One of the inside jokes we have as Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners is that TCM has two hearts and no brain. It may sound like it, but it’s really not a dig. In TCM we discuss function more than form. The two hearts are the physical heart and the emotional heart.
The “no brain” is because we don’t discuss the physical form of the brain on its own. We discuss the brain as being encompassed by the marrow and that is most linked to the energy of the TCM Kidneys. Long-term memory is also more directed to the TCM Kidneys. Short-term memory, focus, and concentration are most connected to the TCM Spleen. Various emotions come to play via the assortment of TCM organ systems, but the “house” of emotions (the centre of our emotions) comes from the TCM Heart.
The emotion allotted to the TCM Heart is joy. So if you want to improve both your physical and emotional heart, find ways to incorporate more joy in your life. There are so many reasons to do so.
- Don’t you like to be happy?
- Joy, like other emotions, can be contagious.
- Happiness improves your ability to learn by about 31%!
- Happiness may make you more successful, in marriage, business, income, health, and friendship!
- You will handle stress better.
- Happiness may help protect you against getting sick!
- Joy helps reduce inflammation and protect your heart!
The physical heart works so hard! It gets no holidays, no time off. It keeps us alive! Do you take good care of your heart? Do you offer it regular exercise to help keep it strong? Do you eat healthy foods that provide it with the nutrients it needs? Do you help it to recover with sufficient sleep, rest, and some sort of relaxation routine like meditation?
If you have high (or low) blood pressure, high cholesterol, have suffered a cardiovascular condition like a heart attack or have angina, you need to take extra special care of your heart. Taking pharmaceutical medications is not enough.
Some supplements and herbs that can help your heart include:
- Coenzyme Q10
- Essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially the omega 3s DHA and EPA
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- Vitamins C, B, E
- Plant sterols
- Chinese herbs: Shan zha, gou qi zi, dan shen
Keep in mind that each and every person is different, so it’s important to get a proper assessment to determine what best suits your body and what might not be right for you.
Acupuncture is also very effective at improving blood circulation, reducing stress, lowering high blood pressure, regulating heartrate, and more.
I heart TCM because TCM hearts my heart!
About Dr. Melissa Carr
