The Five Elements is a concept that influences the practice of Chinese Medicine, and after it’s first recorded mentions, thousands of years ago, still relevant to practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture today.
The Chinese word is Wu Xing – which translates as WU – the number 5 and Xing – meaning phases, or transitions, or elements. The phases translations implies the meaning the elements or phases are not simply a static state, they are moveable and influenced by each other.
The five elements philosophy reflects the fundamental principals of observation that is the very basis for Chinese Medicine. It’s a way of viewing the transitions that take place in nature and the Ancient philosophers and doctors of oriental medicine applied these observations to the human body, in order to grasp an understanding of it’s inter-relations.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water make up the individual components of the Five elements. Each has a representative colour, season, emotion, sound, taste.
The 5 Element system is used in understanding how illness happens to the body, how emotions, diet internally can cause illness. Acupuncturists and herbalists use this as a part of diagnosis, and in formulating treatment for conditions.
The five elements is also a philosophy of living, according to the seasons. It helps us stay in tune with nature, and therefore live more harmoniously. The food we eat, the amount of sleep we have and exercise our body needs is different in each season.
Article written by: Marie Hopkinson, Chinese Medicine practitioner