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Entries in five element (2)

Thursday
15Jan2009

Five Elements - An Intro

DateThursday, January 15, 2009 at 09:43AM

The Five Elements refers to one diagnostic filter used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is basically a way to view a person's symptomology in a larger context; one that is more unique to the individual, and with the acknowledgement that symptoms and the conditions that give rise to them are not static, but representative of imbalances in the natural flow of things.

Diagram as it appears in "Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine", by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem KorngoldThe pictoral diagram of the the Five Element chart (also known as the Five Phases, Five Directions, or the Five Transformations.. to give you a better idea of motion or flow) is that of a five-pointed star. There are two cycles of motion.. one clockwise along each of the points, and one also clockwise, but connecting with element across from it.

More on these cycles will be discussed later.

Each element has particular associations with natural phenomenon, and these are used to describe the way that energy or chi is believed to move through the body. These associations also include organ systems and functions, meridians, emotions, personality tendencies, sounds, colors, smells, tastes, and seasons.

 

Here is a rundown of the elemental associations (according to the awesome book, "Shiatsu: Theory and Practice", by Carola Beresford-Cooke:

Water:

  • Meridians: Kidney & Bladder
  • Spiritual capacity: Will
  • Movement of energy: downward
  • Emotion: fear
  • Color: Blue/black
  • Sound: groaning
  • Odor: putrid
  • Sense organ: ears
  • Taste: salty
  • Season: winter
  • Climate: cold
  • Time of day: 3-7 pm

Wood:

  • Meridians: Liver & Gall Bladder
  • Spiritual capacity: Houses the Ethereal Soul
  • Movement of energy: upward
  • Emotion: anger
  • Color: green
  • Sound: shouting
  • Odor: rancid
  • Sense organ: eyes
  • Taste: sour
  • Season: spring
  • Climate: wind
  • Time of day: 11 pm - 3 am

Fire:

  • Meridians: Heart & Small Intestine/ Heart Protector & Triple Heater
  • Spiritual capacity: Shen ("Mind")
  • Movement of energy: outward
  • Emotion: joy
  • Color: red
  • Sound: laughing
  • Odor: scorched
  • Sense organ: tongue
  • Taste: bitter
  • Season: summer
  • Climate: hot
  • Time of day: 11 am - 3 pm

Earth:

  • Meridians: Stomach & Spleen
  • Spiritual capacity: intellect
  • Movement of energy: stillness
  • Emotion: reflective thought/empathy
  • Color: yellow
  • Sound: singing
  • Odor: fragrant
  • Sense organ: mouth
  • Taste: sweet
  • Season: last days of each season
  • Climate: dampness
  • Time of day: 7 - 11 am

Metal:

  • Meridians: Lungs & Large Intestine
  • Spiritual capacity: Corporeal Soul
  • Movement of energy: inward and downward
  • Emotion: grief
  • Sense organ: nose
  • Color: white
  • Sound: weeping
  • Odor: rotten
  • Taste: pungent
  • Season: autumn
  • Climate: dryness
  • Time of day: 3 - 7 am

Upcoming posts will delve further into each of these elements individually....

 

AuthorGina Loree' Marks | CommentPost a Comment | | | Print ArticlePrint Article
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Tuesday
18Nov2008

Between Heaven and Earth

DateTuesday, November 18, 2008 at 10:52AM

Click the image for more details..If you've ever had the experience of being told that your "chi" was blocked, or even more befuddling, something like you have a "Liver-Spleen disharmony", and really wondered exactly what that meant, I recommend this wonderfully informative read: "Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine", by Harriet Beinfield, L. Ac, and Efrem Korngold, L.Ac., OMD.

Acupuncturists Beinfield and Korngold beautifully demystify the ancient and poetic system of Chinese Medicine, bringing it into our more familiar Western understanding. 

As they write, "The ancient Chinese had their own mythos, language, circumstances, preoccupations, and we have ours. This book represents a nexus, a point of convergence, a meeting of worlds". And, (this is) "..not the definitive summary of Chinese medicine, the last word, but a starting point for new discourse that invites the next utterance."

The authors divided the book into three overlapping parts: Theory, Types and Therapy. 

"Theory" allows us to get a glimpse of the ideas and the paradigm upon which Chinese medicine is based.

"Types" describes the five archetypes, aligned with the five elements, symbolizing human character and psychology.

"Therapy" describes the methods of acupuncture, herbs and diet, and how they are used in Chinese medicine.

I have read a number of TCM and acupuncture books over the years, and I have to say that this one gave me the most "aha!" moments, having the ability to penetrate some of my more ingrained Western way of seeing things, and allowing for a deeper understanding of this profound philosophy.

And just for fun, "Between Heaven and Earth" includes an assessment for the reader of their own elemental predisposition, which Beinfeld has graciously allowed me to include here. As for what to do with this information once you've determined whether you are wood, metal, water, earth or fire, you can either get the book, or check back here in the coming weeks for a breakdown of attributes, tendencies, common health issues and treatments for each element.

So. What's your element?

Take the Assessment here...

 

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AuthorGina Loree' Marks | CommentPost a Comment | | | Print ArticlePrint Article
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