QiLifeHeart 心
The Heart governs blood and vessels, and houses the Shen — the classical term for the mind and consciousness.
Pinyin: Xin · Five Element: Fire · updated
In classical Chinese medicine the Heart is two things at once: it governs blood and vessels, and it houses the Shen. The Shen is the mind, consciousness and sleep — so Heart patterns show up as either circulatory symptoms or as a mind that cannot settle.
This is why insomnia with a racing mind is the most recognisable Heart-pattern complaint, and why it so often sits alongside palpitations. The classical instruction is to rest deeply rather than merely to reduce effort. The Heart's own period runs from 11am to 1pm, and the classical guidance for this window is a short nap rather than pushing through.
Its element is Fire, and its season is summer. Supporting it means protecting sleep above all, moderating stimulants including caffeine, and building in genuine quiet. Warm and joyful activity helps; overstimulation reliably makes it worse.
Signs that suggest this pattern
No single sign establishes a pattern — Chinese medicine reads combinations, not isolated symptoms. If several of these are familiar and have been for a while, it is worth running the Zang-Fu Organ Check to see what the combination scores.
- Palpitations or an awareness of the heartbeat
- Restlessness, or a mind that will not settle
- Poor sleep with a racing mind
- Chest tightness under stress
- Forgetfulness or a foggy head
- Sweating at night without heat
Acupoints used for this pattern (2)
Every point below opens the full library entry, including location, technique, frequency and the cautions attached to it.
HT7 · Shenmen
The Heart's source point, used to settle the mind: difficulty falling asleep, palpitations, anxiety and poor memory.
Heart meridian
PC6 · Neiguan
Widely used for nausea and for a tight, anxious chest. Also traditionally used for travel sickness and palpitations.
Pericardium meridian
Foods listed against this pattern (5)
Nature and flavour are the traditional classification. Read the avoid note before changing anything you eat regularly.
Jujube (red date)
Builds blood and Qi gently. A base ingredient in almost every tonic tea.
Warm · Sweet
Lily bulb
Moistens dryness and settles a restless mind. Used for dry cough and disturbed sleep.
Cool · Sweet, slightly bitter
Chamomile
Settles tension and frees stuck Qi. A gentle evening drink for a tight chest or a busy mind.
Cool · Bitter, sweet
Longan
Nourishes blood and settles the Heart. Used for restless sleep, palpitations and poor memory.
Warm · Sweet
Lotus seed
Steadies the middle and settles the mind. Used for loose stools, restless sleep and a weak appetite.
Neutral · Sweet, astringent
Tea formulas listed against this pattern (2)
These are traditional reference formulas. Doses shown are traditional reference amounts, not a prescription — check with a qualified practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, on medication, or managing a condition.
Rose & albizia tea
Soothes stuck Qi and lifts low mood. A good end-of-day tea for tense days.
5 dried rose buds, 5 g albizia bark
Longan & jujube tea
Nourishes blood and settles the Heart: restless sleep, palpitations, poor memory.
8 dried longan, 3 jujubes
Which assessment identifies this pattern
Zang-Fu Organ Check
Twenty questions across the five Zang-Fu systems. You get a score for each and the two weakest named explicitly, with what to do about them.
TCM Symptom Pattern Decoder
Twenty-eight questions across eight patterns, ranked by fit rather than a single verdict. Free, no email, results you can act on.
TCM Body Clock Rhythm Check
Twenty questions on sleep, energy, appetite and timing. You get your chronotype, the rhythm you are currently running, and where the two disagree.
Patterns that often appear alongside this one
Qi Deficiency
Qi deficiency means your defensive and transformative Qi runs low, so ordinary effort costs more than it should and colds come easily.
Yin Deficiency
Yin deficiency is insufficient cooling, moistening fluid — you run warm and dry, and rest does not fully restore you.
Qi Stagnation
Qi stagnation is Qi that cannot move — emotion, breath and digestion pile up, and the pressure shows up in the chest, throat or mood.
Qi Constraint
Qi constraint describes Qi that moves but distends and refuses to disperse — the pressure builds in a specific place instead of clearing.
Spleen
The Spleen governs transformation and transport — turning food and drink into usable energy, and moving what has been transformed.
Yin
Yin covers everything cooling, moistening, contracting and substantial — the half of the pair that sustains and contains.
Related vocabulary
Search terms this page covers: heart tcm, heart meridian, shen, palpitations, heart mind.