The Triple Heater is the sixth gut, linked to the Heart Master (Myocardium). Also linked to the Fire element, it is considered a specific functional energy system.
As its name suggests, this gut is made up of three parts:
- the upper heater,
- the middle heater
- the lower heater
(also called hearths). The first is located above the diaphragm and includes the Heart and Lung. The middle heater is located between the diaphragm and the navel, and includes the Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Gall bladder.
The lower heater is located between the navel and the genital organs, and includes the Kidneys, Large Intestine, Small Intestine and Bladder.
The Liver, by virtue of its functions, belongs to the Lower Heater, as it has a special relationship with the Kidney Jing.
The functions of the Triple heater
The Yellow Emperor’s classic, a reference work on traditional Chinese medicine, states that “the upper focus acts as a fog (role of the Lung, which diffuses Qi), the middle focus as a maceration (role of the Stomach and Spleen in digestion) and the lower focus as a sewer (evacuation role of the Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Kidney and Bladder). Not very poetic, but it does explain the workings of this gut!