Every communication – from the first cry of a baby to the first declaration of love to the final realization of a “I believe” – is mediated by the energy of the phase of Fire.

In the Fire-Element we take care of our development. The Fire-Energy conducts the entire symphony, in which the positive, creative being is expressed in all its exuberance.

With the help of our creativity we can bring something new into being and thus can lead to change and transformation.

Fire is the only element represented by two pairs of meridians: Heart/Small Intestine and Pericardium/Triple Heater Meridian.

Here the Heart, in which the Shen is at home, takes over the central function of the Fire. In medical texts from the East, various organs are compared with functionaries in a state. The Heart takes the place of the Emperor, who in ancient China corresponded to the Son of Heaven and embodied divine authority on earth.

By harboring the Shen (spirit/mind) in the Heart, it gives the divine part of our being a physical home.

Through its central position in our Body-Mind-System, all other Meridians of the Fire Element are protectors of the Heart in very different ways or even its messengers, which help to increase its influence. The boundaries of the Meridians therefore overlap and to some extent all Fire-Meridians are extensions of the Heart-Energy.

More about the functions and relationships is described in the explanations of the individual Meridians.

By giving the Shen, the “divine spark” of consciousness, a home in the body, the heart unites heaven and earth in the human being.

In Chinese medicine, the so-called “five Shen” represent different aspects of consciousness; the Shen of the heart is the purest form of consciousness. The best way to translate Shen is with “mind”. The presence of Shen is the prerequisite for health and a long life. The shine in our eyes is a reflection of the state of our Shen.

The concept of the Shen seems to correspond to the Buddhist idea of ​​mind as pure consciousness in a detached state. According to the Buddhist teachings, enlightenment comes through knowledge and identification with this pure consciousness within ourselves.

However, the heart-Shen must remain anchored in reality and react to the demands of all physical conditions. Correct and appropriate behavior is the result when pure awareness consciousness is committed to the concerns of physical existence.

In Nei Jing Su Wen it says: “Excessive Shen manifests itself in unceasing laughter, empty Shen in sadness.

Sometimes a “lack of joy” indicates a problem in the Fire Element. In the event of a disturbance in the Fire, one will be infected by the cheerfulness of others, but then fall back into a lack of joy.

But also, according to Chinese medicine, excessive joy/elation is considered to be a cause for illness.

Organ
Heart and small intestine

Sense Organ
Tongue

Orifices
Ears

Body Structures
Tendons and muscles

Body Parts
blood vessel

External, Physical Expression
Complexion

Body Fluid
Sweat

Ability in Times of Change and Excitement
Ability to mourning and sorrow

Releated Chakras

Chakra 3 – Small Intestine Meridian

Chakra 4 – Heart- and Pericardium Meridian

Like its partner organ, the Pericardium Meridian, the Triple Heater is not assigned to an anatomical organ. It embodies rather a function, in his case even several functions.

The Triple Heater controls the correct flow, balance and harmony of the entire energy between the upper, middle and lower parts of the body. All heat is also controlled by its function.

In Nei Ching there are references to the three “burning spaces” in the body, which are also called the Three Chou. They should be related to the lungs and the waterways of the Bladder and Kidneys. The Three Chou divide the trunk into three areas; each room (chou) corresponds to certain internal organs: heart and lungs – upper chou; stomach, spleen, gallbladder, liver and small intestine – middle Chou; large intestine, bladder and kidneys – lower Chou; these connections show the connection of the Triple Heater with respiration, digestion and excretion.

In Zen Shiatsu theory, Masunaga uses the key terms “circulation and protection” for the energetic phase of Pericardium and Triple Heater. Masunaga combines the Triple Heater with peripheral blood circulation and lymph, with protection of the body surface against pathogenic influences, adaptation to our environment and emotional defence – the Triple Heater is responsible for the integrity of our boundaries. At the same time he has the energetic quality of opening and connecting that allows us to deal with social bonds.

At the level of our consciousness, the Triple Heater enables us to connect to our own inner processes. It also enables us to perceive ourselves in relation to our environment and to other living beings.

“Road of Origin Ki – works with Ming Men (fire aspect of the Kidneys) on the distribution of the Original-Ki

Protection of the body surface against pathogenic influences

Adaptation to our environment

Emotional defense

Social adaptability

Influences breathing – upper warmer

Controls digestion – the medium warmer

Controls the excretions – the lower warmer

Collects and regulates the energy of the body

Supports the lymphatic system and metabolism

Controls the body temperature

Allergies, watering eyes, hay fever, urticaria

Tendency to allergies, skin diseases and infections

Repeated colds; repeated infections

Sensitive nasal and pharyngeal mucosa

Hypersensitive skin, itching

Pain in the abdomen

Neck pain as a result of whiplash injury

Complaints after a traumatic event

Pain and inflammation in the neck, shoulders and arms

Deafness/hardness of hearing

Irritability, self-pity

and others

Other Aspects of the Triple Heater 

The Triple Heater not only connects and harmonizes the three “burners” (Chou), but also the levels of body – emotions – mind and soul.

Principle
Adaptation

Antibiotics

external pathogenic factors

Air conditioning and draft

Chemicals etc.

All holistic natural healing methods, such as Acupuncture, Homeopathy or similar

Holistic body therapies such as Shiatsu, Chakra-Balance, Bioenergetics, Feldenkrais-Method and others

Makko Ho Exercises

Yoga, Qi-Gong,

Breathing- and Meditation-Techniques e.g. Chakra-Meditation

and others