The Traditional Chinese Medicine View on Balancing Heart and Spirit with Mindful Speech Practices

According to traditional Chinese medicine,(1) the Heart, the yin organ of the Fire element, is considered the home of Shen—the higher universal consciousness which descends from ‘heaven' and resides within every person. The Shen regulates emotions, consciousness, and many mental functions.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Heart and small intestine, Fire’s yin and yang organs, respectively, are connected to the Shen and to our chi (vital energy) and link the Spirit with the body’s physical processes.

We can assess Shen by observing the eyes because Shen is especially projected through them. We can see Shen in eyes that are lively and express love.

We can also assess Shen through the degree of vitality that resonates from the exterior tissues and a facial expression that is calm.

We bring vitality and balance to the Heart through the more obvious methods of cleansing and balancing Fire’s other organs (small intestine, circulatory system and autonomic nervous system), but there are less obvious very important Shen-clarifying practices we can perform that will benefit the Heart.

Heart and our speech are inextricably linked. In traditional Chinese medicine,(1) the Heart is said to flower into the tongue. An internal branch of the Heart channel connects with the tongue, therefore it is responsible for our ability to speak appropriately. This refers to emotion charged speech such as insults that stem from an angry Heart and to speech impediments such as the lisp.

Since speech issues forth from the Heart, we must pay better attention to it by listening to and observing the content and quality of our speech in order to either maintain or reestablish a healthy Heart and Shen.

Since speech is said to issue forth from the Heart, we must pay better attention to it by listening to and observing the content and quality of our speech in order to either maintain or reestablish a healthy Heart and Shen.

When Heart is out-of-balance, we can be sure the Shen is disturbed. This disturbance can potentially lead to insomnia, nightmares, and emotional disorder. We can’t concentrate, our memory is compromised, and we’re irritable and anxious. We are mentally hyperactive.

Excessive thought and worry racing through the mind creates an impoverishing energy to Heart. In severe cases, the yang aspects of the Heart—heat, vital energy and Spirit—flood upward into the head causing fever, headache, irritability, insomnia and mental disturbances. And with all this mental disturbance going on, we tend to lash out at others with our words.

The traditional belief(1) is that balanced Shen gives us the ability to transform, accept change, be malleable, and go with the flow. By doing so, we are at peace and so is our self-expression through speech.

Understanding that our words issue forth from the mind, we can see the condition of our Heart and Shen in the reflection of our spoken words resulting from our thoughts. Our words possess the power to be received as truth and alter life.

We can’t see our Shen but when it and Heart are balanced, we think clearly and rationally, we feel calm and peaceful, and we’re able to cultivate healthy relationships with other people. We speak from the Heart which is honest and true and loving. 

A scattered mind and spirit will produce scattered words and hurtful and/or self-disempowering language.

By heightening our awareness of the words that come out of our mouths, we actually can strengthen the Heart. The scattered mind and its Spirit can be collected and organized by way of mindful speech patterns.

Shen- and Heart-focusing practices include:

• prayer

• meditation

• devotional singing

• mantra recitation (in any language)

• chanting

• affirmations and decrees

• quiet contemplation on uplifting images

• out loud recitation/reading of poetry or sacred texts.

Any of these balancing practices should be done in a mindful and deliberate way. They will not only help calm and clear the mind and elevate our speech, they will help bring balance to all our other organ systems as well.

Well known for calming the Heart and Spirit before an energy healing or acupuncture treatment is the practice of first calming and centering the mind of the patient.

Acupuncture physicians will initiate a treatment on the area of the upper back at the Heart associated acupuncture point.

As ancient as the Inner Classic text, we read:

“All proper needling [and healing] first treats the Spirit.”

In energy medicine sessions, the healing practitioner will always first offer a prayer to heighten spiritual awareness and bring calm to the patient.

Once spirit becomes sufficiently concentrated in the Heart, the mind will stop racing and integrated thought (as opposed to superficial flighty thought) begins. The person receiving the healing becomes more fully present, participatory and receptive. 

