The heart – more than just a pump

Home, a haven and the centre of our emotional world

Bio-decoding and Total Biology – an educational and therapeutic approach

Before we begin

If cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or sudden palpitations occur, the first and most important step is always medical diagnosis. The heart is too vital an organ to make any assumptions or interpretations without proper examination.

This text is not intended to replace a doctor, tests or treatment. It is an invitation to look at the heart from a slightly broader perspective. One that, in addition to anatomy and physiology, also takes into account emotions, life experiences, and how the body tries to adapt to different situations.

Because sometimes a symptom is not the beginning of the story.

Sometimes it is its final chapter.

The heart that reacts faster than we do

Most of us were brought up to believe that the heart is, above all, a pump. An incredibly efficient one, working non-stop from the very first moments of life until our last breath. And of course, this is true. The problem is simply that it is not the whole truth.

One need only reflect on one’s own experience for a moment. Why does the heart race after a single phone call? Why do we sometimes feel a tightness in the chest even before we can name the emotion? Why is it that we remain calm on the outside, whilst inside everything is as taut as a string?

Modern science is increasingly showing that the heart is not merely a passive executor of the brain’s commands. It has its own nervous system, communicates with the brain and influences the way we perceive reality. Interestingly, far more information flows from the heart to the brain than the other way round. This means that the body very often senses things first.

First comes the tension.

Then the body’s reaction.

Only later do thoughts arise and we try to explain what has just happened.

Everyone is familiar with the situation where, upon entering a room, you immediately sense a tense atmosphere, even though no one has said a word yet. Or the moment when you meet a particular person and suddenly your heart starts beating faster, even though the conversation has only just begun.

That is precisely why I so often tell clients that the body usually does not lie. We may not always understand its language, but it very rarely reacts without reason.

The heart wants to know if it is safe

When we look at how the body functions from a biological perspective, it quickly becomes clear that most processes revolve around one fundamental question:

Am I safe?

This isn’t about safety understood solely as the absence of a threat to life. For the body, safety means much more. It also means a sense of belonging, stability, predictability, and the ability to relax without having to be constantly on guard.

The problem is that many people live in a state of tension for so long that they start to treat it as something normal.

It’s a bit like living next to a busy road for years. At first, we hear every car. After a while, we stop paying attention to it. The noise doesn’t disappear; we simply get used to it.

It is similar with tension.

You can get used to feeling responsible for everyone around you.

You can get used to constantly solving problems.

You can get used to living on standby.

You can even get used to feeling tired.

However, this does not mean that your body has stopped paying the price for it.

The heart does not judge whether stress is justified. It does not wonder whether ‘we should be worried’. It reacts to what is being experienced. If we function in a state of alarm for a long time, it too remains in a state of alarm.

And this is where the bridge leading to Total Biology begins.

The heart as a home

In Total Biology, the heart is much more than an organ. Symbolically, it represents a home, a family nest and a sense of security. It is not, however, about a building or a residential address. It is about an experience.

Think for a moment about the word ‘home’.

What comes to mind first?

For some, it will be warmth, peace and a sense of belonging.

For others, a duty.

For yet others, tension, uncertainty or the need to constantly adapt.

And that is precisely why two people can live in very similar conditions, yet their bodies will react completely differently.

For biology, home does not mean a place.

Home means safety.

It is a place where you can take off your armour.

Stop fighting.

Stop keeping watch over everything.

Stop being strong.

That is why it is worth pausing for a moment to ask a simple question:

Does my heart feel at home today?

It is not about whether you have your own flat.

It is not about your bank balance.

It’s not even about your relationship.

It’s about whether your body has the space to let down its guard.

Is there a place, a situation or a person where your body stops being on high alert?

If the answer is ‘not really’, your heart may function for years like a sentry who never finishes his shift.

The first nest

One of the most interesting aspects of Total Biology is looking at the heart through the prism of the first nest, that is, the environment in which we grew up.

Not to look for someone to blame.

Not to accuse our parents.

But to understand what the body has learnt.

Because the body doesn’t remember theories.

It remembers experiences.

If safety was a given in childhood, the body developed a specific pattern of functioning. If, on the other hand, one had to be vigilant, anticipate adults’ moods, adapt, or take on responsibility at a very early age, the body also created an appropriate survival programme.

