What is this ancient theory?
The Five Elements:
Science Has A LOT to Say About this Theory
Five element theory, also referred to as Wu Xing or the five phases, has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for centuries.
According to some traditions, everything in the universe comes from the five elements: wood, fire, earth, water, and metal.
From the smallest atom to a giant whale to the solar system itself, all things are said to be composed of some combination of these elements.
When it comes to human life, some people believe the five elements play a role in the balance of energies in the body, contributing to everything from personality traits to health and well-being.
“The five elements are used in pretty much every different style of TCM to some extent [to] diagnose and differentiate between different illnesses, dysfunctions, and people,” says Tiffany Cruikshank, licensed acupuncturist, experienced registered yoga teacher, and founder of Yoga Medicine.
The five elements are each associated with an aspect of nature, a connection that runs deep.
“The five elements demonstrate how all aspects of human health, [like] diet, movement, and emotions, are interconnected with nature and our environment,” says Teresa Biggs, a board certified doctor of oriental medicine (DOM) with more than a decade of clinical experience.
The 5 element theory is used throughout medicine and culture.
The five elements play a role in:
- Herbs
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Movement therapy, like Qigong and TaiChi
- Meditation
- Food and Diet
- Mental and Emotional health
- Organ Systems
- Personality Expression
- Sense organs
- Tissues
- Seasons
- The lunar calendar
You can see these relationships in the table below.
| Element | Season | Yin organ | Yang organ | Sense organ | Fluid |
| wood | spring | liver | gallbladder | eyes | tears |
| fire | summer | heart | small intestine | tongue | sweat |
| earth | none | pancreas | stomach | mouth | saliva |
| metal | fall | lung | large intestine | nose | mucus |
| water | winter | kidney | urinary bladder | ears | urine |
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