CATCH A FIRE: THE FIRE ELEMENT
The organs in Chinese medicine are more than just a physical
representation. The organs include not only their physiological function, but
also their mental, emotional, spiritual and elemental qualities that align with
nature and the seasons. Let’s explore the heart.
The heart season is summer, and heart is considered the most yang:
hot, bountiful and abundant. Yang is what is bright, moving, outward, hot and
loud. Yin is what is more inward, still, dark and cooler. The color of the
heart is associated with red, the climate is heat, the flavor is bitter and
it’s paired organ is the small intestine (many urinary issues are due to “heart
fire” heat descending). The sense aligned with heart is the tongue, and the
vessels associated with heart are the tissues. The heart sound is laughing, and
the emotion is joy. The heart houses what is known as the shen, which is the
mind and spirit. You can see a person’s shen in a healthy complexion and
radiant eyes that are clear and bright. The heart is in charge of circulation
and keeps the tissues well nourished. It is also associated with mental
clarity, memory and strength. The motion of this fire element is upward, like a
flame. Many who have this element dominant in their personality have red hair
that is curly or spikes upward. The heart is also connected to speech. An
imbalance in heart energy can result in stuttering, speaking excitedly or
talking excessively.
A healthy heart energy exudes a sense of joy, fun, enthusiasm,
action, warmth, charisma and fun. These people are the “life of the party,” and
love to have a good time with friends and to be the center of attention. When
the heart is balanced, sleep is sound and one is well rested.
On the other hand, when there is an overabundance of fire this can
result in restlessness, anxiety, sweating, excitability and symptoms such as
palpitations, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, disturbing dreams, mouth sores,
thirst, red face, constipation and dryness. This person might shrink if not in
the limelight and would constantly seek attention and need activities that
produce a lot of excitement. He or she might have trouble being introspective
and could not be alone. “Overjoy” is an imbalance of heart energy and is
likened to manic behavior. A dominant fire may also be extremely sensitive to
heat. A lack of the fire element, on the other hand, can result in a lusterless
complexion, low energy, inertia, depression, feeling cold, low libido and the
personality may lack warmth. This type may seem cold, frigid, lack drive and
may be prone to addictions.
How to help your heart stay in balance? Red foods have been shown
to help the heart biochemically; foods such as hawthorn berries, strawberries,
cherries, raspberries, tomatoes, watermelon, peppers and goji berries keep your
heart happy with lycopene and anthocyanin, antioxidants and beneficial
vitamins. Other helpful foods include garlic, cayenne, cilantro, basil,
magnesium (found in leafy greens, nuts and soy) and green tea. Also try
ginseng, jujube dates, reishi mushrooms, dong quai, seaweed and schizandra
berries. Calming activities such as walking, tai qi, or qi gong help calm the shen.
It is best not to self-diagnose, so see your healthcare provider to see if those foods are right for you. You don't want to assume you have too much of one element and end up eating the wrong foods. A Chinese medical specialist can give you a proper diagnosis as far as the Five Element theory goes to see which element is dominant in you, and they can treat your condition with acupuncture, herbs and offer advice for beneficial changes in diet and lifestyle.
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