A brief look at the 5 elements

By using the 4 diagnostic methods (observe (望 wàng), smell (聞 wén), ask about background (問 wèn) and touching (切 qiè)), Chinese doctors can obtain valuable information about his patient. The information is then used in a series of logical reasoning to determine the source of the patient’s illness. In order to proceed with such a reasoning procedure, we must have a macro view of the human body. The body system model described in “The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine” provides the basis for such macro view in diagnosis.

- Wood: Represents growth

n Wood represents spring in the 4 seasons as spring is the season of growth for living things.

n Wood is represented by the color green.

n The liver (Zan) and the gallbladder (Fu) relate to the wood element.

u In Chinese medicine, the liver is used by the body to store extra blood, acting as a buffer for the quantity of blood in circulation. In winter, due to lower temperatures, the body requires more blood in order to maintain body temperature in different internal organs. When the temperature rises in the following spring, the extra blood will return back to the liver. Once the blood is back to the liver, the extra blood and energy that the body now has access to can be used for self-repair and self-healing procedures. Wood also may represent anger. According to Chinese medicine, a person’s rage is related to the condition of his/her liver. A person with a weak liver tends to be more easily enraged, and by being enraged, the anger in return will damage the liver, causing a vicious cycle.

- Fire: Represents flourishing and growth.

n Fire is represented by the color red.

n Fire represents summer, the peak of growth of most plants.

n The heart (Zan) and the small intestines (Fu) relate to the fire element.

n During winter, the body uses more blood to maintain body temperature. During summer, the body also needs to maintain body temperature by reducing heat. When the temperature is too high in the summer, the heart will be at risk of being damaged.

n By looking at the meridians, heart’s meridian and small intestines’ meridians are close to each other. When a person’s heart energy decreases, it will also have an effect on his/her small intestine. We can say that the 2 organs are related in terms of health.

n In summer, the body requires less blood to keep warm, thus leaving more blood for the body to perform repair duties. The repairing of the heart usually occurs early morning, which is why people often feels more tired when they wake up in summer.

- Earth: Represents dampness and humid.

n Earth represents the end of summer, or the middle of the year.

n Earth is represented by the color yellow.

n The spleen (Zan) and the stomach (Fu) relate to the earth element.

n In Chinese medicine, the anxiety emotion is related to the earth element. Being overly and constantly anxious will damage the spleen. Consequently, a person who has a weak and damaged spleen will tend to be overly anxious. Many stomach illnesses and discomfort occur during the period of time in the end of the summer. According to Chinese medicine, such discomfort is due to the body repairing the stomach.

- Metal: Represents solemn-ness and graveness.

n Metal represents autumn. During ancient Chinese times, most of the government executions are conducted during autumn. The reason is said to be due to the sorrowful atmosphere in autumn.

n Metal is represented by the color white.

n The lungs (Zan) and the large intestines (Fu) relate to the metal element.

n In Chinese medicine, the emotion of sorrow is related to the metal element. An excess of sorrow will damage the lungs. A person with weak lungs is more vulnerable to sorrow.

n According to Chinese medicine, many lung related illnesses occur during autumn.

- Water: Represents coldness.

n Water represents winter.

n Water is represented by the color black.

n The kidney (Zan) and the bladder (Fu) relate to the water element.

n Because the kidney is the only Zan organ that is not protected by the ribcage, it requires the most amount of blood during winter.

n Water is also known as the element of life. In Chinese medicine, the kidney which relates to the water element also is said to carry the發佈 energy of life. Such energy exists at the very beginning when the body is still forming inside the mother’s body.