And this programme often continues to operate long after the situation has long since ended.

That is why I sometimes meet people who are objectively safe, yet still cannot relax.

They sit on the sofa and think about work.

They are on holiday and worry about home.

They solve one problem, only to find another a moment later.

Not because they want to.

But because their nervous system has learnt that being on alert means safety.

So it’s worth asking yourself a few questions:

Did I feel truly safe as a child?

Was I able to be a child, or did I have to grow up quickly?

Did I feel that someone would protect me when things got tough?

Sometimes the answers to these questions explain more than dozens of personality tests.

The feminine and masculine sides of the heart

In Total Biology, the individual parts of the heart also have their own symbolic significance.

The atria are associated with the feminine aspect of the nest – receiving, caring, emotional security and the relationship with the mother or a mother figure.

The ventricles, on the other hand, relate to the masculine aspect – action, protection, structure, boundaries, and the relationship with the father or a figure of authority.

This is not about biological sex.

It is about the two pillars on which our sense of security rests.

We need both warmth and boundaries.

Closeness and protection.

Softness and stability.

When one of these elements is missing, the body often spends its whole life trying to create on its own what it once lacked.

And that is precisely when excessive responsibility, the need to control everything, or difficulty in asking for help arises.

Because if you couldn’t rely on someone in the past, the body comes to a simple conclusion:

“I have to do this myself.”

Going out into the world and returning to oneself

The circulatory system tells another very interesting story.

Arteries distribute blood throughout the body. In the symbolism of Total Biology, they resemble going out into the world – action, development, gaining experience, establishing one’s place and looking after one’s territory.

Veins perform the opposite movement. They collect blood and carry it back.

It’s a bit like the daily rhythm of life.

We go out into the world.

We work.

We create.

We build.

We fight for the things that matter to us.

And then we should return.

Home.

To ourselves.

To rest.

The problem is that many people never really return.

Their body is at home, but their mind is still at work.

Or with the children.

Or with the mortgage.

Or with the argument that happened three days ago.

That is why it is worth asking yourself:

Am I still able to return to myself?

Or have I been in ‘action mode’ for years?

Because biologically, you can’t keep going out into the world indefinitely.

Every organism needs a moment to return.

It needs a place where it can stop fighting.

And this is where a concept comes in, without which it is difficult to understand most conflicts of the heart.

That concept is territory.

When the heart begins to speak louder

Heart and circulatory diseases from a biodecoding perspective

Since the heart is associated with home, safety and territory, it is easier to understand why it reacts so strongly to situations that, at first glance, seem unrelated to the circulatory system.

Because the heart rarely reacts to the fact itself. It reacts to the significance that fact holds for the individual.

Two people may lose their jobs on the same day. For one, it will be an inconvenience and a momentary stress. For the other, a catastrophe. Not because they are weaker. But because their body has linked that job to security, survival, self-worth or the ability to support their family.

From a biological point of view, it is not the event itself that matters. What matters is the way it was experienced.

And that is precisely why, when working with the heart, we do not ask solely:

“What is my diagnosis?”

Much more often we ask:

“What was happening in my life before the symptoms appeared?”

“What was I trying to hold on to at all costs?”

“What or whom was I afraid of losing?”

This is precisely where territorial conflicts begin to emerge.

Territory – more than just one’s own little corner of the world

When we hear the word “territory”, most people think of a home, a plot of land or a national border.

Biology takes a much broader view.

Territory is everything that gives us a sense of belonging, security and influence over our own lives.

For one person, territory might be a company built up over twenty years.

For someone else, it might be a marriage.

For yet another, it might be a professional position, a family, or the role of a mother, father or carer.

Sometimes, territory is even a reflection of oneself.

“I am strong.”

“I am needed.”

“I am the one who has everything under control.”

Now imagine that something begins to threaten this.

Your partner leaves.

The company is making losses.

The children move out of the house.

Someone challenges your position.

Your health prevents you from functioning as you used to.

For the psyche, this is a difficult experience.

Biologically, it may be interpreted as:

“My territory is under threat.”

And when territory is under threat, the body mobilises all available resources.

In nature, this makes sense.

A stag fighting for his herd cannot afford to relax.

Nor can a wolf defending his territory.