By using basic speech awareness practices like the ones listed above along with some dietary discipline(1) we are better able to balance our mental wellness, our Shen and our Heart. We can improve the yin energy of Heart so that our Shen is held in the Heart by a protective barrier of yin essences.

#####

Endnotes:

1. Traditional Chinese medicine references in this article reveal practices and beliefs of antiquity in their historical context.

2. A simple diet with occasional light fasting is wonderful for creating deep, peaceful thinking. Avoiding food habits that scatter the mind or overheat the body will help prevent depletion of yin fluids. Meals with few ingredients, simple and less spicy foods, and refraining from eating in the evenings can encourage healthy sleep and a clear mind during the day.

The following foods are beneficial for Heart and Shen balance according to traditional Chinese medicine(1):

• Oyster shell: excellent for building the yin of the Heart; can be consumed in the form of oyster shell calcium as a nutritional supplement.

• Grains: whole wheat, brown rice, and oats; these grains gently but profoundly calm the mind

• Mushrooms: nearly every form of fungi offer cerebral effects; reishi mushroom is an immune tonic and directly nurtures Heart, soothes the Spirit and calms the mind.

• Silica rich foods: oat straw tea, barley gruel, oat groat tea, cucumber, celery, lettuce; excellent for improving calcium metabolism and strengthening nerve and heart tissue.

• Fruit: mulberries and lemons for calming the mind with mulberries being the stronger of the two. Schisandra berries calm the Spirit and are prescribed in Chinese herbology for insomnia and to add memory recall and concentration.

• Jujube seeds: very widely used remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for calming the Spirit; believed by traditional Chinese medicine to directly nourish the Heart.

• Dill and basil: for a calming effect.

• Chamomile or valerian:  helpful for the nervous person or insomniac until the diet is improved to the extend that herbs are unnecessary; rose hips with these herbs supplies vitamin C for soothing the nerves.

• Animal products like quality cow and goat milk and ghee (clarified butter): to nourish the spirit of the Heart in people who can tolerate these foods.

Sources:

Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods. Poland, North Atlantic Books, 2003.

The Heart Energy of the Fire Element: How It Oversees Not Just Physical but Emotional Functions As Wel

We instinctively place our hands on our Hearts when we feel love and appreciation. We instinctively know when our Hearts are open and generous. And we have observed that while our Hearts carry out an incredibly vital physical function, there is far more to the function of Heart than this and it involves the emotions of love, peace and equanimity.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the Fire element governs the heart, small intestine, circulatory system, autonomic nervous system (including parasympathetic and sympathetic branches), the small intestine and the triple heater meridian.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

The Heart is considered the home of Shen—the higher consciousness which descends from ‘heaven' and resides within us. The Shen is the universal consciousness that exists in every person.

Chinese medicine believes the various functions of the Fire element exist to protect Heart from injury especially on the levels of mind and spirit.

For example, the master of the Heart which is the pericardium together with the sympathetic nervous system works to protect us against hurts resulting from emotional vulnerability especially in relationships. They work to provide us the circulation of love and consciousness from the heart throughout the entire body and to other people as well.

The element of Fire relates to our desires and passions in life and also to the emotion of joy. If we become overly driven by any of these we may find ourselves with a clumsy Heart/Fire-based emotional issue.

Conversely, expressing heartfelt caring and developing deep connections with others from our humble quiet Heart demonstrates what Chinese medicine calls the art of the Heart.

The quantum energetic Fire element line of skin and hair care by PHYTO5 does more than work at the level of skin. It is also capable of bringing balance to an emotional state of out-of-balance joy. It is formulated in such a way that it penetrates the deepest core of the mind-body system where healing begins—the point where consciousness actually starts to have an effect.

Medical research appears to confirm that the health of our physical Hearts depends on good diet, exercise and a  connection not only to our spirit but with good social interactions. Studies show that the incidence of heart disease increases in situations of social isolation, difficult marital status and depression.

We see that heart attack victims who live alone experience twice the mortality of those who don't.

