Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views all organs as complex energetic systems. Yet all organs are seen as servants to the heart. According to TCM, a person’s spirit, or “shen,” resides in the heart. For this reason, the heart is viewed as the “king of all organs.”1
But for a ruler to be kind and just, it needs protection. And that is exactly what the pericardium does.
In Western medicine, the pericardium refers to a fluid-filled sac that surrounds the heart. It protects the heart from harmful pathogens that could infect it from neighboring organs. Similarly, from a TCM perspective, the pericardium meridian is known as the “heart protector.”
Pericardium meridian structure
The pericardium meridian has two branches, both starting at the pericardium, located in the chest to the side of the nipple.
One branch descends through the diaphragm towards the lower abdomen, connecting with the san jiao, or “triple burner” meridian. The other branch ascends along the front of the armpit, down the arm, and ends at the tip of the middle finger. This branch has 9 acupuncture points at various points along the arm.
And while the existence of energy meridians has remained an enigma, recent research has attempted to make the unseen visible.
One 2021 study injected fluorescent dye into acupuncture points along the pericardium meridian into participants’ arms. Interestingly, fluorescent lines appeared that correlated to the points on the pericardium meridian. Ultrasounds confirmed that these patterns could not be explained by lymphatics or blood vessels.2
Pericardium meridian function
Like the heart, the pericardium meridian is part of the Fire element. Known as the “heart protector” or “circulation-sex” meridian, it constricts the heart to shield it from emotional distress.
According to TCM, extreme emotional outbursts disrupt the balance in the body. Over time, this may lead to chronic problems.3 The pericardium acts as the heart’s head bodyguard, protecting it from emotional trauma. It oversees our relationships with others, helps the heart experience joy, and allows love to be openly shared.
The pericardium is also in charge of blood flow and sexual secretions.4 To feel true intimacy and for sexual secretions to flow, the pericardium meridian must be in balance. It allows us to deeply experience the physical and emotional elements of sexual activity. When this meridian is flowing freely, we feel passion, trust, connection, and warmth.
Energetic connections
The pericardium is considered a yin meridian and is paired with the yang san jiao, or triple warmer meridian. It’s also energetically connected to the following teeth and vertebrae:
- Wisdom teeth (T1, T16, T17, T32)
- First and second cervical vertebrae (C1, C2)
- First through fifth thoracic vertebrae (T1-T5)
- Twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12)
This means that an imbalance in the pericardium meridian may cause an issue an any of these areas. But the opposite is also true: a physical issue in these areas may also cause the pericardium to become unbalanced.
Similarly, the emotions connected with the pericardium meridian can both impact and be impacted by this meridian. These emotions include joy, as well as greed and grief.
Common pericardium meridian issues
TCM theory says that health and well-being depend on how freely energy (or qi) is flowing through the 12 energy meridians. If qi is imbalanced or blocked, that’s when symptoms arise or illness occurs.
When balanced, the pericardium acts as a filter, letting in joy and keeping out things that are harmful to our hearts. If the heart goes unprotected, it interferes with our ability to experience love. Instead, sadness and fear may arise.
The pericardium meridian is in charge of our relationships and helps us express our feelings. When imbalanced, social interactions may provoke feelings of anxiety, agitation, or loneliness. This might manifest as guarded behavior, fear of intimacy, easily hurt feelings, or relationship fears.
That said, if the pericardium is overly active, it can present problems as well. This could lead to excessive vulnerability, uncontrollable laughter, inappropriate intimacy, or sexual perversions.3
Symptoms of pericardium meridian issues
The purpose of the pericardium meridian is to generate feelings of joy and excitement. But if the energy is disrupted or blocked in this channel, symptoms may surface. This may manifest as a variety of physical and mental health issues, including:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Stiff neck
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mania
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vertigo
- Phobias
- Swelling of the underarms or elbows
- Disorders of the heart, chest, stomach, or mind3 6 7
According to the Chinese medicine clock, each meridian has certain periods when the energy is most active. The pericardium meridian’s peak hours are between 7 and 9 p.m.
If you have circulation issues, they may be aggravated during this time. Also, if headaches, heart palpitations, or feelings of greed or grief arise during this window, it may be a sign of a pericardium imbalance.8
If you experience several pericardium imbalance symptoms, you may want to consult with an acupuncturist. They can help pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms and help with any underlying imbalances.
How lifestyle impacts pericardium health
There are many lifestyle habits that can help keep your pericardium meridian balanced. Making a few simple shifts in your daily life can often have a huge impact.
Here are a few lifestyle habits to support pericardium health:
- Get plenty of rest. Chronic stress can put your body in survival mode, which may throw the pericardium meridian off balance. So, set aside time each day to slow down and rest. Take a nap, listen to relaxing music, meditate, read a book, or sip on a cup of tea—whatever helps you find some inner calm.
