The
Five Elements in Chinese Medicine
The
five elements, also called "Wu Xing" represent the processes
that are fundamental to the cycles of nature, and therefore
correspond to the human body.
The
chinese term "xing" means the process of one thing acting
upon another. In relation to the five elements, the cycle
of processes can be represented as:
- wood
feeds fire
- fire
creates ashes which form earth
- inside
the earth, metal which is heated liquifies and produces
water vapor
- water
generated then nourishes the trees, or wood
The
five elements, their characteristics, and their inter-relationships
with the body can be defined as:
Fire
Hot,
ascending, light and energy as embodied in the TCM functions
of the heart (yin) and small intestine (yang). The fire
element also affects the complementary organ processes of
the pericardium (yin) and the triple warmer, which is representative
of the upper, lower, and middle parts of the body, as well
as the circulation of fluids in these areas (yang). Joy
(overindulgence) is the emotion which creates imbalance
within this element.
Earth
Productive,
fertile, growth. The earth element relates to the stomach
(yang) and the spleen (yin). The stomach begins the process
of digestive breakdown, while the spleen transforms and
transports the energy from food and drink throughout the
body. Pensiveness is the emotion which creates imbalance
within this element.
Metal
As
a conductor, this element includes the lungs (yin), which
move vital energy throughout the body, and the large intestine
(yang), which is responsible for receiving and discharging
waste. Sadness, or grieving is the emotion which creates
imbalance within this element.
Water
Wet,
descending, flowing. The water element represents the urinary
bladder (yang), and the kidney (yin). The bladder receives,
stores, and excretes urine. Water metabolism dissipates
fluids throughout the body, moistening it, then accumulating
in the kidneys. The kidneys also store the essence, and
serve as the root of yin and yang for the entire body. Fear
and paranoia are the emotions which create imbalance within
this element.
Wood
Strong,
rooted. The wood element represents the liver (yin), and
the gall bladder (yang). The liver stores blood, and regulates
the smooth flow of qi. The gallbladder is responsible for
storing and excreting bile. Anger is the emotion that creates
imbalance within the liver, while indecisiveness is relative
to the gallbladder.
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