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5 Elements Theory
5 Elements Theory is similar to Yin-Yang Theory which explains how our world are made up from basic elements that can be classified into 5 elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
The characteristics, patterns of motion and kinds of processes of each elements are:
| Wood |
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Germinating, growing, flexible, flourishing, etc. |
| Fire |
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Burning, uprising, warming, ascending, etc. |
| Earth |
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Promoting growth, ripening, receiving, transforming, etc. |
| Metal |
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Descending, clearing, astringent, etc. |
| Water |
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Humidifying, going downward, cooling, etc. |
5 elements are inter-related to each others, they have four types of relationship: Generating and counteracting, restraining and overacting.
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In an harmonious relationship, an element will nourish another element, we called it "A generates B" in the clockwise direction. For example: Wood generates Fire; Fire generates Earth; Earth generates Metal; Metal generates Water; so as Water generates Wood. When Wood generates Fire, Wood is the mother and Fire is the son. They have the mother-son relationship.
When an element is in excess, a disharmonious phenomenon will occur. For example: when son element is stronger at a certain level than the force mother can control, son element will couteracting on his mother element, even mother element is normal. In the other way round, when the mother element is in deficient in a certain level, mother element can no longer control her son element, the son will also conteracting his mother.
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In another harmonious relationship, an element will restrain another element, we called it "A restrains B" in the star pattern. For example: Wood restrains Earth; Fire restrains Metal; Earth restrains Water; Metal restrains Wood; so as Water restrains Fire.
When an element is in excess or in deficient, a disharmonious phenomenon will occur. For example: when restrained element is weaker at a certain level than the force the restraining element is used to control, restraining element will be overacting on the retrained element, even the restraining element is in normal condition. In the other way round, when the restraining element is in excess in a certain level, restraining element can no longer control the restrained element in a normal way, the restraining element will be also overacting its restrained element.
In the mother and son situation, either one is sick, it will affect the other. For example: when mother is sick, her son will be affected. An other way round, when the son is sick, son will also affects his mother.
According to the 5 Elements theory, a classification according to its characteristics and Chinese custom are as follows:
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Wood |
Fire |
Earth |
Metal |
Water |
| Zang Organ |
Liver |
Heart |
Spleen |
Lung |
Kidney |
| Fu organ |
Gallbladder |
Small Intestine |
Stomach |
Large Intestine |
Bladder |
| Season |
Spring |
Summer |
Late Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
| Climate |
Windy |
Hot |
Humid |
Dry |
Cold |
Flavour |
Sour |
Bitter |
Sweet |
Pungent |
Salty |
| Colour |
Green |
Red |
Yellow |
White |
Black |
| Sense Organ |
Eyes |
Tongue |
Mouth |
Nose |
Ears |
| Tissues |
Tendon |
Blood Vessel |
Muscle/Flesh |
Skin |
Bone |
They are also classification of 5 Elements regarding directions, emotions, sounds, motions, essences, body fluids, etc.
The above is only a brief introduction of 5 Elements Theory, please subscribe newsletter to learn more about Chinese medicine.
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