No Zest for Life? Nourish the Heart
Ever meet someone who has no zip? No motivation to taste the delectable flavors that Mother Life has to offer?
Are you one of those people?
Fear not. Dust off your road bike, running shoes, paint brushes or guitar under your bed and get ready to experience life as an active participant, not a passionless observer.
The organ that is responsible for adding color and charm to life is the Heart. First some background information that you may not know about this special organ.
Oriental medicine refers to it as the Emperor. Natural Medicine views this as 50% of the immune system. Art and literature see this as the source of love and compassion. We call it the heart which is considered to be the most important of all the internal organs. Its functions include the following:
1. Governs the blood. The heart is the major organ that circulates the blood throughout the 70,000 miles of blood vessels (yes, that is seventy thousand miles). (The lungs are the second.)
2. Controls the blood vessels. The state of the heart's energy is reflected in the state of the blood vessels. If strong, the vessels will be in good shape and the pulse will be strong and steady. Frequent bruising point to a heart weakness. 3. The heart is said to manifest in the complexion. Since one of the heart's functions is to distribute the blood throughout the body, the state of the heart can be viewed in the complexion.
If the blood is abundant and the heart strong, the complexion will be viewed as rosy and lustrous. If deficient, the face will be pale. If stagnant, the complexion will be purplish or even blue.
4. The heart "houses" the mind. Traditionally, the heart is the residence of the mind and governs the mental activities of emotions (particularly joy and sadness), memory, thinking and sleep.
5. The tongue is considered to be the "offshoot" of the heart. The tip of the tongue is a diagnostic tool for the heart. If excessively red or swollen, this can indicate problems with the heart itself. Redness indicates excess heat. Swelling points to spleen and/or lung related issues with the heart. Also, continual bitter taste in the mouth is usually heart related issues.
6. The heart correlates with sleep and dreams. When the heart is strong, the person falls asleep quickly and sleeps soundly. The reverse is also true. In addition, traditionally dreams involving fire or related components correlate with problems of the heart. Remember – the heart does not like excessive heat.
7. Finally, the heart controls speech. Problems such as stuttering and aphasia can be traced to the heart.
Now, for the moment you have been waiting for, the Heart is responsible for adding passion in one's life. When it or one of its 4 "back up systems" (adrenal glands, thyroid, cerebellum or hemoglobin) are weaker than what they should be, life becomes shades of gray. Anything from a lack of motivation to disinterest in life to full-blown depression can result internally. Excessive yawning, hunched shoulders, dragging of the feet and a soft monotone are the external signs.
For the good news. . . there are a number of safe, natural substances that can go a long way in assisting the heart to regain its vitality and energy. Here are some of the most commonly used ones:
To treat depression, lack of motivation or "the blues," the heart meridian must be nourished and rejuvenated with tonic, strengthening herbs.
- Red Sage Root is used to improve blood circulation and quality. It calms the mind and restores ‘heart qi."
- Safflower has the ability to improve blood circulation and break blood stasis from both the heart and the liver. This is an excellent herb when used properly and can have fast results too. It is one of my favorite for heart related issues.
- Goji berry is great at nourishing the liver and kidney as well as improving the immune system. It contains potent anti-oxidants that can reach into the brain and clear away the toxins. Aside from being tasty, they will nourish the heart and support the Shen (Spirit). On a psychological level, they are THE motivating herb.
- Ren Shen is one of most powerful herbs used in the case of qi deficiency. It is able to invigorate the vitality of all organs. It nourish and strengthens the heart and has the greatest effect on the Spirit, compared with any other substance.
- Astragalus is another herbal gem. It has the same tonic function as ginseng but is much more gentle. It should only be used short-term and never used if pathogens are present.
Each of the above can be found at most health food stores in formulas such as Hgh Plus.
Finally, there is something magically medicinal about doing the things in life that you love, that you have great yearning for. Whether it be running a marathon or learning an instrument or traveling, action is medicine in its purest form too.
