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The Five Elements
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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