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Joy lifts us, yet too much excitement can leave us wired. A mind–body look at how traditional Chinese medicine connects emotions, sleep and the heart through the Fire element.

The emotion of Fire

Joy is the emotion that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) links with the Fire element and the heart. It may seem strange that joy could ever be a problem. Yet TCM theory has a subtle view: steady, warm contentment is said to nourish the heart, while constant overexcitement or overstimulation is thought to scatter it. Most of us know the difference between a quiet happy evening and the wired feeling after a hectic week of events.

The heart as home of the mind

In TCM theory the heart houses the Shen, a word that covers spirit, mind and consciousness. Traditionally, when the Shen is settled, a person is described as clear-minded, warm with others and able to sleep soundly. When it is disturbed, the mind is thought to race. This is one of the clearest examples of how TCM weaves body and mind together.

Two ways Fire can lose balance

TCM describes an excess of Fire as feeling restless, anxious or on edge, sleeping poorly, being aware of the heartbeat, talking a great deal, sweating and getting irritated easily. A deficiency of Fire is described as tiredness, a flat or low mood, feeling cold, little interest in intimacy and withdrawing from people. These are traditional descriptions, and any ongoing anxiety, low mood, palpitations or chest discomfort should be checked by your GP.

Whole-person habits for a calm heart

• Wind down in the evening with dim light and fewer screens.
• Balance busy social periods with quiet time.
• Try a mindful practice such as meditation, tai chi or qi gong.
• Enjoy red foods traditionally associated with the heart, like cherries, tomatoes and strawberries.
• Keep the things that make you laugh close at hand.

Our approach in Lane Cove

At Lane Cove Holistic Medicine we look at how sleep, emotions, food and activity fit together. Some people choose acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine as part of that whole-person approach, as a complement to medical care. Herbs like ginseng and reishi are not suitable for everyone, so they should only be used after a proper consultation.