5 Elements Flashcards
Kidneys
Water
Hair
Water
Sad
Metal
Pungent
Metal
Cold
Water
Gallbladder
Wood
Lungs
Metal
Large Intestine
Metal
Nose
Metal
Nails
Wood
Winter
Water
Red
Fire
Yellow
Earth
Anger
Wood
Water
winter, black, salty, cold, kidneys, urinary bladder, bones, hair, fear/fright
Summer
Fire
Dampness
Earth
Metal
autumn, white, pungent, dryness, lungs, large intestine, nose, skin, body hair, sad
Mouth
Earth
Wind
Wood
Skin
Metal
Sinews (Tendons)
Wood
Stomach
Earth
Body hair
Metal
Tongue
Fire
Green
Wood
Urinary Bladder
Water
Sweet
Earth
Heart
Fire
Autumn
Metal
Black
Water
Ears
Water
Dryness
Metal
Spleen
Earth
Face
Fire
Muscles
Earth
White
Metal
Heat
Fire
Vessels
Fire
Joy
Fire
Small Intestine
Fire
Bitter
Fire
Lips
Earth
Fear/Fright
Water
Pensiveness (worry)
Earth
Eyes
Wood
Salty
Water
Late summer
Earth
Sour
Wood
Earth
late summer, yellow, sweet, dampness, spleen, stomach, mouth, muscles, lips, pensiveness
Spring
Wood
Wood
spring, green, sour, wind, liver, gallbladder, eyes, sinews, nails, anger
Bones
Water
Liver
Wood
Fire
summer, red, bitter, heat, heart, small intestine, tongue, vessels, face, joy
Wu Xing
Five Element (movement, process)
Five elements are five indispensable materials for –?
maintenance of life and production
movement - Wood
expansive
movement - Fire
upward movement
movement - Earth
neutrality or stability
movement - Metal
contractive, inward movement
movement - Water
downward
Which of the 5 elements are yang? Which are yin?
Yang - Wood and Fire
Yin - Metal and Water
what is the role of Earth in the cycle of seasons?
Earth belongs to no seasons and at the end of each season, energy goes back to the Earth for regeneration
What is the function during the Wood stage?
active function, growing phase
What is the function during the Fire stage?
functions at the maximal state of activity, about to decline/rest
What is the function during the Metal stage?
functions in declining state
What is the function during the Water stage?
functions in maximal rest, about to restart activity
What is the function during the Earth stage?
balance, neutral state
Which element is the foundation?
Water
Which organ is the foundation?
Kidney
Which organ is in the center?
Spleen
What are the 2 normal element interrelationships?
- Generating Sequence (Mother-Son)
2. Controlling Sequence (Grandmother-Son)
What 2 element interrelationships are disharmony?
- Over-acting Sequence (Grandmother-Son)
2. Insulting Sequence (counteracting)
What is the over-acting sequence?
- one element becomes too strong and acts on another (Grandma too strong)
- one element becomes too weak and is being acted by another (Grandson too weak)
What is the insulting sequence?
counteracting (element rebels against the controller)
- one element becomes too strong and counteracts
- one element becomes too weak and is counteracted by another
In the mother-son law:
in case of deficiency, —
tonify mother
in the mother-son law:
in case of excess, –
sedate son
what are the 4 ways each element can be out of balance?
- it is in excess and over-acts on another
- it is deficient and is insulted/counteracted by another
- it is in excess and “draws excessively” from its mother
- it is deficient and fails to nourish the son
What are the 4 causes of organ DEFICIENCY according to the 5 elements diagnosis?
- Mom deficiency (Mom not feeding)
- Grandma excess (Grandma overacts)
- Grandson excess (Grandson insults/counteracts)
- Son excess (Son takes too much from mother)
What are the 3 causes of organ EXCESS according to the 5 elements diagnosis?
- Mom deficiency (Child takes too much)
- Grandma deficiency (Grandma fails to act)
- Grandson deficiency (Grandson weak from being overacted by grandma)
What does sour taste do?
- Generates fluids and Yin
2. It is astringent and controls perspiration and diarrhea
What does bitter taste do?
- Clears heat, sedates and hardens
2. Clears damp-heat and subdues rebellious Qi
What does sweet taste do?
- tonifies, balances, and moderates
2. tonifies deficiency and stops pain
What does pungent taste do?
- scatters
2. expel pathogenic factors
What does salty taste do?
- flows downwards, softens hardness
2. used to treat constipation and swelling