The Role of the Pericardium & Triple Burner
Continuing on the series about the Fire Element, today we’ll focus on the Pericardium and Triple Burner. These are unique in Chinese medicine because, although they are associated with major meridians (energy channels along which acupuncture points are located), they do not have corresponding organs.
The Pericardium • The term for this in Chinese, xin bao, is literally translated as heart wrapping, and it is often referred to as the Heart Protector. In Western anatomical terms, the pericardium is a layered sac that surrounds the heart, providing a protective cushion. It both buffers the heart from outside trauma and prevents it from filling with too much blood. In Chinese medicine, this is symbolic of the mental/emotional role of the Pericardium. A healthy Pericardium functions like a well-oiled gate that opens to admit that which will serve the Heart, and closes to shut out that which will not. This means that a person with a healthy Pericardium is open and vulnerable at appropriate times, and guarded when need be.
An imbalanced Pericardium, usually belonging to someone who has been badly hurt by a person or people they trusted, may function like a chronically locked gate, putting up a relentless guard in fear of further injury to the Heart. Or it may oscillate between that and the opposite end of the spectrum—being overly open in hopes of attracting love to assuage insecurities. This could show up as someone oversharing, quickly placing unearned trust in others, and/or being quick to express love. Another way this imbalance could manifest is through a combination of deep emotional guardedness and little discernment with physical intimacy.
The Triple Burner • This is called san jiao in Chinese. San means three and jiao refers to regions of the torso—upper, middle, and lower—so the Triple Burner has a hand in the harmonious functioning of all the major organs. Some of its main roles are to regulate body temperature, assist in the dispersing and descending of qi and fluids, and help maintain homeostasis. In Western terms, the Triple Burner may be associated with the endocrine system, particularly the thyroid gland. On the level of the mind and spirit, the Triple Burner enables us to “take the temperature of the room,” and respond appropriately. This is the energy of networking, making connections between people, fostering chemistry. This could happen on a small scale with a teacher or owner of a small business, or on a broader scale with political figures or show hosts. The Triple Burner is still active one on one, when you may subconsciously read the energy of another.
To learn more about the Pericardium and Triple Burner in and out of balance, and how to support them, stay tuned for the next posts in this series.
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