#16 -TCM Headaches – 5 Triple Warmer/Pericardium

The Triple Warmer/Pericardium and Small Intestine/Heart – are, generally, thought of and worked with together.  The season of summer describes these meridians.  The explosiveness and heat of fire are also descriptive of the energy of these meridians.  The first 2 meridians (the first pair) of this set are protective in nature while the second pair of meridians are about getting things done!  The dynamic personalities of people for whom summer is their primary rhythm (such as my husband!) are often the catalyst for great change and even miracles.  These four meridians, combined, are called “The Wizard” for this reason.  The book, The Magic of Thinking Big, describes these people.  It also tells us much about what these people need from us in order to reach the heights they are capable of – and meant to reach.

Triple Warmer/Pericardium

Triple Warmer acts as the network clearinghouse for information from all of the other meridians. This meridian, more than any other, energetically connects all of the organs to each other.  It is responsible for distributing energy among them all.   The hypothalamus gland governs the Triple Warmer meridian.  This gland regulates, among its many other functions, the temperature of the body.  It is also the instigator of the fight or flight response through its communication with the adrenal glands.  When a person becomes angry or agitated enough to flee, heat and energy rise.  This rising of Yang energy, as we have discussed in previous segments of this series of articles, often results in headaches.  Inevitably, chronic states of agitation and anxiety create chronic headache pain.

Triple Warmer and the Immune Response

Donna Eden, in her book, Energy Medicine, presents the best explanation I have ever come across for the Triple Warmer meridian’s role in the immune response.  She compares this meridian to a king who conscripts energy from various organs and systems, as needed.  She points out, however, that Triple Warmer never pulls energy from the Queen, meaning the Heart and heart meridian.  I find this interesting since the Yin part of this meridian pair is the Pericardium.  The pericardium, both physically and as a meridian, is responsible for protecting the heart and allocating its energy resources.

As Donna Eden points out, one of the most difficult challenges for any army is telling the difference between friend and foe.  The confusion in our own bodies about what is friendly and good for us and also what needs to be eliminated constitutes an autoimmune disorder of some kind.  Headaches and migraines are prominent symptoms of many autoimmune disorders.  Giving too much of one’s self to those one loves is considered by some to be one of the emotional drivers of chronic autoimmune disorders.

Pericardium and Safety

Just as Triple Warmer’s immune response protects us physically, the Pericardium (Heart Protector) protects us emotionally and spiritually.  The heart protector, the pericardium meridian, protects the heart from unexpected hurt and emotional violation.  The pericardium evaluates every person, remark, or action for the potential to cause harm to the heart.  An important part of this meridian’s function is providing us with an evaluation about the trustworthiness of the people around us.

These meridians govern feelings and inspirations about external events that are as varied as what is happening with our children to the economy and politics.

Triple Warmer and Pericardium – in balance

• Creates a healthy immune system.
• Freedom from susceptibility to every illness that passes through the neighborhood.
• Resistance to serious diseases.
• Sufficient energy to accomplish whatever one desires – my personal definition of health.
• Efficient healing from wounds and injuries.
• A healthy and vigorous response (fever, etc.) to invading pathogens.  This means that your immune system is healthy and fighting back very well when under attack.
• A clear sense of what is right or wrong for us emotionally and also physically.
• Good judgment, excellent instincts, good people skills.

Emotional Symptoms

• Lightness and hope or, conversely, heaviness and depression.
• Open and giving in relationships or, on the other hand, continually withdrawing because of perceived slights and offenses.
• Delight in physical and emotional intimacy.
• Feeling safe enough to be open and vulnerable with loved ones.
• Either too trusting or lacking trust altogether.  Paranoia.
• Continually getting into situations that are not healthy emotionally.

Triple Warmer and Pericardium – out-of-balance

• A weakened immune response.
• Headaches and migraines.
• Allergies.
• Slow wound healing.
• No response to invading organisms until the situation is critical.
• Cold hands.
• Constant fatigue.
• Repeated infections.
• Achy joints.
• Psoriasis and other skin rashes and problems.

Emotional Symptoms 

• Heaviness and depression.
• Unexplained and excessive anxiety.
• Easily offended.  Offended at perceived, rather than real, slights and insults.
• Unrealistic expectations of others.
• Hopelessness and despair.
• Deceitful and untrusting in relationships.

Balance Restored By

• A healthy lifestyle.  Caring for oneself by diet, exercise, and learning to say “no.”
• Cross crawls and energy eights.
• Cultivating and sustaining long-term trusting and lovingly intimate relationships.  This is, in fact, both the balanced state of this meridian and also the way to achieve balance here.

Triple Warmer/Pericardium Related Headaches

Triple Warmer headaches can be similar to gallbladder related headaches.  Pericardium related headaches are often similar to heart-related headaches.

• The typical migraine headache is the most common.  Motion or physical activity makes this headache worse.   The headache is accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and noise.  Often there is also fatigue, lower chest discomfort, and abdominal distention.

• All over the head.   The head feels dull and heavy.   The pain is mostly across the forehead.  The entire digestive tract is likely out of balance.
• All over the head.  Head feels distending and about to burst.  Dizziness, blurred vision, and vertigo.  In addition, the person may be irritable and easily angered.

Possible Remedies

Essential Oils

Triple Warmer (Immune System) and Pericardium

Single oils:  Anthopogon, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cassia, Chamomile Roman, Cistus, Clove, Firs of any variety, all Frankincenses, Hinoki, Holy Basil, Howood, Idaho Tansy, Lavender, Lemon Myrtle, Lime, Manuka, Melissa, Mountain Savory, Myrrh, Myrtle, Niaouli, Nutmeg, Orange Sweet, Oregano, Palo Santo, Patchouli, Ravensara, Rosewood, Sage, Saro, Spearmint, Tea Tree, Thyme, Turmeric, Vanilla, Vetiver, and Zanthoxylum.  What an incredibly long list!  Even more importantly, it is an incredibly varied list.  Such a wide range of aromas but, amazingly, every one of these oils are good for the immune system.

