A Healthy Heart on Valentine's Day

[Josh Zimmer]

Harmony Health Acupuncture and Herbs: www.harmonyhealthsrq.com


Happy Valentine's Day!

What would it be without the heart? Simple renditions of it are drawn and pasted everywhere ... on cards, windows, clothes, candy and more. Significantly, Valentine's Day is one of the few times of year we're actually invited to think with our emotions, and not separate logic from feeling.

I can honestly say I've been happier since adding more of the latter to my life. Thoughts and ideas are more vivid; interaction with the people around me is livelier and more meaningful. Perhaps it comes as no surprise but my body feels lighter and less stressed. It seems to me my walk is smoother and my cognition more clear.

For me, these converging forces underscore the wisdom of ancient cultures who never forgot to think with their hearts. One of them is the Chinese, who thousands of years ago formulated the philosophical groundwork that enabled acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to take root and thrive to the present day. From the beginning, the medicine has emphasized a strong mind-body connection.

That explains how long ago Chinese Medicine appreciated that physical disease can be caused by psychological issues. A prime example is stress, which Western Medicine now attributes so many physical ailments too. To adherents of ancient thinking that's nothing new.

So what does Chinese Medicine have to say about the heart on this Valentine's Day?

Much more than a blood-pumping organ that oxygenates and nutrifies our bodies, the heart is crucial to healthy emotions. Specifically, the heart is seat of the soul, or shen. It governs our consciousness and our ability to relate with others in a happy, reassuring way. The signs of a weak heart are not just the typical ones of poor circulation, fatigue, pale skin and shortness of breath. In Chinese Medicine, it's no surprise to see people with weak heartssuffer from various emotional conditions, such as depression, anxiety, sadness, restlessness and insomnia. Needless to say, experiencing any of these emotions makes relating to the world in a positive way more challenging.

A healthy Chinese Medicine heart shows in the face. The eyes and complexion - considered windows to the soul - exude more vibrance and lustre. The healthier the heart, the more attentive and engaging the personality. Moods lean toward the positive and not the negative.

From this perspective, help your mind by strengthening your heart through steady exercise and a diet that's full of fruits, vegetables, fresh water, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fresh fish and lean meats. Acupuncture and other Chinese Medicine modalities can assist this process by destressing the body, and improving both energy flow and circulation.

Then help your physical heart by assessing the prevailing emotions in your world. Are they positive or negative? Eckhart Tolle in "The Power of Now" talks about mental clutter. Can you be doing things that clear your mind of forces - old and new - that generate sadness, depression, anxiety and other negative emotions? Work on it bit by bit. Then let your heart do a little more of the talking. You might find you've got a little more bounce in your step.

[Josh Zimmer]

Thanks, Denise.

[Denise Kessler White]

nice Josh