5 elements and corresponding TCM organs Flashcards
5 elements
used to explain the properties of organs, their mutual relationship and pathological changes
-five natural substances we cannot do without: food depends on water and fire, production relies on metal and wood, and earth gives birth to everything
what are the 5 elements
(FemWaWo)
wood
metal
earth
fire
water
wood
can be bent and straightened. workable and solid
earth
permits sowing, growing, and reaping. nutrition
fire
flares upwards. combustible and warming
water
moistens downwards. fluid and moveable
metal
can be molded and can harden. solid and moldable
which elements go with each season
winter- water
spring- wood
summer- fire
last 2 weeks of summer- earth
fall- metal
generating cycle
fire creates earth from ashes
earth creates metal by hardening
metal creates water by containing
water creates wood by nourishing
wood creates fire from burning
-mother always creates the child
i..e fire is the mother of earth, and earth is the child/son of fire
controlling cycle
-fire controls metal by melting
-earth controls water by damming
-metal controls wood by cutting
-water controls fire by extinguishing
-wood controls earth by covering
controlling cycle purpose
-each element is controlled by another element in order to maintain balance
-when the controller is in excess relative to the controlled, pathology will exist in the controlled
-when the controller is in deficiency relative to the controlled, pathology will exist in the controller
insulting cycle purpose
-opposite of the controlling cycle when an element ‘back-lashes’ its controller
-occurs when the controller is relatively weaker than the controlled
5 element directions
fire= upward
water= downward
wood= expansion
metal= contraction
earth= central
5 element seasons
-each element has a seasonal cycle where it is most active
-fire=summer
-metal=fall
-water=winter
-wood=spring
-earth= late summer or last 18 days of every season
5 element pathology; 4 conditions can occur
for each element, 4 conditions can occur when an element is deficient it will:
1. fail to nourish on the child on the generating cycle
2. allow an insult to occur on itself by creating a relative excess (i.e. yin deficiency and heat symptoms) along the controlling cycle
3. draw excessively from the mother
4. over-act on the controlling cycle (yang excess causing dry symptoms)
