Chinese Healing Arts
828.586.6336
Call Me for a Free Consultation
www.acupunctureinsylva.com
Serving Western North Carolina 25+ Years
  • Home
  • About
  • Acupuncture
  • Cosmetic Acupuncture
  • Massage
  • Hormonal Balancing
  • Weight Loss
  • Enneagram Counseling
  • Classes
  • Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Questions and Answers
  • Contact
  • Blog

Exploring the Heart as it relates to the Fire Element in  the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine

2/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
In Chinese Medicine the organs 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. 

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 quad, seaweed and schizandra berries. Calming activities such as walking, Tai Chi, 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. Chinese Healing Arts specializes  in providing a complete Chinese Medical Diagnosis with emphasis on the Five Element theory.  By focusing in on the dominant element personal to you, we can treat your condition with acupuncture, herbs and other modalities that will offer beneficial changes balancing your body-mind-soul.

0 Comments
    Picture

    Chinese Healing Arts
    Andrea Ford, L. Ac.

    25+ Years Experience
    Specializing In
    Chinese Medicine
    Functional Medicine
    Natural Healing Philosophies

    Archives

    January 2019
    February 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Thank you so much, for a wonderful treatment.  Such a pleasure to come and find your skills.  A big thank you, to DIVINE for sending you.
​ -
 Blessings, Linda Neff
Picture






​Andrea Ford, L.Ac.
Chinese Healing Arts

98 A-B Cope Creek Rd
Sylva, NC  28779
​828.586.6336
call or Text
Experienced
​Effective Healing

Picture

Center for Natural Healing
www.acupunctureinsylva.com

For Quick Reply: Please TEXT 828.586.6336

98 Cope Creek Office Park    |     Sylva, NC     |     28779
Chinese Healing Arts | Acupuncture | Massage | Cosmetic Acupuncture
Hormonal Balancing | Testimonials | Contact | Enneagram Counseling
Shamanic Art | Purification Program | About | FAQ | Resources | Blog
Healthy Recipes | Natural Building | Classes | Workshops
Weight Loss | Research Links
Copyright © 2025  |   Chinese Healing Arts  |  All Rights Reserved

Naturally Healing Through Chinese Medicine 25+ Years

Andrea is the sweetest and kindest person.  She is the only one that took away my chronic pain.  The acupuncture she does helped me mentally and physically.  When you've had Andrea there is no one else that can compare to her.  Believe me!  I have tried to find just one acupuncturist that was as good as Andrea and they're just not out there.  When she took care of me she did the acupuncture treatments and also massage and the two combinations did wonders for me.  I could no longer use chiropractors because they just were excruciating pain for me.  But Andrea never hurt me and I am sensitive, but she was marvelous.

​ Unfortunately, she does not live in the state of Florida - she lives in North Carolina, and this is my problem.  Because if she lived in Florida, I'd be her first customer.  God bless your business Andrea and thank you for taking care of me. 
-Sindia Caston
828.586.6336
Email
Picture
Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Massage
​Qi Gong 

Picture
Website by CrowKreations
Photo from Mary Vican