Introduction to Chinese Medicine, Eleven

Introduction to Chinese Medicine, Eleven

The Five Elements or Transformations

Conceptually it is helpful to think of the five Elements as five seasons. Five in this context is confusing as we recognize four seasons. It is said that there are “four seasons and five elements” (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine). By adding “Late Summer” – that time between summer and fall that can be warm and humid – we get five seasons and Five Elements.

Notice that each season has certain characteristics that we can count on. We know it’s going to be cold in the winter and warm in the summer. Things sprout in spring and leaves drop in the fall. The seasons are identifiable even though we are constantly cycling through them. This is how to understand the Five Elements.

Each element is recognizable, but not a stagnant “thing” unto itself. Because of the cycling through the Elements by season, these are often referred to as “transformations.” Humans as the microcosmic reflection of a macrocosmic Universe have these same Five Elements within us.

Every Organ system is associated with a particular Element, as are tastes, colours, seasons, emotions, and more. The table below outlines key associations to know about each Element…

Fire

Season: Summer

Direction: South

Color: Red

Environment: Hot

Taste: Bitter

Emotion: Joy

Organs: Heart; Small Intestine

Sense Organ: Tongue

Bodily Tissue: Blood vessel

Earth

Season: Late summer

Direction: Center/Middle

Color: Yellow

Environment: Damp

Taste: Sweet

Emotion: Worry

Organs: Spleen; Stomach

Sense Organ: Mouth

Bodily Tissue: Muscles

Metal

Season: Fall

Direction: West

Color: White

Environment: Dry

Taste: Pungent

Emotion: Grief

Organs: Lung; Large Intestine

Sense Organ: Nose

Bodily Tissue: Body hair

Water

Season: Winter

Direction: North

Color: Black

Environment: Cold

Taste: Salty

Emotion: Fear

Organs: Kidneys; Urinary Bladder

Sense Organ: Ear

Bodily Tissue: Bone

Wood

Season: Spring

Direction: East

Color: Green

Environment: Windy

Taste: Sour

Emotion: Anger

Organs: Liver; Gallbladder

Sense Organ: Eye

Bodily Tissue: Tendons