Depression doubles the mortality rate after bypass surgery.

Coronary atheroscleros is worse the more strained a relationship is.

In a study of 11,000 heart attack patients, those living with high stress levels were more common among that number.

A research team discovered that simply by asking patients with acute heart problems to discuss what and who they loved most in life led to less arrhythmias and lower blood pressure.

The art of the Heart involves quieting, peacefulness and an embracing of relationships. The Small Intestine energy does similarly as it quiets the mind by disallowing excessive or irrelevant thoughts or distractions to overwhelm the heart.

For the Heart to remain strong and healthy or to return to that state, the Heart must be able to maintain this calm and quiet. This is how we become able to adapt to the stresses of life and live long lives of substance and quality.

By being able to live strong with peaceful well functioning Hearts, we are, in turn, able to use these abilities to assist others in need of them.

Discrimination, prioritization, judgment, and simplification come from the Small Intestine in balance.

But confusion, hesitation, anxiety, and insomnia commonly result when the energy of the Small Intestine is out of balance. Shyness, moodiness, and fatigue can also occur when Small Intestine energy is not strong.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the triple heater meridian is responsible for encouraging the circulation of chi (vital energy), blood, fluids, and hormones throughout the body. It is also extremely encouraging as we maneuver our way through our many social and emotional relationships.

The triple heater meridian provides an appropriate milieu for the optimum transformation of food to energy which is needed to support the function of the Heart. When it is obstructed, fatigue and erratic behavior commonly result.

Traditional Chinese medicine calls the Heart the Emperor—the King who serves and reigns over the body with wisdom and equanimity. When people say with conviction, "I am coming from my heart," they are actually expressing an authenticity of belief and knowing that come from the Emperor one heartbeat at a time.

When the Heart chi energy is healthy and free flowing, this chi creates a rhythm in the body that is universal and available to all people whose hearts and triple warmer meridians are in balance.

Symptoms arising when Heart chi is out of balance include insomnia, anxiety and experiencing life as chaotic. This is because a Heart that’s not in control causes the Heart to beat irregularly, blood pressure to fluctuate, and even sometimes causes a loss of consciousness. Ultimately, we experience chaos both within the body and in our external lives.

Essentially, any situation that overstimulates the mind or emotions whether it’s a trauma or we feel overburdened with responsibilities and stress, may create too much Fire in the Heart potentially leading to emotional conditions such as nervousness, anxiety, and in extreme cases, mania.

When Heart energy is weak, holding to our beliefs can be difficult. When Heart is well adapted it grandly reigns with purpose and integrity. Grounding and a sense of self-assured sovereignty are ours.

“The Heart holds the office of lord and sovereign. The radiance of the spirit stems from it.”

— from Chapter 8 of the Neijing Suwen, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Chinese Medicine

The Heart is the supreme controller. It is partly human physical and partly divine spirit. Heart, residing in its palace, the protective pericardium, houses the spirit and keeps us in contact with love, peace and all that is of spiritual essence.

#####

Endnotes:

Anderson, Sandra K. The Practice of Shiatsu. Malawi, Mosby Elsevier, 2007.

Hicks, Angela, et al. Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture. United Kingdom, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2010.

Moss, Charles A. Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance. United States, North Atlantic Books, 2011.

Photo courtesy of Monica Turlui at pexels (pexels-monica-turlui-8218377.jpg)

The Incredible Benefits of Red Fruits and Vegetables for Heart Health During Energetic Summer and All Year ‘Round

Energetic Summer according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the time period from May 6 to July 19. TCM’s astute observations beginning as early as the 14th–11th centuries BCE tell us that Summer encourages us to live in an emotional state of joy-in-balance. The element associated with Summer is Fire. The color is red and the organ is the heart.

Living in harmony with each season as it comes is integral to TCM philosophy. By doing so, we enjoy higher levels of health and vitality.

