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🫀 The Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): More Than Just a Pump


Heart shaped soap bubbles
Heart shaped soap bubbles

When we think of the heart, most of us immediately picture a powerful muscle pumping blood through our veins. While this is certainly true in Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views the heart as much more than a physical organ responsible for pumping blood around the body. It is considered the "Emperor" of the body, governing not just circulation, but also consciousness, emotions, sleep, and spirit.

In this post, we’ll explore the heart from a TCM perspective — its role, signs of imbalance, and how you can nourish it to support both emotional and physical well-being.


🏯 The Heart as the “Emperor” Organ


In TCM, the heart is not just another organ — it is the ruler. Ancient texts describe the heart as the "monarch" of the five yin organs. Its job is not only to pump blood, but to house the Shen (神) — the spirit or mind.


“The Heart is the sovereign of all organs and represents the consciousness of one’s being.” — Huang di Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine)


The heart governs:


  • Blood and vessels

  • Mental and emotional activities

  • Sleep quality

  • Speech

  • Facial complexion


💭 The Heart and the Shen (Spirit)


Perhaps the most unique aspect of the heart in TCM is its relationship with the Shen, often translated as “spirit” or “mind.” The Shen reflects your mental clarity, emotional stability, and even the sparkle in your eyes.


Signs of a Balanced Shen:

  • Clear thinking

  • Emotional calm

  • Peaceful sleep

  • Bright, responsive eyes


Signs of Shen Disturbance:

  • Anxiety

  • Insomnia

  • Restlessness

  • Depression

  • Forgetfulness

  • Dream-disturbed sleep


When the heart is imbalanced, the Shen becomes unsettled — leading to emotional and psychological issues.


The heart governs:

  • Blood and vessels

  • Mental and emotional activities

  • Sleep quality

  • Speech

  • Facial complexion


It’s also deeply connected to joy, the emotion associated with the heart in TCM's Five Element theory.


🔥 Fire Element & the Heart


In the Five Elements framework, the heart belongs to the Fire element, representing warmth, activity, and vitality. This fiery nature gives the heart its bright, energetic character — but like fire, it must be contained and balanced.


Heart Correspondences in TCM:

Aspect

Correspondence

Element

Fire

Season

Summer

Emotion

Joy

Organ Pair

Small Intestine

Sense Organ

Tongue

Tissue

Blood vessels

Spirit

Shen (Mind/Spirit

🌀 Common Heart Imbalances according to TCM

Here are some of the most common patterns of disharmony involving the heart:


1. Heart Qi Deficiency

  • Palpitations

  • Shortness of breath

  • Fatigue

  • Pale complexion


2. Heart Blood Deficiency

  • Poor memory

  • Dizziness

  • Insomnia

  • Anxiety


3. Heart Yin Deficiency

  • Night sweats

  • Dry mouth and throat

  • Irritability

  • Restless sleep


4. Heart Fire (Excess Heat)

  • Red face

  • Mouth ulcers

  • Insomnia with vivid dreams

  • Mania (in severe cases)


Each of these syndromes requires a different approach — some call for nourishing, others for calming or cooling.


🌿 How to Nourish the Heart in Daily Life


1. Lifestyle Recommendations:

  • Go to bed early, ideally before 11 PM, to support Heart Blood and the Shen.

  • Avoid over stimulation — too much excitement or stress can scatter the Shen.

  • Practice meditation, mindfulness, grounding, Tai Qi or Qigong to anchor the heart.

  • Laugh — but in moderation! Even joy, when excessive, can become pathological.


2. Dietary Tips:

  • Eat red-colored foods like dates, goji berries, hawthorn, cherries, and beets — these are believed to nourish Heart Blood.

  • Use calming teas: rose and chrysanthemum

  • Avoid excessive spicy, fried, or alcohol-heavy foods that can generate Heat.


3. TCM Therapies:

  • Acupuncture points like HT7 (Shenmen), PC6 (Neiguan), and DU20 (Baihui) are often used to calm the Shen and balance Heart energy.

    Heart 7 - Shen Men (courtesy of Solis Acupuncture)
    Heart 7 - Shen Men (courtesy of Solis Acupuncture)
    Pericardium 7 - Neiguan (courtesy of Solis Acupuncture)
    Pericardium 7 - Neiguan (courtesy of Solis Acupuncture)

  • Use acupressure on the points above or massage your ears (yes there are a lot of acupoints on the ears!) with a focus on the following point:


Shenmen point on the ear
Shenmen point on the ear

4. Emotional Support:

  • Cultivate joy through connection, purpose, and presence.

  • Journaling, creative arts, and time in nature help nourish the emotional aspect of the Heart.


🧘‍♀️ Heart and Emotional Health


The heart governs not only joy, but our ability to experience and integrate emotions healthily. In TCM, emotional trauma often leads to Heart imbalance — especially when we "overthink" or suppress emotions.

By supporting your heart, you also support your emotional resilience and spiritual clarity.


💡 Final Thoughts: A Heart-Centred Life


Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds us that the heart is not just an organ—it’s the center of our inner world. It bridges the physical and the spiritual, the emotional and the energetic.

To truly care for our hearts means more than checking blood pressure or avoiding cholesterol. It means living with balance, cultivating peace, and listening deeply to our inner self.


🌸 What can you do today to nourish your heart — body, mind, and spirit?


📚 References

  • The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted J. Kaptchuk

  • Between Heaven and Earth by Harriet Beinfield & Efrem Korngold

  • Huang di Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine)


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