Kidney Fire vs. Heart Fire

[Guest guest]

From " Forgotten Traditions of Ancient " , by Paul U. Unschuld,

pg. 81:

 

" In discourses of recent times, the fire of the heart is called ruler fire,

and the fire of the kidneys is called minister fire. This (latter)

designation is problematic.

 

The heart is associated with the (phase of) fire, and it is located in the

upper (part of the body); also, it represents the pure yang and governs the

entire body. To speak here of a ruler fire seems quite agreeable (to the

facts). The fire in the kidneys, though, is located at quite a distance from

the heart. Also, it is a fire amidst water and is, therefore different from

the fire of the heart. To call it minister fire appears to be inappropriate.

 

The fact is that yin and yang (influences) are both stored in each other's

location. The heart, of course, has a fire, but inside the kidneys there is

a fire too. The fire of the heart is a fire inside the fire, the fire of the

kidneys is a fire inside the water. The fire of the kidneys is kept in the

lower (part of the body); the fire of the heart is kept in the upper (part of

the body). And, the triple burner is a pathway of fire; it allows the two

fires (of the heart and kidneys) to interact.

 

Once the fire of the heart has been agitated, the floating fire inside the

kidneys will follow it. If the fire of the kidneys was agitated (first), the

floating fire in the heart will follow it too. It may also be that the fire

of the heart is agitated without the fire of the kidneys being agitated as a

consequence. In this case, only the heart suffers. Also, the fire of the

kidneys may have been agitated without the fire of the heart being agitated

subsequently. In this case, only the kidneys suffer. Hence in treating a

fire, one must first investigate what kind of fire is at issue. "

 

Does anyone understand this above paragraph??? How do we tell which fire

is/was agitated?

 

It goes on to state:

 

" The drugs to be used after (the nature of the fire has been determined) are

clearly defined substances. A fire of the heart is to be treated with

(substances of) bitter (flavor) and cold (thermo-influences); a fire of the

kidneys is to be treated with (substances of) salty (flavor) and cold

(thermo-influences). If the yin (influences) of neither of (these two)

viscera suffice to match the fire, one should employ drugs that supplement

the yin (influences) of the two viscera concerned. If (only) the fire of the

kidneys flares up excessively, patterns exist to return the yang

(influences), and, contrary (to what was outlined above), one should use warm

or hot (substances). That is, of course, quite different from treating a

fire of the heart. "

 

How do we know if " the yin (influences) of neither of (these two) viscera

suffice to match the fire " ?

 

To continue:

 

" Now, all the five viscera have a fire, but (those of) the heart and kidneys

are easily agitated. Hence one should carefully consider an appropriate

treatment pattern. The designation 'minister fire,' though, applies (in

fact) to the fire of the heart-enclosing (network). It is responsible if one

feels uneasy, has a red (face), is perplexed, and suffers from vertigo. It

is at the side of the ruler fire, and to call it minister fire appears to be

very fitting indeed. One need only check the Nei-Ching to get the right

view. "

 

For the moment I now feel more confused, but hopefully this may provide some

insight (if we can figure it out!) to some of our questions regarding Yin

fire and how to harmonize relationships between the Kidneys and Heart by

learning which flavors need to be employed in regards to given situations.

 

UGH .....

 

Lynn