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  Five Element  Theory Chart

Element

Organ

Bowel

Surface Part

Opening

Trait

Mental Part

Taste

Water

Kidneys

Bladder

Bones

Ears

Fear

Will Power

Salty

Wood

Liver

Gall Bladder

Nerves

Eyes

Anger

Mental Activity

Sour

Fire

Heart & Sexual Glands

Small Intestine

Blood vessels

Tongue

Arrogance and Impatience

Intuition, Joy, Peace

Bitter

Earth

Spleen & Pancreas

Stomach

Muscles

Mouth

Worry

Pondering

Sweet

Metal

Lungs

Large Intestine

Skin

Nose & Sinuses

Sadness

Orderliness and Rightness

Spicy

The above chart is a static illustration showing the different body/mind relationships associated with each organ. To get a sense of the dynamic nature of these interactions, let's look at how these elemental forces generate and regulate energy (chi) in nature, and by extension, in the human body and mind.

Generating Energy (Chi) Shown below as Black Arrows
Based on Five Element Theory, each elemental force generates or creates the next element in a creative sequence. 

  • Water generates wood. Rain nourishes a tree.
  • Wood generates fire. Burning wood generates fire.
  • Fire generates earth. Ash is created from the fire. 
  • Earth generates metal. Metal is mined from the earth.
  • Metal generates water. WFiveater condenses on metal. 

Cycle of Generation

When applying this "supportive relationship" to the human body, each internal organ embodies the energetic qualities of the element it's related to. Each organ is responsible for providing the energy needed by the next organ in the generative cycle. 

For example:

  • Kidney (water element) supports the Liver (wood element).
  • Liver (wood element) supports the Heart (fire element).
  • Heart (fire element) supports the Spleen (earth element).
  • Spleen (earth element) supports the Lung (metal element).
  • Lung (metal element) supports the Kidney (water element).

Overcoming, Controling, or Regulating Energy (Chi) Shown above as Red Arrows
Based on Five Element Theory, each elemental force is also associated with another element which it is responsible for controlling or regulating.

 For example:

  • Water controls fire. Water puts fire out.
  • Wood controls earth. Tree roots hold clods of earth.
  • Fire controls metal. Fire can melt metal.
  • Earth controls water. A pond holds water.
  • Metal controls wood. An ax cuts wood.

When applying this "regulating relationship" to the human body, 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.

  • 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).

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.

 

The Herbal Formula is then determined by the herbs with the appropriate energies, meridians, and organ affinities necessary to bring the patient back into balance.  Likewise the proper acupuncture treatment is reviled by knowing what action needs to be generated by the needles.