Self Assessment Questions chapter 2 The Five Elements Flashcards
In the earliest references, in which order were the five elements enumerated?
Water- 1(6)
Fire- 2 (7)
Wood- 3 (8)
Metal- 4 (9)
Earth- 5 (10)
Name the four aspects of the nature of the five elements
1) five basic processes of nature
2) five qualities of natural phenomena
3) five phases of a cycle
4) five inherent capabilities of change of phenomena
What is the cosmological sequence
Water at the bottom
Fire at the top
Wood on the left
Metal on the right
Earth in the centre
Name three five- element relationships within the generating sequence (Shen cycle)
1) Liver is the mother of heart-The liver stores blood and heart blood houses the mind
2) Spleen is the mother of lungs- the spleen provides Food- Qi to the lungs where it interacts with air to form True-Qi
3) Lungs are the mother of kidneys- Lung-Qi descends to meet kidneys, the kidneys ‘grasps’ Qi
Name three Five- Element relationships with the controlling sequence (KE cycle)
1) The liver controls the stomach and spleen: The free flow of Liver-Qi helps the stomach rot and ripen food and the spleen to transform and transport
2) The heart controls the lungs: The heart governs Blood, the Lungs govern Qi, Blood and Qi mutually assist and nourish each-other
3) The Spleen controls Kidneys: The spleens transforming and transporting helps the kidneys excretion of fluids
Name three clinical implications of the cosmological sequence of the five elements
Water as the foundation- The kidneys store Essence and are the source of all Yin and Yang energies of the body
Earth in the centre- The stomach and Spleen are the origin of Post-Natal Qi and occupy a central position in Physiology
Vertical Axis of Heart and Kidney- The heart and kidneys must communicate with each other, with fire going down and water going up
Name two relationships within the Over-Acting sequence in Pathology and how these relate to internal organs pathological interactions
The liver over acts on Stomach and Spleen: rebellious Liver- Qi may invade the stomach causing its Qi to go up (instead of down) and the spleen, causing its Qi to descend (instead of ascending)
The Spleen over acts on the Kidneys: if
the spleen does not transform and transport fluids these will accumulate and obstruct the kidneys
The kidneys over acts on the heart: Empty-heat arising from Kidney-Yin deficiency rises up to harass the heart
Name five sounds, Tastes, emotions corresponding to the five elements
Wood- Shouting, Sour, Anger
Fire- Laughing, Bitter, Joy
Metal- Crying, Pungent, Sadness
Water- Groaning, Salty, fear
Earth- Singing, Sweet, Pensiveness
What happens if we eat too much Salt and how is this explained in light of the five elements
Eating too much salt may lead to hardening of the arteries. The salty taste pertains to the Kidney, an excessive consumption of this taste may over- act on the heart. The heart controls the blood vessels and these are affected by the excessive salt consumption
