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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:
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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. |
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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; |
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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:
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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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