The problem arises when a person lives in this state for months or years.

Heart attack – when the war ends

One of the most moving topics in Total Biology is the perspective on a heart attack.

In the classical medical approach, we know that we are dealing with myocardial ischaemia. In the biological approach, we additionally try to understand the history that preceded the event.

And here comes something that comes as a surprise to many people.

Very often, a heart attack does not occur at the height of the struggle.

It occurs when the struggle ends.

For a long time, a person functions in a state of mobilisation. They fight for a business, a marriage, a position, a home, a family or their own future. The body operates at full throttle, as if constantly preparing for the next battle.

Then something changes.

The matter is resolved.

The company is sold.

The divorce becomes a reality.

Someone leaves.

Or, conversely, a problem that has dragged on for months is finally resolved.

Relief sets in.

And it is precisely then that the body begins to enter the recovery phase.

It is a bit like a soldier only realising how badly he is wounded after returning from the battlefield.

In my practice, I have often met people who said:

“But the worst is already over.”

“That’s when everything started to happen.”

This does not, of course, mean that every heart attack has such an underlying cause. It merely means that it is worth asking yourself:

What was I fighting for for so long that I forgot about myself?

What territory was I trying to save?

What came to an end a few weeks or months before the problem arose?

Angina – when things get too tight

Have you ever found yourself saying:

“I can’t take this anymore.”

“I’ve had enough of this.”

“I can’t catch my breath.”

Language often reveals more than we realise.

Angina pectoris very often resembles a situation where life becomes emotionally too constricting.

Too much responsibility.

Too much pressure.

Too many things to maintain.

Not enough space for yourself.

The body then functions as if it were trying to fit an enormous weight into a rucksack that’s too small.

At first, it manages.

Then it starts to run out of space.

It’s worth asking yourself:

Where in my life is it too cramped?

What have I been trying to carry for a long time?

In which area do I not allow myself the right to be weak?

Tachycardia – when life tells you to speed up

A rapid heartbeat is natural during physical exertion. The problem arises when the body behaves as if it were constantly at the starting line of a race.

In Total Biology, tachycardia is very often linked to the feeling that you need to make up for lost time.

As if life were constantly slipping away.

As if there were never enough.

Not enough time.

Not enough money.

Not enough achievements.

Not enough love.

Not enough security.

The body receives the message:

“Faster.”

“More.”

“Don’t stop.”

And the heart obediently responds.

Many people with tachycardia live in action mode for years. Even rest becomes just another task to be completed.

Perhaps it is worth asking oneself:

What am I actually running from?

What am I trying to catch up with?

What would happen if I slowed down?

Sometimes the answer turns out to be far more interesting than the symptom itself.

Bradycardia – when the heart wants to stop time

If tachycardia is like constantly speeding up, bradycardia seems to be its opposite.

But biology is rarely that simple.

In Total Biology, we often encounter the theme of a lack of closeness, love or emotional presence here.

Imagine a child who very rarely experiences tenderness. When a moment of closeness finally arrives, they would like it to last as long as possible.

As if time could stand still.

As if the world had stopped rushing for a moment.

Of course, this does not mean that every person with bradycardia has experienced exactly this scenario. It is more about a certain biological tendency.

About the need to hold on to something that is precious.

An attempt to prolong a moment of safety.

That is why it is worth asking:

Am I able to accept love and support?

Do I allow myself to be close to others?

Have I learnt that I have to do everything on my own?

Atrial and ventricular fibrillation – when the rhythm loses its harmony

The heart loves rhythm.

It is not without reason that it is one of the best symbols of harmony.

When fibrillation occurs, the rhythm becomes chaotic.

From a biodecoding perspective, we often encounter situations here where a person feels compelled to accept something they cannot accept.

It may be a decision.

It may be a life situation.

It may be a loss.

It may be submitting to something that goes against our values.

As if one part of us were saying:

“I must.”

And the other were screaming:

“I don’t want to.”

And it is precisely this conflict between what is necessary and what is authentic that often becomes an important clue.

That is why it is worth asking:

What have I agreed to against my will?

Where am I trying to accept something I still do not accept?

What obstacle has stood in my way for years?

Hypertension – life on duty

If I had to choose one pattern that most frequently appears with hypertension, it would be the word:

vigilance.

