According to TCM theory, the Heart is the residence of the Shen and it plays a vital role in mental and emotional conditions. Inspiration, passion and the “lust for life” are all represented in the Fire element system of the Heart.

Our guts are one of the largest sites for chemical messengers and nutirent exchange, making it a key site for metabolic and mental health. Our abdominal center is central to how we think, feel and express our emotions. This bidirectional relationship between the gut and brain have been widely studied in immunology, gastroenterology and psychology research. Dubbed psycho-neuro-immunology, this is the study of how our thoughts and feelings affect mental health and immune health.