In ancient China, Fan Jin was a poor scholar over fifty years old who had endured many years of hardship and repeated failure in the country’s imperial (civil service) examinations. His household was so impoverished that he often lacked even rice to cook.
One day, after yet another attempt, Fan miraculously passed the examination, allowing him to become an official—a transformation that would completely change his life. Overcome with joy at having finally succeeded, Fan fainted where he stood. When he regained consciousness, his happiness turned into frenzy. He dashed out of his house in delirium, not realizing that he had lost his shoes, and kept muttering, “I’ve passed!” Having lived in awe of his harsh father-in-law, Fan was then struck in the face by him—a shock that instantly restored him to his senses.
This story from the Qing dynasty classic “The Scholars” by Wu Jingzi, illustrates the wisdom embedded in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): excess joy can disturb the balance of the heart.
In TCM, the concept of the “heart” corresponds to far more than a physical organ that pumps blood. It also governs your mind.
The Monarch Organ
TCM considers the “heart” as the “monarch organ.”
The heart controls blood flow and vital energy (qi), and its balance affects all other internal organs—the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen. If the heart’s function is impaired, vital energy and blood circulation may become sluggish, leading to problems such as palpitations, blocked blood vessels, and even affecting the body’s ability to receive sufficient blood and energy.
Additionally, “the heart houses the spirit.” Mental activities, emotions, and clarity of thought are all linked to the heart. When blood vessels are unobstructed and the heart’s vital energy is abundant, a person will have clear thinking and inner peace. Conversely, if the heart’s spirit is disturbed, symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and forgetfulness may arise.
Though the heart is related to the mind and emotion, it is specifically tied to joy, according to the five-element theory.
The Element That Fuels Joy
The five-thousand-year traditional Chinese culture (the era before communism) is often described as divinely inspired, with its foundations deeply rooted in the cosmos and timeless moral values.
The five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—represent different energies in the universe.
The five internal organs each correspond to the five elements. Each also corresponds to an emotion, a season, a color, and a flavor.
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The heart is linked to the element of fire, the emotion of joy, the season of summer, the color of red, and the flavor of bitter.
Moderate joy nourishes the heart, but excessive joy can harm it. That’s why traditional Chinese culture emphasizes the motto of doing everything in moderation.
There’s an interesting twist. The five elements can generate and control each other. For example, water generates wood, wood generates fire, and water controls fire.
The kidney is the organ that corresponds to the element of water and is associated with the emotion of fear. According to the controlling cycle, water (kidney) controls fire (heart), meaning the kidneys help regulate the heart’s energy and emotions.
Thus, when excessive joy causes the heart’s fire to flare, kidney water can suppress it. This explains why Fan, driven mad by joy, regained his senses after a slap from his father-in-law, as fear subdued his excessive heart fire.
Our bodies stay healthy when everything is in harmony and balance—an idea that will become clearer as we further explore in the series.
How to Assess Heart Health
In TCM, heart health is assessed not only through symptoms but also through subtle external signs, such as facial complexion and tongue appearance.
Facial Complexion: A robust vital energy of the heart manifests as a rosy, radiant complexion. If the complexion is dull or yellowish, it may indicate a deficiency of heart and spleen or weak vital energy and blood.
Tongue Appearance: A light red tongue with a thin, white, and moist coating indicates a healthy heart. A red, cracked, or painful tongue tip may suggest abnormal heart function.
How to Nourish the Heart
The heart corresponds to the fire element, and summer is considered the ideal season to nourish and protect it.
Summer heat causes the body’s energy to rise and the heart’s fire element to flourish. When balanced, this supports joy, vitality, and mental clarity. When heat is excessive, it can lead to irritability, restlessness, and insomnia.
Maintaining emotional balance is one of the best ways to care for the heart. Cultivating calmness, avoiding extremes of excitement, and fostering gratitude or inner peace can help prevent the heart’s “fire” from burning too strongly. In TCM, emotional moderation is considered just as vital as physical nourishment, Li Yingda, a TCM practitioner at Cihang TCM Clinic in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times.
Additionally, she said that in the summer, heavy sweating rapidly depletes bodily fluids and the heart’s vital energy, causing fatigue and chest tightness.
One time-tested formula is pulse-generating decoction (shengmai yin), Li said, which replenishes vital energy, nourishes body fluids, and supports the heart when weakened by heat or excessive sweating.
You can make the formula at home.
Pulse-Generating Decoction
Pulse-generating decoction consists of three key herbs:
Ingredients
- Ginseng (Ren Shen): Replenishes vital energy and strengthens the heart. Studies have found that ginsenosides (active compounds in ginseng) offer multiple benefits for cardiovascular function, including regulating blood pressure and lipids, and protecting vascular endothelial cells.
Li recommends using American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in summer, as it is more suitable for heat conditions and has a better preventive effect against heatstroke compared to traditional ginseng.
- Ophiopogon japonicus (Mai Dong): Cooling, calming, and generates body fluids. Research in rats shows that extracts of Ophiopgon japonicus provide significant protection against myocardial ischemic injury by enhancing the body’s endogenous antioxidant capacity.
- Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi): Reduces excessive sweating, thereby helping to avoid dehydration and the loss of essential bodily fluids.
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Preparation
Combine in a pot:
- 8 grams American ginseng, or substitute with codonopsis (Dang Shen)
- 10 grams Ophiopogon japonicus
- 3 grams schisandra
Add 1,000 milliliters of water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Decoct twice, then divide the resulting liquid into two doses.
According to Li, pulse-generating decoction is gentle and well-balanced, making it suitable for most people, including those who often experience heat-related fatigue from stress, caffeine, or poor sleep. It can help restore vitality and calm the mind in hot or dry climates.
Note: The decoction is a therapeutic formula, not an everyday tea. Overuse—especially in winter or by people with “cold-type” constitutions—can upset internal balance.
Pulse-generating decoction is not recommended for people with:
- Cold-Type Constitutions: People who often feel cold, tired, or have weak digestion and loose stools. The formula’s cooling nature may worsen these symptoms.
- Dampness or Phlegm Retention: Those who feel heavy or bloated, have water retention, or thick tongue coating. The formula can add more internal moisture, which can aggravate these conditions.
- Heart Disease, Other Conditions, or on Multiple Medications: Consult a qualified TCM practitioner first, as herbal and drug interactions may occur.
Foods That Support the Heart
Since the heart corresponds to the color red, it can also be nourished by red foods such as red beans, red dates, tomatoes, cherries, hawthorns, and watermelons, as they can help replenish vital energy and nourish the blood.
Meanwhile, bitter flavors also benefit the heart. Eating bitter melon, lotus seeds, kale, and grapefruit, especially in summer, can clear heat, reduce excess fire, and ease symptoms such as insomnia and irritability.
Maintaining a balanced heart allows the entire body to function harmoniously. In TCM, caring for the heart goes hand in hand with nurturing the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. In our forthcoming series, we explore targeted strategies to support and sustain the health of our vital organs.
