TCM This Season: Summer, The Fire Element

The internal organs are much more than mere physical structures in the TCM view. They are complex systems also involving aspects of the mind, emotions, and spirit. Not only does each organ have a physiological function, it has functions at the invisible level of vital energy, or Qi. Each organ is uniquely related to a body tissue, a sense organ, emotion, taste, sound, climate, and a direction, among a seemingly endless range of correspondences. These associated qualities are organized in TCM's Theory of Five Elements, and this theory provides TCM practitioners with a comprehensive framework to understand, diagnose, and treat health problems.

Just think of the blazing summer heat and you know instantly that this is the season of Fire! This means the Heart and its partner organ, the Small Intestine, are predominant now—their energy is at its strongest. And each day, their peak time is between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Heart performs many functions that keep you healthy.

Providing a Home for Your Spirit

Your Heart is home to your Shen, or spirit. Considered the King of the Organs, your Heart provides the soul force that coordinates all activity—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—in your being. This King processes all the messages or information that are constantly circulating between all the organs and throughout your entire body. It is host to all the spiritual aspects of your soul that are associated with the other organs—the Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and Liver. In response, the other organs protect your Heart by "taking the hit"� of a whole range of problems. So maintaining a peaceful Heart helps ensure the health of your whole body.

Governing Your Mind: Thinking, Memory, Consciousness, and Sleep

TCM understands that all mental activity—including your emotions—is dependent upon the overall health of your Heart. It exerts a direct control on all these functions, so if your Heart's energy, or Qi, is strong and balanced you will experience sharp thinking, a balanced emotional life, good memory, a clear state of consciousness, as well as deep and restful sleep undisturbed by dreams. When these areas of life show problems, they can indicate unbalanced Heart energy.

Controlling the Circulation of Blood, the State of the Blood Vessels, and Body Fluids

Your Heart is responsible, along with your Liver, for controlling blood circulation. Blood moistens and nourishes your entire body, yet interestingly, TCM views good blood circulation and adequate blood supply as the material basis for all mental activity. The quality of your Heart energy also has a direct effect on the state of your blood vessels. And this function of your Heart related to blood is likewise reflected in your complexion: good color indicates healthy circulation and an adequate amount of blood; a pale complexion can signal deficient blood. Because sweat is considered the "fluid"� of the Heart, excess sweating can indicate a deficiency of Heart Qi, and conversely, excess sweating can create a Heart deficiency.

Opening into the Tongue

Do you know that TCM considers the tongue the "offshoot"� of your Heart? The appearance of the tongue in terms of color and shape, particularly the tip of the tongue, is directly related to your Heart Qi. Your Heart also controls your sense of taste. Sometimes if this organ has too much heat, the tongue appears red and can have a bitter taste. TCM practitioners always inspect the tongue as part of their examination.

A Traditional Heart Exercise: Smiling from Your Heart

According to TCM, your face—particularly your eyes—is the mirror of your Heart. The Heart is home to the Shen, or spirit, so your face reflects this aspect of your soul. When your spirit changes, your face changes as well.

This ancient exercise is one of the most powerful things you can do for your Heart:

Stand or sit facing a mirror. Now smile at yourself—really smile at yourself—directly from your heart.

That's it! How simple and yet how difficult this practice is for most people. Judgment often enters—the good's and the bad's that set us up against ourselves and keep us from experiencing a healing wholeness. True smiling from the heart, not just a fake smile, actually has a profound physiological effect. It promotes the flow of Qi and blood throughout your entire body. Both smiling and laughter can create emotional Qi and drive it through your body, helping it—and your heart—to heal. Once you've mastered this exercise, then try smiling at others from your heart.