Introduction to Chinese Medicine: 5 Phase/Element Theory

One of the major systems of thought in Chinese Medicine is 5 Phase/Element Theory, which is used as a method of diagnosis and treatment.

It identifies aspects of our environment and experience, and their correspondences help to explain the processes that are occurring in the body throughout various stages of disease and healing.

The Table of Correspondences:

FIVE ELEMENTS	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water
Seasons	Spring	Summer	Late Summer	Autumn	Winter
Zang /Yin organs	Liver	Heart	Spleen	Lung	Kidney
Fu /Yang organs	Gallbladder	Small Intestine	Stomach	Large Intestine	Bladder
Directions	East	South	Middle	West	North
Tastes	Sour	Bitter	Sweet	Pungent	Salty
Tissues	Tendons	Vessels	Muscles	Skin/hair	Bones
Colors Emotions	Green Anger	Red Joy	Yellow Worry	White Grief	Black Fear
Sense organs	Eye	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ear

  

There are 2 main cycles of interaction among the phases, which help to maintain balance:

1. Engendering Cycle- Each of the phases engenders or supports another

2. Restraining Cycle- Each of the phases retrains or controls another

Knowing which phase/element predominates our personalities can help further insight into our lives and relationships.  Click on the link below to discover which element is most indicative of your personality: 

http://www.longevity-center.com/five_element.html