- Take a morning walk. Nature is powerful medicine for the mind and heart. It allows us to be present, slow down, and feel our connection to the earth and all beings. Taking a morning walk starts your day with a dose of joy and presence, which supports pericardium balance.9
- Try acupressure. Some believe that massaging acupuncture points along the pericardium meridian helps keep the energy flowing freely. For a walk-through of each pericardium meridian point, check out this video.
- Practice yoga. There are a variety of yoga practices designed to support different organs in the body, including the pericardium. For example, here is one full-length class devoted to the pericardium and triple burner meridians.
- Get regular sunshine. Summer is the season for the pericardium meridian. So, to support its balance and inject some joy into your day, get a dose of sunshine. Even 5 minutes can make a big difference.
Diet and pericardium health
As mentioned, like the heart, the pericardium belongs to the Fire element. For this reason, the same foods that balance Fire energy may also support the pericardium. These include bitter foods, dark leafy greens, vegetables, grains, beans, and seeds.
In addition, since the color red is linked with the pericardium meridian, many believe that eating red foods may benefit this energy channel. These include cherries, radishes, rhubarb, red lentils, and watermelon.
Certain foods such as chocolate, salt, stimulants, hot spices, and meat may aggravate the Fire element, and thus the pericardium meridian.9 So, if you have signs of pericardium imbalance, consider limiting these foods for now.
Supplements & herbs for pericardium health
Several traditional Chinese herbs are said to support the pericardium meridian. These include:
- Dan Shen (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix)
- Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong rhizoma)
- Mu Dan Pi (Moutan cortex)
- Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae radix rubra)
- Da Huang (Rheum palmatum or rhubarb)
- Da Zhe Shi (Hematite)
- Gou Teng (Gambir stem and thorn)
- Liu Huang (Sulfur)
- Pu Huang (Typha angustifolia pollen or cattail pollen)
- Zi Cao (Radix Arnebiae)10
In addition to these Chinese herbs, herbs and their essential oils that support the Fire element may also benefit the pericardium meridian. Some of these include lemon, myrrh, neroli, frankincense, and jasmine.
Before starting any new supplements, it’s important to consult with a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, such as an herbalist or acupuncturist. They can help you find the right herb and dosage for your unique health situation.
Pericardium meridian stressor Virtual Item
A digital signature representing the pericardium meridian is scanned automatically in the Balance Biosurvey, along with the other TCM meridians.
You can see how the body responded to the Pericardium Meridian item in various reports, including the Advanced Report + Teeth.
Along with the Pericardium Meridian, the Select and Elite allows you to scan for additional items related to this biomarker, including:
- Pericardium
- Pericardium Mu
- Pericardium Shu
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Pericardium Meridian
Pericardium meridian balancer Virtual Items
If the Pericardium Meridian is out of range, you can see the specific balancer Virtual Item that brought it back into range in the Biomarker Progress Chart, which can be found in the Advanced Report.
Along with balancing the pericardium with wellness products and/or services, perception reframing with the ZYTO EVOX allows you to address the emotional component that’s associated with this meridian. Working through these related emotions can help to balance the pericardium meridian, leading to improved emotional and physical wellness.
About Mindy Palmer
Mindy Palmer is a wellness writer and certified holistic health coach. She enjoys inspiring others to live healthier lives by creating informative content for leading-edge health and wellness brands.
Sources:
1. “Heart/Small Intestine Health.” Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. Tcm.org.
2. Li, T., B.Q. Tang, et al. “In Vivo Visualization of the Pericardium Meridian with Fluorescent Dyes.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021 (2021:) 5581227.
3. “The Pericardium Channel, Self-Love and Relationships.” Five Seasons Medicine. Fiveseasonsmedicine.com.
4. Gumenick, Neil. “The Spirits of the Points: The Pericardium Meridian.” The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture. 5elements.com.
5. “9. Arm Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian.” Shen-Nong Limited. Shen-nong.com.
6. “Pericardium Meridian.” Infinity Flexibility. Infinityflexibility.com.
7. Morris, Seth. “What the Chinese Medicine Clock Can Tell You About Your Health.” ZYTO. Zyto.com.
8. “Five Elements – Eating Right for Your Body Type.” Starting Point Acupuncture & Wellness. Startingpointacupuncture.com.
9. Cox, Dr. Sarita. “Pericardium the Heart Protector.” SDE Inc. Drsaritaelizabeth.com.
10. “Chinese Medicinal Plants That Target the Pericardium Meridian.” Me & Qi. Meandqi.com.