People with high blood pressure very often resemble those who have been on duty for many years.

Even when they are resting, they are ready for action.

Even when they are asleep, part of their attention remains on duty.

Even when everything is fine, the body continues to prepare for something bad.

In Total Biology, a conflict of injustice often arises here.

The feeling that something was wrong.

That one should have shut oneself off.

That trust turned out to be costly.

That love caused pain.

Or that the world didn’t work as it should.

A second scenario also occurs.

A person is physically in one place, but emotionally is constantly keeping watch over something elsewhere.

They are at home, but their thoughts are still at work.

They are on holiday, but they are keeping an eye on the business.

They are with their family, but they are still solving problems.

And then it is worth asking:

What am I trying to keep under control?

Does everything really depend on me?

When was the last time I felt I could let go?

When the Emperor Regains the Throne

The Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Safety and the Return to Balance

Up to now, we have looked at the heart through the prism of home, nest, territory and conflicts, which can leave their mark not only on the psyche but also on the body. It might seem that we are now going to change direction completely and move on to a wholly different philosophy. The paradox is that Traditional Chinese Medicine has been telling a very similar story for thousands of years. It simply uses a different language.

Where Total Biology speaks of the loss of territory, TCM speaks of an imbalance. Where we speak of a sense of threat, the Chinese speak of a disturbance in the flow of energy. And where we wonder why the body cannot calm down, they ask what is happening to the Emperor.

And it is precisely with the Emperor that we should begin.

The Heart as the Emperor

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart is not simply one of the organs. It does not stand in a row alongside the liver, spleen or lungs. The heart occupies a special place. It is called the Emperor.

It is a beautiful metaphor, but at the same time an extremely practical one.

Imagine a great kingdom. It has ministers, officials, guards, food stores and transport routes. Everyone has their role. However, if the Emperor lives under constant threat, the whole kingdom begins to function differently. The guards become more nervous. Messengers make mistakes. The storehouses empty faster. No one feels safe.

Exactly the same thing happens in the body.

If the heart is in a constant state of alarm, it affects the entire system. Not only the circulatory system, but also sleep, concentration, memory, emotions, immunity and the ability to regenerate.

That is why TCM has regarded the heart as the centre of harmony for the entire body for thousands of years.

Now, recall everything we discussed earlier.

Home.

Safety.

Territory.

Vigilance.

Doesn’t that sound surprisingly similar?

Shen – the spirit that dwells in the heart

One of the most important concepts related to the heart in TCM is Shen.

There is no perfect translation for this word.

It is most often described as the spirit, consciousness, presence, or the spark of life that makes us truly present in our own lives.

When Shen is grounded, a person feels calm. They can make decisions without constant chaos in their head. They sleep deeply. They cope with emotions more easily. This does not mean there are no problems. Rather, it means the ability to remain oneself even when life presents challenges.

When, however, Shen has no safe home, various signs begin to appear.

Insomnia.

Anxiety.

A flood of thoughts.

Inner restlessness.

The feeling that one is everywhere, just not where one really is.

And once again, the question that runs through this entire article arises:

Does my heart feel safe enough to rest?

Because sometimes we try to fix our sleep, concentration or anxiety without realising that the problem lies deeper. That the body hasn’t received the message for a very long time:

“You can put your guard down.”

Heart Fire – when it burns too brightly

In TCM, the heart is associated with the element of Fire.

It is Fire that provides warmth, joy, and the ability to build relationships and connect with others. Thanks to it, we can feel enthusiasm, passion and the pleasure of life.

Like any fire, this one also needs balance.

Imagine a fireplace.

If you throw too much wood into it, it will start to burn too intensely. Chaos, sparks and the risk of fire will ensue.

If, on the other hand, there is a shortage of fuel, the fire will begin to die down.

It is much the same with the heart.

In practice, I very often meet people whose Heart Fire resembles a fireplace turned up to full blast. They are tired, but they cannot slow down. They want to rest, but their mind won’t stop working. They go to bed, and their mind is just starting its night shift.

Does that sound familiar?

If so, it’s worth asking:

How long have I been living as if everything depended on me?

When was the last time I truly rested without feeling guilty?

Can I simply be, or do I only know how to do?

Because very often, an excess of Heart Fire does not stem from an excess of energy.

