Five Elements

The theory of the five elements holds that all phenomena in the universe correspond in nature either to wood, fire, earth, metal or water, and that these are in a state of constant motion and change. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the theory of the five elements is applied to generalize and explain the nature of the internal organs, the inter-relationships between them, and the relation between human beings and the natural world. It thus serves to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Each element represents the internal organs in the human body as indicated by the chart. The elements also correspond to the changing of the seasons.

The winter months are represented by the element…water. The element water is most active in the winter. Therefore, the kidneys and bladder are the organs most effected in the wintertime. General symptoms of kidney imbalance are:

• any bone problems, most notably the lower back and/or knees
• premature aging including hair loss, premature graying and lower energy
• ringing in the ears or hearing loss
• all urinary and reproductive imbalances
• excessive fear and insecurity
  

Your kidneys provide energy and warmth to your body, so they can be easily injured by the cold temperatures brought on by the winter season.

The following are some suggestions to keep you healthy during the winter and balanced going into spring.

• During the winter cook foods longer, at lower temperatures and with less water.
• Dried foods, small dark beans, seaweeds, and steamed winter greens fortify the kidneys.
• Make sure to keep warm at night when you sleep.
• Allow plenty of time to get an uninterrupted full night of sleep every night.
  

The summer months are represented by the fire element. The heart and small intestine are the organs most effected in the summer. The general symptoms of imbalance in these organs are: heat, excessive sweat, poor sleep and low energy. If you are hot all the time, especially in the hands and feet, while everyone else is comfortable then this can be an early warning signal that your body is sending you.

The autumn months are represented by the Metal element. The lung and large intestine are the organs most effected in the Autumn. However, when the Metal element is out of balance it can affect the Wood element. So the autumn season can be hard on the liver. Common symptoms of imbalance in these organs are: trouble sleeping and if you have a sleeping disorder it will get worse at this time. Cold weather is usually associated with Autumn so cold symptoms usually are seen at this time as well. The liver and lung are associated with the digestive system so you may notice a change in your bowel movements during this season if there is an imbalance.