A TCM Checkup - the elements
March 16th 2007 07:14
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a quite complicated and useful medical theory. However it is due to the subtlety with which a relatively few simple concepts are combined that makes it so impressive.
One cluster of these concepts is called “the elements” – whether this is a correct translation is much debated. [Chinese characters are really based on pictures and coming up with the equivalent idea in a language like English is usually tricky, and will probably always be debated.]
There are five elements and it is the way they work together that gives a picture of health. The five elements are: water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Looking at these five elements in our bodies gives us a ready health check list.
The water element covers our ‘constitution’ – what we are born with (some people are born more healthy than others) - and can be extended to include our natural talent or gift. It also includes our libido, urination, our lower back and our ability to hear. This is just a brief summary.
The wood element includes: our ability to flex and flow with life, and so includes our sinews (not our muscles). It is an especially important element for women to have in balance. It includes our vision – both literally and metaphorically – and can lead us to become hyper if it is not controlled by paying attention to the mundane details of our daily life.
The fire element is our ability to see clearly and this extends as far as contemplation and meditation. A person with enough fire is warm and clear – they aren’t scatty. Too much fire and we can go beyond scatty to being unfocussed and manic. With enough fire we are serene but not coldly detached.
When our earth element is healthy we take in easily and well the fruit of the earth. The earth element is our nourishment. Whatever nourishes who we are is covered by the earth element. This is not just physical food but helpful relationships and being able to ‘digest’ intellectual ‘food’ as well.
The metal element is about us cutting free or letting go. This applies to excretion and breathing. A traditional saying is: die 10,000 times a day, ie. with each breath let go of what has happened. Or, more specifically and on a much longer time span: don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Are we able to not get entangled with our thoughts, feelings and relationships. Can we move on to new things? This is the metal element in our lives.
So here is a quick health check up:
Am I looking after what we were born with (our constitution and gift)?
Do I flow easily or do I get hyper?
Am I warm and serene?
Am I nourished? Do I get what I need to feed me (in every sense of the word).
Can I move on to new things?
One cluster of these concepts is called “the elements” – whether this is a correct translation is much debated. [Chinese characters are really based on pictures and coming up with the equivalent idea in a language like English is usually tricky, and will probably always be debated.]
There are five elements and it is the way they work together that gives a picture of health. The five elements are: water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Looking at these five elements in our bodies gives us a ready health check list.
The water element covers our ‘constitution’ – what we are born with (some people are born more healthy than others) - and can be extended to include our natural talent or gift. It also includes our libido, urination, our lower back and our ability to hear. This is just a brief summary.
The wood element includes: our ability to flex and flow with life, and so includes our sinews (not our muscles). It is an especially important element for women to have in balance. It includes our vision – both literally and metaphorically – and can lead us to become hyper if it is not controlled by paying attention to the mundane details of our daily life.
The fire element is our ability to see clearly and this extends as far as contemplation and meditation. A person with enough fire is warm and clear – they aren’t scatty. Too much fire and we can go beyond scatty to being unfocussed and manic. With enough fire we are serene but not coldly detached.
When our earth element is healthy we take in easily and well the fruit of the earth. The earth element is our nourishment. Whatever nourishes who we are is covered by the earth element. This is not just physical food but helpful relationships and being able to ‘digest’ intellectual ‘food’ as well.
The metal element is about us cutting free or letting go. This applies to excretion and breathing. A traditional saying is: die 10,000 times a day, ie. with each breath let go of what has happened. Or, more specifically and on a much longer time span: don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Are we able to not get entangled with our thoughts, feelings and relationships. Can we move on to new things? This is the metal element in our lives.
So here is a quick health check up:
Am I looking after what we were born with (our constitution and gift)?
Do I flow easily or do I get hyper?
Am I warm and serene?
Am I nourished? Do I get what I need to feed me (in every sense of the word).
Can I move on to new things?
| 36 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