To create harmonious living with the season TCM also advocates incorporating the color red into our lives more prominently during Summer and this includes the consumption of red fruits and vegetables. Most red produce is seasonal to Summer, is actually somewhat heart-shaped, and most of it supports healthy heart function. (Remember that the heart is the organ of Summer.) Red fruits and vegetables indicate the presence of high levels of lycopene and other powerful antioxidants proven to be heart disease fighters.

Though all produce offers an entire array of nutritional and health benefits, in this article we’re looking at what red fruits and vegetables of Summer offer cardiovascular health.

Strawberries

With a high polyphenol content (plant compounds that act as antioxidants which neutralize harmful free radicals), strawberries are rich in anthocyanins and have been shown to remarkably help lower your risk of myocardial infarction.

The flavonoid quercetin in strawberries is a natural anti-inflammatory which appears to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Finally, the healthy fiber and potassium content in strawberries supports heart health.

Cherries

“Emerging evidence links cherries to many important health benefits, including a reduction in risk factors for heart disease. A growing body of science links cherries’ red color (provided by the fruit’s powerful antioxidants (anthocyanins) to heart-health benefits related to reducing inflammation, total cholesterol, and belly fat. With more than 80 million Americans living with some form of heart disease, the heart-healthy qualities of eating red fruits and vegetables have more relevance than ever.” —Shari Steinbach, MS, RD in Cherries and Heart Health; https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/iv-for-021511-shari-steinbach/

Raspberries

Disease-fighting compounds in red raspberries have the ability to fight back against oxidative stress thereby lowering the risk of atherosclerosis development, improving vasodilation of blood vessels, and reducing blood pressure.

What is particularly interesting about the research on red raspberries is “their potential to help reduce factors contributing to metabolic syndrome which has implications for diabetes development and overall cardiovascular and brain health,” so says Britt M. Burton-Freeman, PhD, of the Center for Nutrition Research, Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology.

Tomatoes

Lycopene in tomatoes help lower your levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol and they help regulate blood pressure, too. Both of these may lower your chances of heart disease. Other nutrients in tomatoes like vitamins B and E and flavonoid antioxidants work to boost heart health as well.

Red bell peppers

Full of lycopene (just mentioned above), consuming red bell peppers can be excellent for heart health. Antioxidant vitamins A and C abound in red bell peppers. If you choose the chili pepper varieties of red bell peppers, the phytochemical capsaicin helps reduce inflammation, another important factor for heart health.

Red beets

“A daily serving of beet juice may improve quality of life for heart failure patients, based on recent findings linking beetroot juice to blood pressure reductions and improved exercise endurance.” —Beet Juice Lowers Blood Pressure and Boosts Exercise Endurance in Heart Failure Patients

Based on recent findings published in JACC: Heart Failure, drinking beet juice may be an effective way for heart failure patients to improve exercise endurance and quality of life.

Red grapes

Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red grapes, have antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to lessening your risk of cardiovascular disease. Eating red grapes helps the body to prevent platelet build-up and reduces blood pressure and the risk of irregular heart rhythms.

Pomegranate

The juice of pomegranate seeds appears to protect the heart and arteries. This sweet red juice helps to improve blood flow and keeps the arteries from becoming stiff and thick. It seems to help slow the growth of plaque and buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, studies show.

“Drinking pomegranate juice daily may also help lower systolic blood pressure. A comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials stated that it would be beneficial for heart health to include pomegranate juice daily.” —Mandy Ferreira and medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, RD, LD in Fifteen health benefits of pomegranate juice, Medical News Today

Red pears

Since pears are high in potassium, they have a significant impact on heart health. Potassium acts as an excellent vasodilator assisting to lower blood pressure. With improved blood flow to all parts of the body oxygen is well delivered to all organs causing them to function more effectively. The high fiber content of pears also ensures good heart health.

THE EMOTION OF JOY

In the seminal holistic healing book, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, she tells us how blood flow and joy are related. Anger constricts the flow of blood and makes a destructive impact on the heart. The heart and joy or lack of it exist in symbiosis. One begets the other.

