The Fire Element

The Fire element is connected with summer, warmth, and the Heart and Small Intestine organ systems.

It governs our emotions of joy, love, compassion and the ability to connect with others.

It also controls Blood circulation and mental clarity.

Imbalances in the Fire element can present as anxiety, mania, excessive laughter and PTSD (shock)

It can be accompanied with digestive issues and heart problems.

The Fire Element has four organs involved, 2 Yin and 2 Yang organ pairs

This week we talk about the primary, Heart and Small Intestine

The Heart is said to be where our consciousness is stored while we are awake.

The Small Intestine is responsible for separating the pure and impure. It is the physical ‘shock absorber’ of the 12 channels, and if we look at the meridian pathway of the Small Intestine channel we can see how the pathway of the channel allows it to compress and expand to absorb physical shock.

The 5 Elements Cycles and Relationships

Controlling and Generating Cycles

Wood generates Fire (generating cycle)

Fire generates Earth (generating cycle)

Fire controls Metal (controlling cycle)

Water acts on Fire (controlling cycle)

Wood generates Fire

Wood is the fuel that we use to make a fire.  In the body, one of the functions of the Wood Element is making Blood – which is required for the heart to pump through the body.

The smooth flow and abundance of Liver energy helps to regulate the emotions just as stagnation in the liver can cause erratic emotional responses.

The Fire element expresses joy, and the Wood element in balance expresses creativity and movement, so joyful movement such as ecstatic dance, or more simply a love of movement can be experienced.

Fire generates Earth

The ashes of a fire create the nutrients of the soil, which are the foundations for growth and stability.

Physically, the Heart produces Blood, and the Spleen is in charge of holding blood in the vessels (valves etc) Without Blood, the vessels collapse and the Heart doesn’t pump

Emotionally, joy is nurturing and happiness relieves worry. Love makes us feel emotionally supported.

Fire controls Metal

Fire is the only element that can change and transform metal by melting and shaping it.

The warmth of the Fire element is instrumental in keeping the cool energy of the Metal element in balance.

Conversely, if the Metal element is in excess, it can harm the fire by cooling and controlling the spirit that is housed in the fire element.

The Lungs and Heart are the Yin Organs of the upper burner and function together to keep the nutritive Qi circulating.  The Small and Large Intestine work together for separation and elimination.

Water acts on Fire

Logically speaking we can easily understand how something that is too wet or damp cannot catch fire, and that water extinguishes a fire.

When the Water element of the Kidneys and Bladder are out of synch, it creates a heaviness and difficulty for the Fire to ignite.

Emotionally, fear can steal joy and can also exacerbate the impact that a shock can have on the system.

When there is too much water in the body (edema) the Blood can struggle with proper circulation in the vessels.

Reverse Flow of Fire Energy

In general, if the Fire element is not flowing in the correct direction it can quickly become problematic.

Because the Fire element is warm of hot in nature, reversed or slowed movement or Qi and or Blood in this element can progress to Qi Stagnation or Blood Stasis

This can present as:

  Blood Clot

  Angina

  Stroke

  Heart Attack

Tingling and numbness, stabbing pain, anxiety, tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest oppression.

On a meridian level, Blood Stasis can look like a bruise, where the blood vessel or tissues have been injured.  This is a much less serious condition than on the organ level.