The Emperor

The Heart Organ System can be associated with the emotions of joy, excitement and fright [not to be confused with fear as represented by the Kidneys] and the season of summer. It is the mother of the Spleen, controlled by the Kidneys and controls the Lungs. The Heart governs the mind and houses all mental activities pertaining to consciousness, sensitivity and our capacity to respond to the world at large. The Heart also governs the blood as it is the pump moving blood throughout the circulatory system. The Heart is represented by the tip of the tongue during the review of tongue diagnosis, is associated with the Small Intestine, the color red and the flavor of bitter.

Emotion

If you have a low desire to interact within the world at large you may be lacking in Shen [the Chinese translation is Spirit] and could benefit with a daily herbal regimen of such herbal remedies: Ten Flavor Teapills, known traditionally as Shi Chuan Da Bu Wan or a Blood & Qi Tonic such as our Blood & Qi Formula (Ba Zhen Tang), or in teapill form take a look at Four Substances For Women Teapills, known traditionally as Si Wu Tang or Si Wu Wan. Certainly, many men have taken this formula over the centuries, despite it's English name by Plum Flower Brand. These herbal remedies help to invigorate the Heart Yang bringing about a sense of involvement, joy and the courage to engage in life.

Shen/Spirit

The Shen is like a light that radiates from within your body, bringing about a beautiful glow to the face and a rosy complexion. A lack or decrease in your memory process may also be attributed to a decrease in your Heart Blood with benefits resulting from the famous tonic formula Gui Pi Tang, or known as Gui Pi Wan in teapill form, and as Decoction to Restore the Spleen in English. The opposite emotional reaction can be influenced by the Heart Organ System giving rise to over-excitement, giddiness, extreme fright and loud, uncontrollable laughter. In Chinese Medicine, it is also understood that mania or insanity may be the result of a deficiency in Kidney or Heart Yin or phlegm blocking the orifices. Chinese Herbal Formulas such as Calm Spirit Teapills (Gan Mai Da Zao Wan), An Shui Wan Teapills and Bu Nao Pian may be appropriate to calm the Shen and relieve your mind, respectively.

The element of the Heart is Fire which is controlled by the Kidney Yin or Water element. A reduction in your Kidney Yin element can cause the Heart Fire to grow and become overly abundant, so a Kidney Yin Formula, such as Abundant Yin Teapills (Da Bu Yin Wan), Emperors Teapills (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan), or in decoction form our Menopause Formula (which men may take) and our Six Flavor Plus Formula may be the correct formulas to harmonize this imbalance. Some of the patterns that may be a result of Heart Fire are: insomnia, restlessness, dry mouth, hot flashes and constipation. There are also herbs that work directly on calming the Shen/Spirit that work well to re-center and cool the blood. The Heart and Stomach Fire Formula is one formula that can work well in also reducing Stomach Fire, which presents with problems such as heartburn, canker sores and the inability to put on weight.

Circulation

Since the Heart is the controller of Blood and its circulatory processes it is important to nourish your Heart with herbs that strengthen the Qi/energy of the Heart. Such herbs would be Ginseng, Codonopsis, Jujube Fruit, Astragulas, Cinnamon Twig, Polygala, Ginger, Aconite, Poria and Baked Licorice. An important formula would be Gui Pi Wan to strengthen the Qi/energy, increase water metabolism, nourish the Blood, calm the spirit, promote a healthy immunity system and assist in cardiac function. A person that may benefit from this formula would have heart palpitations, a lusterless complexion, low desire for physical activity, night sweats or easily perspires with exertion, insomnia, loose stools and shortness of breath.

The function of the Brain Organ System is directly affected by your systemic circulatory health. The ancient Chinese physicians would add herbs to formulas promoting a healthy circulation system stimulating brain [memory and recall] function. A couple excellent formulas with these herbs and properties are the Bu Nao Pian or the Ginkgo Biloba Capsules

Some basic Heart disharmony patterns may be:

• Speech disorders
• Insomnia
• Dark, burning urine
• Palpitations
• Restlessness
• Increased fright
• Red face
• Night sweats
• Ungrounded thoughts
• Dry mouth
• Urinary tract infections
• Excessive hunger
• Vivid dreaming; nightmares