In my early days of learning about Chinese Medicine, I remember being enamored with the concept that the heart is the central, most important organ in the human body. The heart is often referred to as the Emperor or Empress of the kingdom (ie. the body), signifying that all functions carried out by each of the other organs must be in accordance with the directives of this Empress otherwise chaos and disease will arise.
We have many common sayings that point to this concept of our heart being central to our being.
“Home is where the heart is”
“Follow your heart”
“From the bottom of my heart”
“I’ve had a change of heart”
What science is starting to understand is that the heart does in fact play a central role in how the human body functions, far beyond the reaches of being just a muscle in charge of pumping blood. Studies have shown that the heart actually sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart!
“In the new field of neurocardiology, for example, scientists have discovered that the heart possesses its own intrinsic nervous system—a network of nerves so functionally sophisticated as to earn the description of a “heart brain.” Containing over 40,000 neurons, this “little brain” gives the heart the ability to independently sense, process information, make decisions, and even to demonstrate a type of learning and memory. In essence, it appears that the heart is truly an intelligent system.” – Heart Math Institute
HEART RATE VARIABILITY
Heart rhythm patterns can be evaluated using electrocardiogram (ECG) technology. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the naturally occurring beat-to-beat variation of the heart muscle. Heart Rate Variability should be slightly irregular, meaning the time between each beat varies somewhat from beat to beat. Even though the time between each beat varies, there should still be some order and stability to these variations. HRV is directly related to the autonomic nervous system and the interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. What research revels is that HRV has a significant impact on our mental, emotional, and physical states.
HEART COHERENCE
The heart is in coherence when HRV is orderly and stable, creating a smooth wave pattern. A person achieves heart coherence when they are in a calm, relaxed state. Feelings of joy, gratitude, love, and compassion help maintain a healthy HRV where the heart and mind are working together. In this state, the signals being sent from the heart to the brain allow for greater cognitive abilities, positive perceptions, greater resiliency against stress, better sleep, decreased illness, decreased depression, and access to upbeat emotions.
Stress, frustration, or feelings such as blame, shame, and lack causes HRV to become erratic and disordered, creating a jagged heart pattern. When a person is experiencing stress, the heart moves out of a coherent state and sends signals to the brain that inhibits cognitive functioning, obstructs the ability to make good decisions, and further exacerbates feelings of anxiety and negativity. A heart that is not in coherence can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, depression, and illness.
In essence, the thoughts we think and the feelings we feel send electrical signals throughout the body - from heart to brain and from brain to heart. Thus, how we think and how we feel produces our state of wellness and, in large part, how we experience ourselves and the world.
HOW TO BRING YOUR HEART INTO COHERENCE: A QUICK MEDITATION
The following is a wonderful mindfulness technique that can quickly bring your heart into a state of coherence. Try it and see how your mood and emotional states change!
Step one: Find a quiet place where you can sit and relax. Gently close your eyes and begin to bring you awareness to your breath. Watch the breath’s natural rhythm.
Step two: As your body becomes more relaxed, start to imagine your breath moving in and out of the space in your chest. Imagine breathing into the place of your heart and exhaling out of the place of your heart.
Step three: Now, imagine a positive memory that elicits the feeling of joy, compassion, gratitude, love, or another elevated emotional state. Continue to recall this memory and FEEL this positive emotion while breathing in and out of the place of your heart.
Step four: Remain in this state of ease for 3-5 minutes, continuing to breathe and feel.
Step five: Open your eyes and notice what has shifted in your body and mind.