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| Home > Origin and Concept > Five Element Theory
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| | Five Element Theory of Acupressure
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 Chinese five elements theory refers to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This theory can be used to describe the movement and the relationship between different elements and phenomena in nature. It helps you understand how natural changes within your body and outside environment affect your health. To predict and understand these dynamic changes, ancient doctors studied nature to determine what universal principles existed that could be applied to health and well-being. This theory describes the stages of a naturalistic basic cycle. The 5 stages of this cycle are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. Each of these elements has an effect on the others in the process of the cycle.
Basic five elements characteristics and classifications
Different fingers represent different elements namely
Thumb - Fire (or) Sun
Index finger - Wind (or) Air
Middle finger - Sky (or) Space
Ring finger - Earth
Small finger - Water
Water
The first element in the cycle is Water, representing the most extreme Yin state. It is the phase when the energy is stored, awaiting a time to explode outward, initiating a new life cycle. Winter is the season associated with Water. If the energy of water can be retained, it will provide strength through the life cycle. If the energy is wanted, the remainder of the cycle will be weakened. Deficiency of water manifests in fear, paranoia, poor resistance, cold, lower back and knee pain and general bodily weakness.
Wood
Wood represents the next phase of the cycle. In this phase, the concentrated energy deveoped in the Water phase explodes outward, starting a new period of activity. Spring is the season for the Wood phase. Wood energy rises and expands, resulting in what some experience as "spring fever". Wood is New Yang. This is a time of creation and growth. When the Wood energy is repressed, one can experience irritation, anger, hatred and rage. When the Wood energy is depleted, there may be lethargy and depression.
 Fire
The next phase of the cycle is the Fire phase. Fire represents Full Yang, or the energetic phase of the cycle. Summer is the corresponding season. This is the most expansive time of the year. Activity is at a peak, and contentment and cooperation prevail. When the Fire energy is blocked, it is expressed at heat or tension, especially in the neck, shoulders and head. When Fire energy is deficient, one may be suspicious, paranoid, lose the memory, or experience emotional unrest.
Metal
Fire is followed by Metal, which is representative of the Fall season. This stage begins the withdrawal process, where the energy of the Fire stage can be processed and readied for harvest. This is a time to get of excess turbid energy before the lean phase of winter begins. Metal represents a time of inner reflection and meditation, when one can draw in and store the essential energies that are useful. Blockage of the Metal element may result in melancholy and grief. Physical manifestations can include chest pressure, breathing difficulties and low resistance to colds and flu. Excess can result in continuous sobbing and draining of the body`s essential energies.
Earth
The final phase is represented by the Earth element. The Earth is the centering and balancing element in the cycle. Thus the Earth element is always present, even in the other phases of the cycles. It acts as a non-judgemental influence, providing understanding, contemplation and a mature energy. If the Earth influence is excessive, one worries too much, losing the overall perspective, resulting in hypochondria, digestive and blood disorders and menstrual disorders in women. When the energy is deficient, the mind becomes sluggish, resulting in depression and fatigue.
These elements were selected based on the observations of ancient oriental philosophers who theorized that the natural world embodied these elemental characteristics. Oriental Medicine uses this time-tested, diagnostic model to analyze how the various parts of a person`s body and mind interact to affect health.
The Creation Cycle:
Water creates Wood.
Wood creates Fire.
Fire generates Earth.
Earth generates Metal.
Metal creates Water.
The Control Cycle:
Water controls Fire.
Fire controls Metal.
Metal controls Wood.
Wood controls Earth.
Earth controls Water.
The Creation and Control cycles interact constantly to maintain an overall balance in the system. The five elemental energies play a vital role in the Chinese herbal system. Each of the herbs contains one or more elemental energies, and are categorized according to the type of elemental energy that is predominant in the herb and how it influences the human energy system.
Cycle of Regulation
When applying this "regulating relationship" to the human body, we see that each internal organ embodies the energetic qualities of the element it`s related to. Each organ is responsible for providing energy to regulate or control excesses or deficiencies in the energy of the organ it`s associated with in this cycle.
For example:
Lung (metal element) controls Liver (wood element).
Heart (fire element) controls Lung (metal element).
Kidney (water element) controls Heart (fire element).
Spleen (earth element) controls Kidney (water element).
Liver (wood element) controls Spleen (earth element).
Promoting Cycle
This cycle is explained most easily by a simple metaphor. The relationship is the same as a mother and child relationship, where the child is dependent upon the mother for nourishment and therefore growth and well-being.
Controlling Cycle
To understand the relationship of the controlling cycle, we must look more closely at the origin of the five element theory in China where the responsibility of disciplining the children rested with the grandparents. The controlling cycle describes the relationship of a grandmother disciplining a grandchild.
Over-controlling and Counteracting
Over-controlling means that an element is too strong/hyperactive and is controlling the other element too much. A common condition in which the wood element controls earth too much (or overacts) will manifest itself with symptoms of hyper wood as well as hypo earth, sometimes making the deficient-earth element even more deficient. Counteracting is the reverse situation--a controlled element is rebelling against its controlling element.
In summary, your internal organs play a dual role in promoting and maintaining your health: generating and regulating energy for each other. Each organ passes energy to the organ it supports, and, when necessary, controls imbalances in the energy of the organ which it regulates.
Diagnosis According to Five Element Theory
The colors, emotions, flavors, senses, climates, body parts, and organs are all related. Through viewing the human body in this way, we can determine internal disharmony. For example, if a patient has a green hue to his complexion, a sour taste in his mouth, and his eyes are bothersome to him in some way, we would look more closely at the Wood element (Liver and Gallbladder).
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