5 Elements and Their Corresponding TCM Organs Flashcards
What are the 5 Elements
- wood
- earth
- metal
- water
- fire
What the 5 elements used to explain
the properties of the organs, their mutual relationship and pathological changes
which element describes: Workable and solid
Wood
- ‘can be bent and straightened’
which element describes: solid and moldable
metal
‘can be molded and can harden’
which element describes: Nutrition
earth
- ‘permits sowing, growing and reaping’
which element describes: Combustible and warming
fire
‘flares upwards’
which element describes: Fluid and moveable
water
- ‘moistens downwards’
Generating cycle: Fire creates
Earth
Generating cycle: Earth creates
metal
Generating cycle: metal creates
water
Generating cycle: Water creates
wood
Generating cycle: wood creates
fire
Wood creates Fire from
buring
Fire creates Earth from
ashes
Earth creates Metal by
hardening
Metal creates Water by
containing
Water creates Wood by
nourishing
Mother always creates the child. Therefore, if fire creates earth, then…
fire is the mother of earth and earth is the child of fire
Controlling cycle: Fire controls
metal
Controlling cycle: Earth controls
water
Controlling cycle: Metal controls
Wood
Controlling cycle: Water controls
Fire
Controlling cycle: Wood controls
earth
Fire controls Metal by
melting