Butterfly blends of ^LeAboutFace (of course, with all that Frankincense), ^LeAcknowledge, ^LeBountiful, ^LeBreezey, ^LeCandila, ^LeCherish, ^LeCinnamonBear, ^LeDeliverance, ^LeGoodNite, ^LeGrateful Heart, ^LeHousewarming, ^LeIntention, ^LeJourney, ^LeKindred Spirit, ^LeLife Force, ^LeLiteN, ^LeLivN, ^LeMariah, ^LeNoMore, ^LeQuiet Essence, ^LeReconciliation, ^LeRevitalize, ^LeSimplicity, ^LeSpiceC, ^LeStefanie, ^LeSunburst, and ^LeTurmoil.

The lesson learned from these long lists is that if you use essential oils every day, you are likely to have an incredible immune system.  You are also likely to be well-balanced emotionally.  All essential oils work both physically as well as emotionally.

Triple Warmer and Pericardium Meridians

The Triple Warmer meridian responds well to the essential oils of Anise, Anthopogon, Clove, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Melissa, Neroli, Sandalwood, Tea Tree.  Butterfly blends to consider are ^LeBelieve, ^LeBountiful, ^LeGrace, ^LeMillenia, ^LeReconciliation, ^LeSanctuary, ^LeTurmoil, and ^LeWisdom.

Essential oils for the Pericardium meridian, both physically and emotionally, include anthopogon, basil, black pepper, clove, coriander, frankincense, lavender, melissa, neroli, tea tree, ylang ylang.  Butterfly blends that I would try (and have used) are ^LeAngel, ^LeBelieve, ^LeBountiful, ^LeDreams, ^LeGrace, ^LeKadence, ^LeMillenia, and ^LeReconciliation.

(For explanations of some of these oils as they apply here, please see Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils, Chapter 12 – Eastern Healing Philosophy, under the information for the #5 – #6 meridian pair, specifically first half of this pair, Fire/Season of Summer Meridians, Triple Warmer/Pericardium.)

Herbal Solutions

The Nervine remedies NV, NS, NT, and NVC are always appropriate for headache pain.  Consider Magnesium and Potassium, and, perhaps, Zinc liquid minerals.  Astragalus, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Calendula, Cinnamon, Cloves, Echinacea, Eleuthero, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Ginseng, Goldenseal, Hawthorn, Hyssop, Kelp/Dulse, Lemon Balm, Licorice Root, Lobelia, Myrrh, Nettles, Oregon Grape, Plantain, Pleurisy Root, Poke Root, Red Clover, Rosemary, Sarsaparilla, St. John’s Wort, Thyme, and Yarrow strengthen the immune system.  IB combination herb tincture is an excellent general formula and, also, the HD Dry Herb Pack made as a tea.  It is also helpful to supplement vitamins A and also C.

Homeopathic Remedies

Blessed Water low potency combinations to consider include Rescue Remedy, ER911, the Triple Warmer Meridian Balance remedy, the Pericardium Meridian Balance remedy, Glandular Support #3, Migraine #1 and Migraine #2,  Headaches #1 and #2, Nerve #1 and Nerve #2.   Remedies specific to the immune system include CFS #1, CFS #2, and  Fatigue #1.  Low potency combination remedies are very helpful, especially if you are not really familiar with homeopathic principles.  They can bring relief, even instant relief, surprisingly.

Deeper level healing requires a single remedy in a higher potency.  Immune system remedies include Gels, All-c, Arg-n,  Ars, Bapt, Echi, Nat-m,  Oscilloc, and Phos.

Possible  Meridian Points

TW 23 – and GB 8 – Sensitivity to light and also noise.
P 8, TW 5, St 36, and GB 41 –  for migraine that includes fatigue, no appetite, and lower chest discomfort.
CV 12 – This is a main point for Triple Warmer issues.  It is useful for stress-related digestive disorders, also.

Additional Points

K 27 – This point is useful for many things.  It is an excellent immune-boosting point for people who are prone to catch upper respiratory flu when it passes through.
CV 17 & CV 6 – Used together or separately, these points regulate and stimulate the thymus gland.
L 7 – L 7 – Increases the defensive Chi of the body.
SI 5 – Especially useful for stimulating the immune system’s reaction just as the body is coming down with some illness or another.
Liv 4 – Located between the thumb and the first finger.  Massaging this point stimulates and strengthens the immune system.
ST 36 – Another very important acupressure point.  Strengthens the immune system, brings energy when fatigued, and also boosts endurance in general.

The neurovascular points for the Triple Warmer and Pericardium meridians, pictured below, would be especially appropriate to use essential oils with.  Using an essential oil on your fingertips when holding any of the points below makes point holding even more effective. Placing essential oils on Meridian points works very well also.

Endpoints

Placing your fingers on the endpoints of a meridian, especially with an appropriate essential oil on your fingertips, strengthens the flow of that meridian.  Better yet, is to put the essential oil on your palms and “run” the entire meridian.  Furthermore, if the energy of that meridian is very out of balance, it can be useful to run it in the opposite direction of its normal flow – run it backwards once or twice.  Then, run it in its normal direction a few times.

Placing essential oils on other Meridian points works very well.  The neurovascular points for the Triple Warmer and Pericardium meridians, pictured below, would be especially appropriate.

This blog is part of a series on headaches.  This series includes. . . .