5 Elements
5 Elements
Centuries ago arose a movement within the Chinese medicine which uses the five elements to explain health and disease. The treatment of disease is based on harmonizing the processes within the five successive phases. These five elements are not a “free invention” of the Taoist-doctrine but based on universal, energetic principles. Tao manifests itself in two polar forces, yin and yang, which communicate with each other in a constant interaction. The dynamics of these forces arise the five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The five elements explain in a very graphic manner the relationship between cause and effect and a deep understanding of the life and problems of the case history of one’s own body. Everything is changing every moment; However, a change that takes place in accordance with the orderly cycles and in which the five basic patterns of wood (spring) fire (summer) earth (late summer) metal (autumn) water (winter) – always be repeated again and varied.
The elements 5 correspond with the organs. If Wood stagnates then spreads it, as Fire stagnates then rises, as Earth stagnates then neutralizes it, as Metal stagnates then pulls it together and when Water stagnates then it drops. Do you have your heart on the tongue? Or maybe you have something on your liver? Can you passionately talk about something? These Dutch expressions seem to be directly derived from the Chinese elements doctrine. How can organs be fit with the elements doctrine? An example: Someone with a morning mood is irritable and come morning slow start. The energy of the morning is part of the wood element. The emotion associated with wood is anger. The organ that goes with it is the liver. By stimulating the energy of the liver, restores the balance and increasing the life energy. The morning mood disappears because it’s not a difficulty anymore. The chance that someone is happy in life increases. Within traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is an important organ because it controls the flow and circulation of life energy. It is responsible for the planning and organization in the body. Disturbances of life energy have a big impact on our lives. After all, emotions like anger and irritation severely diminish our joy. Therefore, I will always carefully examine the functioning of the liver.
