The Triple Heater
The Triple Heater also known as the San Jiao is a function rather than organ. It is a more elusive official with no recognition in the Western medicine system, though recently some texts have equated it with the hypothalamus. It provides coordination and communication for the network of body mind and spirit. It is concerned with balance and harmony of the body mind and spirit. The Triple Heater is in charge of the three burning spaces. It keeps the ambient working temperature of body mind and spirit at the perfect temperature for all of the officials to function optimally. Because of this the Triple Heater, it affects the other officials more than any other. Its main task is to evenly distribute the correct amount of heat throughout the body mind and spirit. Was too much heat we burn up. With two little heat we become inert and frozen. The Triple Heater must work delicately and precisely.
The Triple Heater connects all the officials by serving as a great network. This leads us to connecting with people. The Triple Heater can be considered the diplomat in the background or border of the kingdom. The Triple Heater helps us to develop an inner warmth. It is said that warn people attract warmth. This leads us to think about the magnetism that is associated with the Triple Heater when it's working well. We radiate warmth on all levels, nourish everyone around including all officials, and have a spark within that brings others close to us. The Triple Heater supports connection communication and interaction with others in a positive way. The Triple Heater it Is a bit more social than the Heart Protector. The Triple Heater can be thought of as the life of the party where is the heart protector thrives in a one-on-one situations. The Triple Heater is aware of the needs of all and make sure everyone is okay and everyone is warm.
The Triple Heater is comprised of the three Jiao or spaces. The Chinese likened the jiao to hold fluids in various states. The upper can be likened to a mist, a find vapor. This is the receiving part of a person and the space houses for Lungs, Heart Protector and Heart. The middle can be likened to a muddy pool. This is the processing part of a person. The Stomach and Spleen are housed here. The lower is likened to a drainage ditch. This is where the eliminating occurs. The Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Kidneys, and Bladder are housed here. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the Triple Heater can be associated with heat water and harmony as well as respiration digestion and elimination.
When out of balance, the three heaters are not equally warm. We may experience hot or cold flashes, cold extremities, or reddening of the face and neck. We may have a difficult time regulating our inner temperature, experiencing alternation of chills and fever. We may be the life and soul of a party but dying on the inside. We may be volatile, hot one moments and cold the next on every level of body mind and spirit. We may share a superficial warmth with nothing underneath. We may be emotionally or spiritually cold. We may have a fear of the fire going out which can show up as fear of being with others. This may look like social anxiety or being afraid of social situations. We may be unable to network.
This may also lead to our inability to exist comfortably in relationships presenting with far too much enthusiasm or being emotionally overpowering. A Triple Heater out of balance may be smitten with new relationships right off, nothing else will exist, but shortly thereafter, interest is lost as quickly as it began. We may oscillate between over-enthusiasm and indifference or between excitement and boredom. We may be unable to create balance and harmony in how we operate. This may leave us having trouble keeping in step with each other. Quick climate changes can throw off the very nature of the Triple Heater. With imbalances in the Triple Heater, the whole system will be affected leading to discomfort in all of the Officials.
The Nei Jing states, “the Triple Heater is responsible for opening of passages. Regulation of fluids stems from the Triple Heater. The burning spaces are like the officials that plan construction of ditches and sluices and create waterways.” Physically, imbalances that occur within any of the Jiao may be related to the Triple Heater being out of balance. The Upper Jiao may be congested. The Middle Jiao may become distended. The Lower Jiao may become constipated.
The horary time of the Triple Heater is 9-11 PM. The horary time of the Heart Protector is 7-9 PM. It is said that the time of the these two fire elements, particularly the Heart Protector is the time for making love.
The correspondences of the Fire Element and hence the Heart, Small Intestine, Triple Heater and Heart Protector Officials are:
Sound: Laughter
Odor: Scorched
Season: Summer
Climate: Hot
Fortification: Vessels
Power: Maturity
Taste: Bitter
Emotion: Joy or Lack of Joy
Color: Red
References:
Classical Five Element Acupuncture, Volume 3 by JR Worsley
Personal Class Notes ITEA 2019
The Triple Heater Official by Neil Gumenick