Five-Phase Theory: A practical Interpretation (32)

Among all the abstract theories, Five-Phase relates directly to treatment approach for the five major organs of the body. The Chinese term, "Five-Phase" 五行, is translated into "five elements" and their relationships to each other. It affirms the importance of maintaining a natural balance within the body. In this video, I wish to present a practical interpretation of this theory to help enhance the objectivity and practicality of Chinese medicine.

What do we mean by Five-Phase?
• It means five basic elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.
• They correspond to: heart, stomach, lungs, kidneys, and liver respectively.
• This correspondence is based on the major functions of the five organs.
• If we understand the relationships between the five elements, we can see the same relationships between the corresponding five organs.
• The relationships are simply defined as enhancing and restraining, two opposing forces to maintain the existing natural balance.

Enhancing relationships between the five elements:
• Fire creates ashes that settle down to add to earth.
• Earth gives rise to metals that are hidden beneath.
• Metal is the only element that melts into a liquid form (water).
• Water allows trees (wood) to grow.
• Wood allows fire to burn.

Restraining relationships between the five elements:
• Water extinguishes fire.
• Fire melts metal.
• Metal cuts wood.
• Wood (trees) holds earth together and prevents it from slipping away.
• Earth dams water.

Functional correspondence between elements and organs:
• Kidneys regulate water in the body, thus corresponding to water.
• Heart causes blood to spread and rise like fire.
• Stomach receives food that settles down into the body (like earth).
• Liver stores food nutrients like tree trunk or root (wood).
• Lungs directly react with air (breathing) like metals getting rusted.

Implied relationships between major organs:
• Kidneys (water) enhance liver (wood) but restrains heart (fire).
• Liver (wood) enhances heart (fire) but restrains stomach (earth).
• Stomach (earth) enhances lungs (metal) but restrains kidneys (water).
• Lungs (metal) enhance kidneys (water) but restrains liver (wood).
• Heart (fire) enhances stomach (earth) but restrains lungs (metal).

Practical examples:
• For high blood pressure where the heart is under stress, soothe the heart by strengthening the kidneys or calming the liver. This is an indirect method based on Five-Phase theory as a natural approach to healing.
• For sleeping difficulty due to an overactive liver, the direct approach calls for calming the liver with herbs. Alternatively, we can strengthen the lungs to calm down the liver, too.
• The Five-Phase theory provides an indirect approach to avoid adverse side effects. Relying on one organ to fix another is a natural method of treatment good for sensitive cases like high blood pressure and sleeping difficulty.

Please go to www.herbsandtea.com for further information.
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[tarashiva]

Thank you for the information.

Seems a litle bit weird that metal when

is melted is related with the water

element !

Well, for instructional purpose can

make sense about how each

element affects and is interdependent

of the others.