Dimensions of the Heart
The Heart is an energetic system we often treat in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine theory, the body has many energy systems. Each of these systems corresponds to specific physiological and psychological functions. When speaking about Chinese Medicine organs, we are not talking about the physical organ sitting in your body but rather the energetic manifestations of a particular system in the physical, mental, and emotional realms.
The Heart is a vital energy system in Chinese medicine, often said to be the emperor of all the other energy systems. It is related to the fire element, the universal energy of summer.
On a physical level, the Heart is responsible for pumping blood through our body, just as it is in allopathic medicine. It controls the health and vitality of the blood vessels and sweating, the tongue, and speech. But the essential role of the Heart in Chinese medicine is that it houses the Shen or spirit.
The Shen in Chinese Medicine
The Shen is considered one of the three treasures of the body in Chinese Medicine. It encompasses consciousness, emotions, mental acuity, thought, and the ability to process incoming sensory information. Each organ system in Chinese medicine is related to one aspect of the spirit (such as intellect, willpower, or instinct) – but the Shen is the most important, as it governs all the others. Prolonged emotional upheaval, mental illness, personality disorders, emotional imbalance, processing disorders, and sensory disorders are manifestations of a disturbed, ungrounded, or weakened Shen.
The emotion associated with the Heart is joy. Joy nourishes the Heart, but excessive joy (i.e., mania) is a symptom of an imbalance in this system.
The Heart is all about the very act of being alive and when healthy moving forward in life! – from the physical Heart beating in our chest to the flow of blood through our veins, our mental ability to stay present and focused, and our emotional selves being whole and complete. It is the energy of summertime – abundant, hot, and lively.
Nourish the Heart through Food and Habits
The color associated with the Heart is red, and nourished through red foods, such as cherries, strawberries, and beet. The Heart is closely associated with the blood; it is supported by blood-tonifying foods such as organ meats, lean red meat, and dark leafy greens. The Heart is closely tied to an appreciation of beauty and aesthetics, so the heart system is nourished by food for which care has been given to present artfully, with beauty and grace, and a wide array of colors on one plate. Again, the Heart is associated with summertime, so think of the abundance of fruits and vegetables available that time of year and try to reflect that energy in your food choices.
The Heart is nourished through activities that bring you cheer, joy, and peaceful relaxation. Nurturing the Heart celebrates what you love – people, places, and ideals Since the Heart governs our relationships with other human beings, the Heart's well-being is by feeling connected to those we love. Reach out to friends and family, forge new bridges, and strengthen lasting bonds. The Heart is also nourished through beauty – take time to appreciate the beauty of your natural surroundings, music, poetry, art, and dance. Lastly, the Heart is nurtured by ritual. This can be a long-standing religious or cultural ritual you create for yourself. Some examples of heart-healthy traditions include writing down five things you are grateful for each night, incorporating some gentle exercise each morning, practicing 10 minutes of sitting meditation each day, or grabbing a coloring book and start coloring!
Foods to Improve Heart Health
How can you help your Heart stay in balance? Well, what you put into your body goes a long way in determining how balanced you are. Check out some foods you should consume to promote good heart health.
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 gui, seaweed, and schizandra berries.
Orange vegetables like carrots have carotenoids and lutein, powerful phytonutrients. And oranges - the fruit, can help decrease your risk of heart disease.
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