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Five elements
( 5 elements, i.e.
wood, fire, water, metal & earth
: used in the Chinese natural
medicine to explain various
physiological and pathological
phenomena)
Foreigners are
always puzzled when they first
heard about the 5-element theory.
They find it too abstract and
hard to understand. It is , in
fact, quite plain and
universally accepted as a series
of natural laws in this country.
Now we try to explain in an easy
way by showing you some examples:
And the
interactions among 5 elements:
 | Fire
evolved from wood, because
wood can catch fire;
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| Earth
evolved from fire, as
anything on fire becomes
ashes afterwards;
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| Metal
evolved from earth, because
metals are from the earth;
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| Water
evolved from metal, as all
metals can melt into liquid;
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| Wood
evolved from water, because
water is indispensable for
plants. |
| Wood
prevails over earth, because
trees grow out of the earth;
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| Earth
prevails over water, as
earth stops the flood;
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| Water
prevails over fire, because
it extinguishes fire;
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| Fire
prevails over metal, as heat
melts metals; |
| Metal
prevails over wood, because
wood can be cut or sawn by
metals. |
The above-mentioned,
if understood, becomes first
step towards a better
understanding of this 5 -element
theory which sounds mythical and
profound. In face, with the
development of this 5-element
theory, they have been endowed
with more meanings.
The followings
are the analogy drawn by the
Chinese scholars majoring in
preserving health by comparing
the nature of these elements:
| Liver
associates with wood;
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| Heart
associates with fire;
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| Spleen
associates with earth;
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| Lung
associates with metal;
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| Kidney
associates with water.
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Circulation of Assimilation:
liver-heart-spleen-lung-kidney;
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Circulation of Depression:
liver-spleen-kidney-heart-lung.
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These
interactions have been tested
and approved by human clinical
experiments. For example, spleen
turns food and water into
nutrition and vigour to nourish
lung, A bad functioned lung will
impair the function of spleen. |
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