Making the needed adjustments will bring to life on a personal level, the words of Norman Vincent Peale, ""If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind."
Are you one of those people?
Fear not. Dust off your road bike, running shoes, paint brushes or guitar under your bed and get ready to experience life as an active participant, not a passionless observer.
The organ that is responsible for adding color and charm to life is the Heart. First some background information that you may not know about this special organ.
Oriental medicine refers to it as the Emperor. Natural Medicine views this as 50% of the immune system. Art and literature see this as the source of love and compassion. We call it the heart which is considered to be the most important of all the internal organs. Its functions include the following:
1. Governs the blood. The heart is the major organ that circulates the blood throughout the 70,000 miles of blood vessels (yes, that is seventy thousand miles). (The lungs are the second.)
2. Controls the blood vessels. The state of the heart's energy is reflected in the state of the blood vessels. If strong, the vessels will be in good shape and the pulse will be strong and steady. Frequent bruising point to a heart weakness. 3. The heart is said to manifest in the complexion. Since one of the heart's functions is to distribute the blood throughout the body, the state of the heart can be viewed in the complexion.
If the blood is abundant and the heart strong, the complexion will be viewed as rosy and lustrous. If deficient, the face will be pale. If stagnant, the complexion will be purplish or even blue.
4. The heart "houses" the mind. Traditionally, the heart is the residence of the mind and governs the mental activities of emotions (particularly joy and sadness), memory, thinking and sleep.
5. The tongue is considered to be the "offshoot" of the heart. The tip of the tongue is a diagnostic tool for the heart. If excessively red or swollen, this can indicate problems with the heart itself. Redness indicates excess heat. Swelling points to spleen and/or lung related issues with the heart. Also, continual bitter taste in the mouth is usually heart related issues.
6. The heart correlates with sleep and dreams. When the heart is strong, the person falls asleep quickly and sleeps soundly. The reverse is also true. In addition, traditionally dreams involving fire or related components correlate with problems of the heart. Remember – the heart does not like excessive heat.
7. Finally, the heart controls speech. Problems such as stuttering and aphasia can be traced to the heart.
Now, for the moment you have been waiting for, the Heart is responsible for adding passion in one's life. When it or one of its 4 "back up systems" (adrenal glands, thyroid, cerebellum or hemoglobin) are weaker than what they should be, life becomes shades of gray. Anything from a lack of motivation to disinterest in life to full-blown depression can result internally. Excessive yawning, hunched shoulders, dragging of the feet and a soft monotone are the external signs.
For the good news. . . there are a number of safe, natural substances that can go a long way in assisting the heart to regain its vitality and energy. Here are some of the most commonly used ones:
To treat depression, lack of motivation or "the blues," the heart meridian must be nourished and rejuvenated with tonic, strengthening herbs.
- Red Sage Root is used to improve blood circulation and quality. It calms the mind and restores ‘heart qi."
- Safflower has the ability to improve blood circulation and break blood stasis from both the heart and the liver. This is an excellent herb when used properly and can have fast results too. It is one of my favorite for heart related issues.
- Goji berry is great at nourishing the liver and kidney as well as improving the immune system. It contains potent anti-oxidants that can reach into the brain and clear away the toxins. Aside from being tasty, they will nourish the heart and support the Shen (Spirit). On a psychological level, they are THE motivating herb.
- Ren Shen is one of most powerful herbs used in the case of qi deficiency. It is able to invigorate the vitality of all organs. It nourish and strengthens the heart and has the greatest effect on the Spirit, compared with any other substance.
- Astragalus is another herbal gem. It has the same tonic function as ginseng but is much more gentle. It should only be used short-term and never used if pathogens are present.
Each of the above can be found at most health food stores in formulas such as Hgh Plus.
Finally, there is something magically medicinal about doing the things in life that you love, that you have great yearning for. Whether it be running a marathon or learning an instrument or traveling, action is medicine in its purest form too.
Making the needed adjustments will bring to life on a personal level, the words of Norman Vincent Peale, ""If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind."