The Five Elements are comprised of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. According to this philosophical theory, these five basic substances are the building blocks of the universe and the subsequent combining and mixing with each other is what produces all things.

 

Chinese philosophy uses the properties of the Five Elements and their relationship with each other to explain natural phenomena, the law of the movement, and the changes of nature. As such, all things in nature can be classified according to the Five Elements.

Properties of the Five Elements:

  Wood:    flexing, extending, moving upward and outward

                        Fire:    warm, ascending, flaring upward

                     Earth:    generating, growing, carrying, receiving

                     Metal:    changing, purifying, descending, astringing

                    Water:    moistening, moving downwards, cold, flowing

Classification According to the Five Elements:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the visceral organs, other organs and tissues have similar properties to the Five Elements. Thus, they may interact physiologically and pathologically as the Five Elements do.

The Five Element’s relationships with each other can be classified as “mutual promoting” and “mutual restraining” under physiological conditions while “mutual encroaching” and “mutual violating” occur under pathological conditions. “Encroaching” refers to the restraining of one of the Five Elements above normal levels. In contrast, “violating” refers to the restraining of an element by the element it was previously restraining (counter-restriction).

Promoting Relationships:

    • Wood promotes Fire
    • Fire promotes Earth
    • Earth promotes Metal
    • Metal promotes Water
    • Water promotes Wood

Restraining Relationships:

    • Wood restrains Earth
    • Earth restrains Water
    • Water restrains Fire
    • Fire restrains Metal
    • Metal restrains Wood

Each of the five elements also correlates a vital organ within the human body:

    • Wood - Liver
    • Fire - Heart
    • Earth - Spleen
    • Metal - Lungs
    • Water - Kidneys

For example, if stress induces hyperactivity in the liver, this organ may negatively affect the functioning of the spleen and cause digestion problems and lack of appetite (Wood encroaches on Earth). Thus, similar to Yin-Yang, the Theory of Five elements (as applied in TCM) seeks to restore the body’s balance.