The Basic Content of Five Elements Theory

The five elements theory expounds on that everything is formed by the motion and change of five basic substances: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The ancient Chinese doctors used the five elements theory study extensively the connections between the physiology and pathology if zang-fu organs and tissues as well as the natural environment. Five elements theory assigns each of the five elements a series of abstract generalizations and then applies them to the classification of all phenomena.

Wood: all things which have an action or feature of flourishing growth.
Fire: all things characterized by warmth, heat and ascending action.
Earth: all things which have generating, transmuting, carrying and receiving action.
Metal: all things which have clearing, descending and astringent action.
Water: all things which are cold and cool, moist and moving downward.

In the five element theory, an analogy between the features and actions of something，also the characteristics of the five elements are made, so that the properties of things similar to those of fire are classified into fire. The five element theory holds that things corresponding to the same element are related.

Interpromoting: implying that a thing has an encouraging and generating influence upon another. Interacting: implying that a thing restricts and restrains the growth and function of another. The both are thought as normal activities. The interrelationships in environment determine the ecological balance in nature and the physiological balance of the human body. Wood promotes fire, fire promotes earth, earth promotes metal, metal promotes water, and water, in turn, promotes wood. The one that promotes the other is the mother, while the one that is promoted, the son. Wood acts upon earth, earth acts upon water, water acts upon fire, fire acts upon metal, and metal, in turn, acts upon wood. The five element theory explains that everything is regulated to prevent any excess or deficiency and keep a dynamic balance in the body.
Overactiing: the overaction of the five elements is when one element acts upon another excessively, causing an abnormal reaction. It can be from one of the five elements is so strong that acting excessively upon and weaken another. Or one of the five elements is so weak that another appears to be stronger, cause the weak one getting even weaker. Counteracting: the counteracting relation of the five elements implies that one of the five elements is so strong that it counteracts another element which then becomes overacted upon.

Physiologically the five elements theory explains the unity of the mutual relationship between zang-fu organs and body tissues as well as between the human body and nature. The essence of kidney nourishes the liver; the liver stores the blood in order to support the heart; the fire of the heart warms the spleen; the spleen transforms and transports the essential nutrients to replenish the lung; and the clearing and descending functions of the lung assist the flowing of kidney water. The clearing and descending function of the lung can restrict the hyperactivity of liver yang; the unobstructed flowing of liver qi is capable of removing the stagnation of the spleen; the transportation and transformation is spleen is able to subdue the overflowing of kidney water; and the nourishing and moistening function of kidney can prevent the strong flaring up of heart fire; the yang heat of the heart can control the hyperactivity of the lung’s clearing and descending function.

According to five elements theory, the five organs have certain connections with five colors, five tastes, five changes of pulse, five emotions, etc. The abnormal changes of the internal organ’s function and interrelationships can be detected by its external appearances. Using the five elements theory can make many TCM diagnosis and treatment of disease.

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