Quite the opposite.

It is the result of years of overload.

And when the fire begins to die down...

There is also another side to the coin.

Sometimes a person isn’t frantic.

They feel empty.

Tired.

Withdrawn.

Nothing really brings them joy.

They have no desire to socialise.

They lack the energy to act.

They lack the strength to dream.

In TCM, this is referred to as a deficiency of Heart Fire.

Biologically, this often resembles the situation of a person who has been in survival mode for years. They have fought for so long that the body has started to conserve energy wherever possible.

It’s a bit like a phone running on 5% battery.

You don’t launch any extra apps then.

You try to make it through.

And here an extremely important question arises:

Am I tired from the last week... or the last ten years?

Because the answer can vary greatly.

Heart and Kidneys – the story of Fire and Water

If I had to point to one relationship in TCM that most beautifully explains many of the problems of modern man, it would be the relationship between the Heart and the Kidneys.

The Heart represents Fire.

The Kidneys represent Water.

In an ideal world, Fire warms Water, and Water protects Fire from burning everything around it.

A balance is created.

The problem begins when Water starts to run out.

In psychobiology, the Kidneys are very often associated with a sense of security, survival and fear. This is precisely why people who have lived for years in a state of threat often experience symptoms related to anxiety, fatigue and the heart at the same time.

It is a bit like trying to keep a fire going during a drought.

The flames become increasingly chaotic.

It becomes harder and harder to control them.

It becomes easier and easier to become overwhelmed.

That is why sometimes the problem is not that someone is too emotional.

The problem is that they have not felt safe for years.

And here it is worth pausing for a moment to ask one question:

Does my body feel safe, or is it just my mind trying to convince me that I should feel safe?

It is not the same thing.

And it is precisely at this point that many people discover something extremely important.

You can know that you are safe.

And yet not feel it in your body.

Why are so many people unable to relax?

This is one of the questions I hear most often.

“I went on holiday and I was still tense.”

“I sat down on the sofa and immediately started thinking about work.”

“I have no reason to be stressed, and yet I can’t relax.”

From the perspective of TCM and Total Biology, the answer is sometimes surprisingly simple.

The body doesn’t rest just because it’s been given time off.

The body rests when it feels safe.

That’s a huge difference.

You can lie on the beach and still be in fight mode.

You can sit at home and still be keeping an eye on the whole world.

You can be on holiday and emotionally still be at work, in court, in a conflict, or dealing with a problem from a few months ago.

The heart doesn’t react to the calendar.

The heart responds to a sense of security.

Joy – the forgotten medicine for the heart

In TCM, the emotion associated with the Heart is joy.

And this isn’t about artificial positive thinking.

It isn’t about pretending that everything is fine.

It isn’t about motivational quotes.

It’s about something much simpler.

It’s about the ability to take pleasure in life.

It’s about the ability to be amazed.

It’s about the ability to be present.

It’s about a sense of meaning.

Think for a moment.

When was the last time you did something simply because it gave you pleasure?

Not because it was productive.

Not because it grew the business.

Not because someone expected it.

Simply because it felt good to your heart.

For many people, the answer to this question is more revealing than any psychological test.

The heart does not want war

The longer I work with people, the more I am convinced that most people do not need another battle.

They need relief.

They need a breather.

They need the sense that it no longer has to control everything.

This is precisely why both Total Biology and Traditional Chinese Medicine place such strong emphasis on the importance of regulation.

It is not about fighting the symptom.

It’s not about convincing the body that it’s wrong.

It’s not about forcing yourself to be calm.

It’s about creating the conditions in which the body will begin to return to balance on its own.

Because the heart really doesn’t want to be a guardian.

It never did.

It wanted to be a home.

In conclusion...

If there is one thing I would like you to take away from this article, it is this:

The heart is not just a pump.

It is the chronicler of our lives.

It remembers moments of safety and moments of danger.

It remembers love and loss.

It remembers the battles we have fought.

And very often it tries to tell this story in a language we haven’t learnt to listen to.

So instead of asking only:

“How can I silence the symptom?”

it’s worth asking sometimes:

“What is my heart trying to tell me?”

Because perhaps it hasn’t been asking for more strength for a long time.

Perhaps it’s only asking to finally be allowed to go home.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns.