Energy Medicine for Calming the Fire Element

Compassion is Fire’s path, drawing upon the radiance of spirit to surrender the self. When balanced, emotionally the Fire Element is about joy, laughter, warmth, love, and partnership. You can bring an element into balance by working with its color, emotions, foods, meridians, and energy exercises.

Fire’s power is of maturity, in a period of luxurious growth and effects the organs of heart and small intestine. The heart is known as the “sovereign ruler” as it excels through insight and understanding. It oversees the workings of the body, mind and spirit. It also governs four meridians in the body: Heart, Small Intestine, Triple Warmer (San Jiao), and Circulation Sex (or Pericardium – The Heart Protector).

Fire governs blood vessels, sweat, blood, the circulatory system, as well as, the endocrine system (think adrenals). It manifests in the complexion, is associated with the color Red and a hot climate. Fire craves bitter flavors like coffee, tea, chocolate, leafy green vegetables like kale and dandelion, parsley, cilantro, arugula, apples, dill, turmeric, sesame, horseradish, and charcoaled or burnt foods.

Signs of an Out of Balance “Fire”:

One exercise that is great to do when you are having difficulty making a decision is the “Karate Chop Exercise.” Simply bring the outside edges of each hand together and tap them (little finger side) as you focus on your issue at hand you will be hitting together Small Intestine 4 (the source point). This simple exercise will help to move the energy and bring clarity to your decisions.

Some other common signs and symptoms that the Fire Element may be out of balance include: hot flashes, fevers, excessive sweating, hot-painful joints, insomnia, restlessness, heart burn, red complexion, high/low blood pressure, angina, poor circulation, varicose veins, digestive problems, chest pain, breast soreness, prostate issues, bleeding gums, tongue issues, speech impediments, hives, rashes, skin irritations, sciatica, breast soreness, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, fainting, adrenal exhaustion, hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, metabolic imbalances, erratic pulse, irregular/rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, and various heart. It’s important to note that there is generally other variables and elements involved as well.

Body Piercing and the Fire Element:

Many years ago, when I was in student clinic studying acupuncture and oriental medicine, there was a Mother who brought her teenage son in for treatment as he was showing signs of depression including panic attacks, lack of appetite, difficulty sleeping, lethargy and loss of interest in his life. These symptoms started after his girlfriend broke up with him. He was having significant difficulty letting go.

One of the first things I noticed was he had pierced his tongue. The reason that this is significant is that tongue is governed by the fire element and the tip of the tongue reflects the energies of the heart. One of the stress responses when the fire element is out of balance is heartache. He figuratively had a “stake” through his heart and couldn’t easily move through his heart break. I recall doing a Fire balancing acupuncture treatment to calm the mind, calm the shen and fortify the heart. I also encouraged him to remove the piercing so energetically he could heal more quickly. When I saw him a week later, he thanked me and said he was feeling so much better. His Mom was overjoyed and I was happy to see he had removed the piercing from his tongue. Today I would have also have sent him home with some Fire Balancing exercises including Heart to Heart.

Energy Exercise to Help Heal Heartache:

Heartache and heartbreak are considered imbalances of the Fire Element. Use this simple exercise I learned from my mentor Donna Eden to bring peace and calm into your heart center.

• Place your right hand on your chest over the heart chakra while you extend your left hand straight out to your side with the palm facing forward.
• Now line up both little fingers as if you are shooting a bow.
• Take a deep breath in and on the exhale, make the sound “AHHH”.
• After several, breaths switch hands and repeat on the other side.
• You can end by placing both hands over the heart.