THE FIRE ELEMENT AND THE BODY
by Morag Campbell
Over the next few months I thought we could take a brief look at the Elements of air,
fire, water and earth in relation to the physical body. As you read through maybe you
could apply the criteria mentioned to yourself and learn something about your individual
elemental make-up. The following paragraphs are taken from "Quinta Essentia"
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fire body is of medium height and build and these individuals who are heavily influenced
by this element are usually very strong and wiry. Balanced fire gives a healthy glow to
our skin and a sparkle to our eyes and a general sense of vitality and robust good health.
If we have an excess of fire energy this can lead to a large belly and a more rotund
appearance. As I said, one of the main qualities of fire is its heat producing capability
therefore the region of the solar plexus and especially the liver which is the largest
heat producing organ in the body come under the fire element. Our bodies work efficiently
within a very small temperature range and it is important that this temperature is adhered
to. A few degrees too high and we produce fever where the body literally burns up. Here is
an example of the cleansing effect of fire in action. The high temperature produces an
adverse environment for invading organisms and the excessive fire drives off the water in
our body as sweat which cleanses the body of toxins. So critical is our body temperature
that the successful management of a fever can mean the difference between life and death
especially in the days before modern drugs. It is equally critical to maintain the core
temperature of the body which can also be life threatening if it slips to dangerously low
levels leading to hypothermia and eventual death. The protective function of fire can be
seen at play here also. A good maintenance of the fire element in the body ensures a high
level of vitality and when the vitality is high then the immune system functions
efficiently maintaining good health. If our vitality drops for some reason, energy levels
are lowered and that is when we succumb to disease. We need a good supply of fire to give
us the power to fight infection and win !
The digestive region of the body is also associated with the fire
element as it is concerned with the breakdown of food. The stomach produces fiery
hydrochloric acid in just the right amount. Too little leads to incomplete breakdown of
food which lies in the stomach too long and can lead to incomplete absorption of nutrients
further on in the system. Too much can lead to stomach or duodenal ulcers as the gastric
juices literally burn into the linings. The gall bladder also is thought of as a fiery
organ. It secretes bile, an acid neutraliser which is never the less a highly caustic
fiery substance. Many of us have a problem dealing with fire in our lives and are somewhat
afraid of it and rightly so as fire has a habit of flaring up at a moments notice quickly
getting out of control. Because of this, we hold excessive tension in the region of the
solar plexus causing considerable contraction here that in some cases bows the body
forward, pulling down the chest which effectively starves the fire of air by restricting
breathing. It is obvious the kind of physical problems that are created by this kind of
body structuring. Stuck in this chronic flexor contraction we take on the appearance of a
whipped dog. There is no way that the fire element is going to be able to express itself
naturally within the body in this state. Each element seeks expression and one way or
another it will be seen and heard. Result - stomach ulcers, liver problems and problems
with the rest of the digestive tract as the organs are restricted and not able to be
gently massaged by the movement of the diaphragm as in good breathing. The organs of the
abdomen need sufficient space in which to function well, each has its own rhythm and
natural vibratory level for optimum functioning and if all the organs are squashed in on
each other then their functioning is impaired. The restriction in the chest can lead to
problems like asthma - and all because the fire energy is not allowed to express itself
naturally.
Another problem that can arise if the fire is not given natural
expression is the production of rashes, spots and acne. If we are unable to express anger
and frustrations and suppress them then they will be expressed internally through the body
instead of externally through angry outbursts or heated argument. We even use the
expression 'an angry rash' to describe the condition and they frequently appear in areas
of the body that are particularly associated with the fire element such as the head or the
region of the solar plexus. The condition know as Shingles for instance often starts at
the waist and can spread all around the body at this level whilst the other common site
for it to occur is on the face.
The head is a prime site for the expression of fire energy. We talk
of someone as being a "hot head" or "blowing their tops". Certainly a
lot of heat is lost from the body via the head and is a good reason for wearing a hat in
very cold weather. We can see the fire energy clearly when someone is hot or angry as
their face gets redder and redder or when they blush with embarrassment. Too much alcohol
or 'fire water' as the native Americans called it produces the same flushed appearance
which can become permanent with those with a drink problem. Incidentally ,many people who
are unable to express the fire element naturally turn to alcohol as a way of stimulating
this particular energy. They literally add fire to their systems and the most common
results of drinking are to enable the person to freely express their joyfulness and become
more outgoing or conversely to express their anger and aggression. These are all qualities
of fire. Smoking is another way in which people can emulate this energy taking on the
appearance of fiery, smoke breathing dragons.
The part of the head where the fire element can be most clearly seen
is the eyes. They are the sense organs through which we perceive light. There is also an
internal light that can be perceived in the eyes, " Her eyes lit up when she saw the
present", " Her eyes shone with delight" " His eyes burned into
me" "There was a twinkle in his eye as he spoke" are all common modes of
speech to illustrate or should I say, illuminate the point. Our general health and
vitality can be read in our eyes. Well balanced fire leads to a good complexion with
bright, alert eyes. Too much fire can mean a ruddy complexion and staring , bulbous eyes.
Too little gives a pale skin and dull, listless eyes that are lacking in energy and
interest. A disturbance of fire energy in the head can lead to headaches. Often the fire
imbalance affects the digestive system too. Migraine headaches are a classic fire problem
affecting the head, the digestive system and the eyes with disturbed vision as a classic
symptom . Conjunctivitis, where the eyes become red and irritated is another fire problem.
The thighs are another area where fire energy is very perceivable.
The fiery personality sets a goal and goes for it. They have a strong sense of direction
but need good legs to take them there or they become stuck. That fire energy makes the
legs strong and the step purposeful. If we are lacking in fire the legs become weak, ill
defined, shaky and no longer support us. In addition to the belly, the thighs are another
part of the body where there is a tendency to store this particular energy. This seems to
be more the case for women where so called "jodhpur thighs" are common. It is
often culturally frowned upon for women to express their fire energy openly. They should
not be loud, vivacious, aggressive or angry. " Sugar and spice and all things nice -
that's what little girls are made of "!!
Fire is also the element of sexual passion. Again, there are many
sayings that illustrate the connection between this element and desire. We can
"have the
hots" for someone, or 'burn with desire' . Former partners are commonly known as 'old
flames'. Poorly functioning fire can lead to problems with impotency and low sex drive.
Too much fire channeled into a sexual outlet and watch out as we can be carried away in
the heat of the moment !
The fire element can also be linked to the sympathetic branch of the
autonomic nervous system. As we have heard fire people are great 'doers' , rarely sitting
still for a minute. This constant need for activity means that the sympathetic nervous
system is switched on for long periods of time. Indeed, it may never actually get switched
off so the person stays sympathetic dominant and is classified as a Type A personality
i.e.
someone who is prone to high levels of stress. One of the problems of being sympathetic
dominant is that the endocrine system and especially the adrenal glands are switched on
all the time pumping out adrenaline into the system which keeps the heart rate high and
the body in a constant state of alertness. Whilst the human body is designed for this on
occasions, such as in times of danger, it does not cope well with this activity over a
prolonged period - result "burn out !".
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