According to traditional Chinese medicine, the primary organ associated with our Fire element is the Heart and its circulatory system. In addition to the physical functions of this organ system, the ancient Chinese also recognized parallel mental and emotional qualities that they refer to as Heart energy.
Heart = Love
In our culture, we are familiar with the Fire element’s Heart energy as that which enables us to love others deeply and selflessly, and to receive love in return. Our language is rich with terms like open-hearted, from the heart, and heart-felt to describe this energy.
In classic Chinese medical texts, the Heart is the root of all life. It is what connects us to our humanity and our divinity. The Heart awakens us to the universality of our experience. It is our Heart that witnesses other people’s suffering and enables us to reach out with compassion. When we are so deeply moved to assist our neighbors’ in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we are motivated by our Heart’s need to expand beyond ourselves for the sake of us all.
When our Heart energy is flowing well, we are vital and robust on every level. We experience joy. We have meaningful and intimate relationships, enthusiasm for life, a radiant spirit, insight, restful sleep, healthy complexions, and a gift of expressing ourselves well. A healthy Heart enables us to be spontaneous with a capacity to laugh – even at ourselves. Others also benefit from and feed our Heart energy. Fire needs a spark to get started and needs to be maintained. The Heart energy opens us up so that our Fire can be engaged. And, though others are important to the care and tending of our Hearts, we also need time to be with ourselves. We have to cultivate our own Fire energy by developing self- awareness and pursuing our passions.
Tending Your Heart Energy
Our Fire can become deficient and weak or overstimulated and scattered. Either way, this can manifest as a disharmony in our Heart energy. We may be unable to receive love or be untouched by the suffering of others. We may be hard-hearted or broken-hearted. Or, we may be too sensitive or too vulnerable thus taking too much to heart. Many emotional imbalances come from distressed Heart energy. Physical consciousness is maintained because the heart and circulatory system nourish the brain. Similarly, higher consciousness occurs because our Heart Energy enables us to be mindful and calm in the present moment rather than distracted by anxious thoughts or alienated by our pain.
If our Heart or other aspects of our Fire energy is distressed, we may suffer from any number of other related physical symptoms: irregular heart beats or blood pressure, heaviness in the chest, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, poor or over-active libido, feeling cold, rashes or hives, inflamed joints, or a feeling of being burned out.
Acupuncture and other forms of Chinese Medicine treat physical and emotional symptoms by using points along energetic pathways on the body, called meridians. Several meridians relate specifically to our Fire energy including the Heart. Points along the Heart meridian and the other related meridians have tremendous potential to restore harmony to the body and the spirit. Below are just a few points that treat our Heart energy:
Utmost Source, a point located in the armpit, can resurrect a broken Heart by reuniting us with our spirit’s source. This point is also used for pain in the armpit, arm, and chest.
Spirit Gate, a wrist point, opens the Heart to receive and give love. Anxiety, insomnia, and heart disorders can be treated with this point.
Penetrating Inside, an arm point, directs the Heart energy inward when we feel like we only experience superficial and temporary happiness rather than lasting joy. Pain in the wrist and elbow, fright, inability to speak, and feeling cold can be affected by this point.
In addition to treating these points with acupuncture, there are many ways to support our Heart energy and tend our inner fire. Here are a few:
Ask yourself what brings you joy? Then do it. Live your passion whether it’s knitting or mountain biking.
Exercise. Get some aerobic activity you enjoy. Dance, walk, play with kids at a pool. Get your circulation going.
Balance excitement and time with friends with solitude and time for your self. Our Hearts need time to recharge.
Laugh. Go to a comedy club. See a funny movie. Make fun a priority.
Make time to be friends and family you love and who love you. Tell them you love them!
Give of yourself. When you feel lonely or sad, reach out to others and offer compassion to those who need it.
Eat bitter foods, which in moderation, are good for the Heart. Dark chocolate, red wine, escarole, endive, watercress. Enjoy sun-ripened produce.
Practice mindfulness in which you bring your whole consciousness to the present moment.
Stretch and expand your upper body with deep breaths and movement. Give your Heart space to fill up your being.
Admire your maturity. Celebrate your age. Open up proudly like a rose in bloom.
References:
The Five Elements and the Officials, J.R. Worsley
The Clinical Practice of Chinese Medicine, Lonny Jarrett
A Manual of Acupuncture, Peter Deadman
Becky Thoroughgood is a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbologist practicing in Harrisburg. She earned her Master’s Degree in Acupuncture from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Traditional Acupuncture Institute) in Laurel, MD.