Her “dictionary” of diseases and their associated emotions says this about the heart:

“…Represents the center of love and security.

– Heart Attack: Squeezing all the joy out of the heart in favor of money or position. Feeling alone and scared. 'I’m not good enough. I don’t do enough. I’ll never make it.'

– Heart Problems: Longstanding emotional problems. Lack of joy. Hardening of the heart. Belief in strain and stress.”

Summertime can be a joyful time of open hearts and love. Align with the energies of Summer and do everything you can to keep your heart pumping joyfully. Consuming red fruits and vegetables can help in more ways than one.

This blog was originally published on May 27, 2016 but has been extensively updated and expanded on June 18, 2021 for freshness and comprehensiveness.

#####

Endnotes:

“Strawberries: Benefits, Nutrition, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271285#benefits. 

“Cherries and Heart Health.” Have a Plant: Fruits and Veggies for Better Health, https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/iv-for-021511-shari-steinbach/

“What Red Raspberries Can Do For Your Heart.” Labroots. https://www.labroots.com/trending/cardiology/2440/what-red-raspberries-can-do-your-heart

“Beet Juice Lowers Blood Pressure and Boosts Exercise Endurance in Heart Failure Patients. CardioSmart: American College of Cardiology. https://www.cardiosmart.org/news/2016/3/beet-juice-lowers-blood-pressure-and-boosts-exercise-endurance-in-heart-failure-patients

“What are the health benefits of grapes?” Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271156

“Fifteen health benefits of pomegranate juice.” Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318385

Hay, Louise. You Can Heal Your Life. Hay House. 2004.

8 Tips for a Radiant Summer Heart

Summer is the season of the heart and small intestine (in Traditional Chinese Medicine on whose tenets we base our PHYTO5 skincare philosophy). Today, we're looking at how to keep our heart in tip top shape taking advantage of the Summer's energy.

In Western medicine, the heart does nothing more than pump blood. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the heart is so much more. In Chinese medicine, life is more than form just as are our lives which include relationships, career, emotions, traumas, education, finances, love, and joy.

Fire Element • Summer Season • Heart Organ

In TCM, they are one and when aligned with each other, we live in harmony and our vitality results in every aspect of our lives.

When there is too much fire in any fire pile, heat blazes upwards. In the human, anger bubbles up, emotions get charged and the face and neck turn red.

When there is too little fire, warmth begins to dissipate and so does its light. In the human, necessary heat cannot reach the head as well and the face becomes pale and the person lethargic. Heart palpitations may occur intermittently.

With just the right amount of fire, all systems are go! The blood is circulating optimally and the human feels at ease, relaxed and happy. His or her facial complexion looks balanced and robust.

In TCM, the heart is the Emperor Fire, governing the blood and blood vessels and actually housing the mind which interprets our feelings and emotions. It is the king of all organs meaning all the other organs will sacrifice for the heart so that balance may be achieved.

The small intestine is partner to the heart and the liver is known as the mother of the heart. They both work to support the heart.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

So how do we keep the heart in balance? Take care of the liver and the stomach! Let's begin with the liver. Here are several arenas to focus on for liver health:

1. Consume bitters. They strengthen digestion by causing a reflexive secretion of gastric juices and they tone the muscles of the digestive tract.

2. Take herbal purgatives, if necessary, to keep your bowels moving. There are tasty teas in the health food stores designed for this purpose.

3. Take liver tonics such as what your Doctor of Oriental Medicine will prescribe for you. Or consume milk thistle, commonly found in health food stores.

4. Do juice fasting. If the liver is burdened, fasting will assist it to bounce back resiliently.

5. Eat high fiber foods and keep well hydrated. Both of these keep the bowels moving.

6. Practice breathing. Stress can exacerbate liver congestion. Breathing is very calming.

7. Avoid overeating and putting undue stress on the liver. We really don't need to eat as much as we do!

8. Cut the chemicals. Chemicals can overload the liver especially if we've never done a liver cleanse or if we don't consciously read product labels and buy with discernment.