5 Elements Flashcards
What are the 5 elements?
- Wood
- Fire
- Earth
- Metal
- Water
Which element is workable & solid, can be bent & straightened?
wood
What element is nutrition and permits sowing, growing & reaping?
earth
What element is solid & moldable and can be hardened?
metal
What element is fluid & movable & moistens downwards?
water
What element is combustible & warming & flares upwards?
Fire
Which element directional term is “expansion”?
Wood
Which element directional term is “central” (straight line) ?
Earth
Which element directional term is “contraction” ?
Metal
Which element directional term is “downward”?
Water
Which element directional term is “upward”
Fire
The seasonal cycle and the elements it corresponds to?
Wood = spring
Fire = summer
Earth = last 2 weeks of summer or last 18 days of every season
Metal = Fall
Water = Winter
How does wood create fire? (generating cycle)
from burning
How does fire create earth? (generating cycle)
from ashes
How does earth create metal? (generating cycle)
by hardening
How does metal create water? (generating cycle)
by containing
How does water create wood? (generating cycle)
by nourishing
How does fire control metal? (controlling cycle)
by melting
How does metal control wood? (controlling cycle)
by cutting
How does wood control earth? (controlling cycle)
by covering
How does earth control water? (controlling cycle)
by damming
How does water control fire? (controlling cycle)
by extinguishing
What is the generating cycle?
Each element feeds/nourishes the next element.
What is the controlling cycle?
Each element is controlled by another element to maintain balance.
What is the insulting cycle?
opposite of controlling
-element back lashes its controller
-occurs when the controller is relatively weaker than controlled
Which is the main organs of the cycle for each element?
fire = heart
earth = spleen
metal = lung
water = kidney
wood = liver
What are the 2 things that happen when an element is deficient?
- Fail to nourish child
- Allow an insult to occur on itself by creating relative excess (yin deficiency + heat symptons)
What are 2 things that happen when an element is in excess?
- Draw excessively from the mother
- Over act of the controlling cycle (Yang excess causing dry symptoms)
What are the yin/yang organs of each element?
Wood: liver (yin), gall bladder (yang)
Fire: heart (yin), small intestine (yang), pericardium & san jiao
Earth: spleen (yin), stomach (yang)
Metal: lung (yin), large intestine (yang)
Water: Kidney (yin), bladder (yang)
What are the colours associated with each element?
Wood: green
Fire: red
Earth: yellow
Metal: white
Water: black
What are the secretions associated with each element?
Wood: Tears
Fire: Sweat
Earth: Saliva
Metal: Mucous
Water: Urine
What are the emotions associated with each element?
Wood: Anger & Jealousy
Fire: Joy & Anxiety
Earth: Pensiveness & Overthinking
Metal: Sadness & Grief
Water: Fear & Shock
What are the senses associated with each element?
Wood: Vision
Fire: Speech & Taste (Tongue)
Earth: Taste (mouth/lips)
Metal: Smell
Water: Hearing
What are the tastes associated with each element?
Wood: sour
Fire: bitter
Earth: sweet
Metal: Pungent
Water: Salty
What are the tissues associated with each element?
Wood: Sinews
Fire: Vessels
Earth: Muscles
Metal: Skin
Water: Bones
