so often confuse heart and stomach pain — and why a point like Ju Que can serve both.

In TCM, the Heart “opens into” the chest and houses the Shen (神, Spirit). Ju Que therefore connects the Heart’s physical and emotional functions: it calms the spirit while regulating the organ beneath.

Location

Meridian: Conception Vessel (任脉), CV14
Location: On the anterior midline, 6 cun above the umbilicus, at the lower border of the xiphoid process of the sternum — in the epigastric hollow where the lower ribs meet.
Method to find it: Feel down the center of your chest along the breastbone until you reach the soft depression just below where the lower ribs converge. That small notch, on the midline, is Ju Que.

Note: Because it lies on the midline over the upper abdomen and base of the sternum, Ju Que is needled with care — typically obliquely or superficially downward — to stay safely within the abdominal wall.

Classical Actions

Action	Application
Regulates the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen)	Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, panic
Unbinds the chest and eases pain	Chest oppression, cardiac-type chest pain
Harmonizes the Stomach and descends rebellious Qi	Heartburn, acid regurgitation, nausea, vomiting
Clears Heart heat / phlegm	Mental restlessness, manic-type agitation (classically)

Major Clinical Uses

Chest and Cardiac-Type Symptoms

As the Heart’s Mu point, Ju Que is a primary point for chest tightness, chest pain, and palpitations. In TCM practice it is used adjunctively for angina-like discomfort and the “heavy chest” of anxiety. (Any new or severe chest pain must be evaluated medically first — acupuncture is complementary, not a substitute for emergency cardiac care.)

Heartburn and Epigastric Discomfort

Ju Que’s position makes it excellent for acid reflux, heartburn, and the burning, bloated fullness just below the sternum. It helps descend rebellious Stomach Qi — the upward surge that causes regurgitation and nausea. It is commonly combined with Zhong Wan (CV12) for digestive symptoms in this region.

Anxiety, Palpitations, and the “Heart in Your Throat”

Because the Heart houses the Shen, Ju Que calms the spirit and is used for anxiety, restlessness, panic with palpitations, and stress-related insomnia. Patients who describe a “racing heart,” chest unease, or a constant nervous feeling often respond well to Heart-calming points like Ju Que paired with Shen Men (HT7) and Nei Guan (PC6).

Common Combinations

Combination	Purpose
Ju Que + Shen Men (HT7) + Nei Guan (PC6)	Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia
Ju Que + Zhong Wan (CV12) + Zu San Li (ST36)	Heartburn, acid regurgitation, epigastric fullness
Ju Que + Tan Zhong (CV17)	Chest tightness, feeling of oppression
Ju Que + Xin Shu (BL15)	Heart-Mu + Heart-Shu pairing (front-back) for Heart patterns

The Ju Que (Mu, front) + Xin Shu (BL15, Shu, back) pairing is a classic “Mu-Shu” combination — treating the Heart from both the front and the back of the body simultaneously.

Needling and Technique

Needling: Oblique, downward, 0.3–0.5 cun. Depth and angle are conservative because of the underlying organs.
Acupressure: Gentle pressure with a fingertip in the epigastric notch for 1–2 minutes can ease mild heartburn and chest unease.
Moxibustion: Sometimes applied, particularly for cold-type chest or digestive patterns.
Caution: Deep needling is avoided. Practitioners are trained to angle safely at this site.

Precautions

Chest pain is a medical red flag. New, severe, or persistent chest pain must be evaluated by a physician to rule out cardiac or serious causes before acupuncture is considered. Ju Que is a complementary point, not a diagnostic shortcut.
Avoid deep or upward needling; only trained practitioners should needle this point.
Pregnant patients should avoid abdominal points like Ju Que unless cleared by a practitioner.

Key Takeaways

Ju Que (CV14) is the Front-Mu (alarm) point of the Heart on the Conception Vessel
It treats chest pain, palpitations, heartburn, acid regurgitation, and anxiety — the Heart’s physical and emotional territory
Located at the lower border of the sternum, 6 cun above the navel, in the epigastric notch
Commonly paired with Shen Men and Nei Guan for anxiety/palpitations, or Zhong Wan for heartburn
Never substitute for medical evaluation of serious or new chest pain

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed acupuncturist or physician for clinical treatment.