The Triple Heater is also called the Triple Warmer, the Triple Burner, or sometimes even, the Three Burning Spaces. It is also sometimes known by its Chinese name Sanjiao. It has no equivalent in modern western medicine.
The Triple Heater is part of the fire element in the human body. The fire element is unique – it has two manifestations each of yin and yang – the other elements only have one manifestation each of yin and yang. The Triple heater is part of the yang of the fire element in our bodies (the other is the Small Intestine). The yin of the fire element in the human body is the Heart and Pericardium.
The Triple Heater is also different to the other organs and channels. It is also used as a way to refer to different parts of the body.
The Triple Heater as Body Divisions.
The Upper Heater is above the diaphragm and so includes the heart and lungs. The Middle Heater is from the diaphragm to the umbilicus (belly button) and so includes the stomach, spleen and liver. The Lower Heater is from the umbilicus to bottom of the torso and so includes kidneys, bladder and intestines. This division refers to the three processes of energy processing in our bodies – inspiration and exhalation (upper heater), digestion (middle heater) and elimination (lower heater). In acupuncture you will see breathing difficulties sometimes called an “upper heater disorder” or a digestive upset called a “middle heater problem”. (This will depend on the root cause of the problem referred to.)
Channel
The Triple Heater channel begins on the ring finger (the one closest to our little finger) near the outer boundary of lower part of the nail. It then travels up the middle of the yang side of the arm (the outside with more hair on it) across the shoulder, up the neck around the ear and ends at the outside edge of the eyebrow.
The Organ
There is no physical structure that corresponds to the Triple Heater as there is with all the other organs. It is a collection of functions.
The Functions
The Triple Heater distributes energy throughout the body. One traditional description of the Triple Heater is “The Official in Charge of irrigation (or the waterways)”. It sends the energy that is taken from the air, food and water we take in and sends it to the different parts of the body.
Like the other arm yang channels (the Small Intestine and the Colon) the points on the Triple Heater channel aren’t used much to treat the ‘organ’ (or in the case of the Triple Heater to effect its function). The points are mostly used to treat local problems
Hi Evan,
I’m enjoying the posts, esp. Triple Heater and Pericardium, “my” meridians. At this point with the material you’re covering there’s not much to comment about, but I’m glad you’re doing it and look forward to more postings.
Thanks Madcap.
It helps to keep me writing knowing that you look forward to it.
Evan
Hi Evan, thanks for the information short and sweet giving an informative over view of ots function. Very accesable. Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to comment Alastair,
I’m glad you like it. I have had some other commitments lately but hope to get back to this blog soon.
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I trained with a martial artist for awhile who had all kinds of tricks up his sleeve. Once, to mess with me, he grabbed my wrist and pinched it in two places. It didn’t really hurt, but it made me turn hot and start sweating and turn bright red, it was pretty hilarious! He said it was the ‘triple heater’, now I know what he was talking about!
[...] Acupuncture Is Easy Blog Archive The Triple Heater Posted by root 3 hours ago (http://acupunctureiseasy.com) Dec 21 2007 thanks for taking the time to comment alastair i 39 m glad you like it acupuncture is easy is proudly powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Acupuncture Is Easy Blog Archive The Triple Heater [...]
[...] Acupuncture Is Easy Blog Archive The Triple Heater Posted by root 4 hours ago (http://acupunctureiseasy.com) Dec 21 2007 the lower heater is from the umbilicus to bottom of the torso and so includes kidneys bladder and intestines this division refers to the triple heater and pericardium my meridians thanks for taking the time to comment alastair acupuncture is e Discuss | Bury | News | Acupuncture Is Easy Blog Archive The Triple Heater [...]
i am always astonished how Acupunture helps in dealing with my migraine. it works wonders on other diseases like anxiety and allergy.
Agreed!
Acupuncture helped me a lot in relaxation. It takes away some of my muscle cramps due to physical stress.
Acupuncture is really a good alternative medicine technique for common ailments such as allergies, minor headaches and pains. I have been practicing acupuncture for 4 years now.
Acupuncture has been known in China for ages, my mom introduced me to acupunture and i am since been amazed how it can reduce my migraine.
Avoid foods that cause bloating to you. Not all the foods will be taken in the same way by everybody’s digestive method. Some people might find that they are allergic to few foods whereas the others might eat them more.
Intriguing stuff you talk about here. Almost a 1 sided argument don’t you think?