Triple Burner (San Jiao)

三焦

The fire element, which peaks during the summer season, not only governs the heart but also the small intestine, pericardium, and the TRIPLE BURNER. 

SO WHAT THE HECK IS A TRIPLE BURNER?

Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon defines and discusses (click here) this mysterious organ recognized in Chinese Medicine.

The triple burner or triple warmer is a unique concept in Chinese Medicine and there is no similar organ in western medicine. It is a collective term describing the upper, middle, and lower burners. The Chinese word “triple burner” translates to “three parts which burn or scorch.”

The upper burner, located above the diaphragm, includes the heart and lungs. The middle burner includes the region above the naval and below the diaphragm encompassing the spleen and stomach. The lower burner, located below the naval, includes the liver, kidneys, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder. It is noteworthy that these location descriptions refer to a functional meaning of the triple burner and not actual physical locations.

The triple burner/warmer is the only primary acupuncture point without a physical organ association.  It is classified as a yang organ, as it rules circulation and regulates energy movement throughout the entire anatomy and organ systems.  In Chinese Medicine, the body is divided into three jiaos (divisions):  upper, middle, and lower.  The triple burner or warmer acts on all three. The upper burner controls intake, the middle burner controls transformation, while the lower burner controls elimination.

 

Triple burner translates into western medicine concepts of:  immune, glands, lymph, metabolism, neurotransmitter, hormone as well as body composition and temperature.

Basically, processes that are shared among all organs.

All patients, in my practice, with auto immune concerns are treated with a special emphasis on the triple burner and the source organ of imbalance.

 

TRUE NATURE RADIO PODCAST

I am especially happy to share a podcast featuring Dr. Heiner Fruehauf and Dr Laurie Regan discussing the triple burner network in Chinese Medicine.  Dr. Heiner Fruehauf has studied Chinese medicine for more than 30 years and is a founding professor at my alma mater, the National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon.

For an audio discussion of the triple burner, give this podcast by True Nature Radio a listen.

TRIPLE BURNER MERIDIAN

The Triple Burner Meridian (also known as San Jiao, Triple Heater, Triple Energizer) is a yang meridian and is coupled with the Pericardium Meridian.

In the classic Chinese medical text, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, The Huang Di Nei Jing says that “The triple burner is the controller of the entire circulation of body fluid”. Therefore, imbalance of the triple burner leads to fluid retention (edema) and difficulty urinating. Treatment of these conditions focuses on restoring balance and harmony of the affected triple burner organs such as the lungs, spleen, or kidneys.

An abstract for the Heart Disease Research Foundation, New York, NY explores the meridian-like networks of internal organs and the corresponding Chinese 12 main meridians. Interesingly, the study found that the Triple Burner meridian had additional Testosterone (in the male) and Estrogen (especially Estriol and Estradiol in the female), while the heart had additional Atrial Natriuretic Peptide.

The triple burner meridian begins at the tip of the ring finger, by the outside corner of the nail, crosses between the knuckles of the fourth and fifth fingers, up to the wrist. From the wrist, it ascends between the radius and ulna bones of the forearm, through the elbow, and up the back of the arm to the shoulder. From the shoulder, it moves to the chest connecting with the pericardium, the upper burner, the abdomen and the middle and lower burners. The meridian then exits the chest at the collarbone and moves up the side of the neck and around to the back of the ear.

Examples of triple burner meridian ailments:

TW2 – Yemen – Headache, malaria, sore throat, eye redness, deafness, numb fingers

TW10 – Tianjing – Migraine, deafness, pain in elbow and arm, epilepsy

Not only does the triple burner meridian control the movement and transformation of solids and fluids in the body, it also governs the production and circulation of life nourishing and protective energy.

Triple Burner Imbalances: Issues with the head, ears, eyes and throat as well as diseases involving the parts of the body where the meridian runs including the gallbladder meridian, pericardium meridian, small intestine meridian.

Triple Burner Balanced: When the triple burner is in balance, a person displays characteristics of kindheartedness, social warmth and interaction, mental stability, and emotional joy.

PLACES OF POWER

In my opinion, our relationship with place is ruled by the triple burner/warmer.  Places have energetic, karmic, and historic imprints that resonance with each of us individually and collectively.  There are places on the globe in which we feel ‘grounded’ and other places in which we feel ‘scattered’; places where we thrive and places where we are challenged; places that bring our best qualities and places that bring out our worst qualities.  So be aware or become aware of how place influences your health, your success, your dreams. Find your sacred space.

This week, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians celebrates at Nanih Waiya.  The sacred mound is the origin location of the Choctaw Nation.  It was returned to the Choctaw Nation in 2008 by the State of Mississippi after private landowners appreciated the cultural significance enough to deed it to the state as a park. An elder in the tribe shared the following with me: a very long time ago when the tribe was journeying, wandering, seeking a place to settle, the medicine man would stick a pole in the ground each night where they camped. Every morning he would lead his people in the direction that the was pole leaning. One morning the pole was standing upright. This site marks Nanih Waiya – the beginning of the Choctaw Nation (the end of their journey). This sacred site and nearby cave have powerful and rejuvenating energy as it is the birthplace of the tribe.

ENERGY MEDICINE

Teacher of energy medicine and author of Energy Medicine, Donna Eden teaches people to direct their energies for health and happiness, using methods similar to acupressure, therapeutic touch, and qi gong. According to Donna, the triple warmer affects the immune system and our ability to manage stress.  The exercises below, from Donna’s program, can help relieve tension and bring calmness. 

Triple Burner Exercises

• Place your fingers at your temples. Hold for one deep breath, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth;
• On another deep breath, slowly slide your fingers up and around your ears, smoothing the skin while maintaining some pressure;
• On the out breath, slide your fingers down and behind your neck and hang them on your shoulders;
• Push your fingers into your shoulders, and when you are ready drag them over the top of your shoulders and smooth them to the middle of your chest over your heart.

 

This exercise can calm anxiety and worry.

• On the back side of your hand, find the groove between the ring and pinky fingers;
• Tap into the groove while thinking of stress (You can also rest your flat hand on your heart and tap in the groove.).

 

Take a minute to check out this video demonstrating how to use some of the techniques for the triple burner based on Donna Eden’s methods.

And last but not least!

The triple burner benefits from green juice, green smoothies and lots of clean, green infused waters. With the garden still producing cucumbers in abundance, mint in the ground, and pears on the trees, try a cucumber and pear smoothie blend.

I like to puree and freeze green produce in ice cubes to toss in the blender for a quick, light meal, or pick-me-up refreshment on the go. The night before I travel, I blend the perishables that don’t make it into my travel cooler, in this case lots of cucumbers. Ice cube trays are perfect to quick freeze, pop, and bag my fruit and veggie blends.   I get pretty creative with the blender and rarely use a recipe for my smoothies! 

• pear (or kiwi): seasonal sweetness
• cucumber: freshness, electrolytes
• mint:  digestive support
• seeds, chia or pumpkin, or nut butter, almond or  cashew:  protein energy (ideally soaked the night before)
• hemp protein powder: optional
• Add a dash of cinnamon or ginger for excitment
• Blend it all up with some unsweetened almond milk or green tea!

 

ENJOY!