The Five Elements Element: WOOD General Characteristics: growing, flexible, rooted Season: spring Direction: east Climate: wind Color: blue/green Taste: sour Smell: rancid Yin Organ: liver Yang Organ: gall bladder Orifice: eyes Tissue: tendons Emotion: anger Voice: shout Element: FIRE dry, hot, ascending, moving Season: summer Direction: south Climate: heat Color: red Taste: bitter Smell: burnt Yin Organ: heart Yang Organ: small intestine Orifice: tongue Tissue: blood vessels Emotion: joy Voice: laugh Element: EARTH productive, fertile, potential for growth Season: late summer Direction: center Climate: dampness yellow Taste: sweet Smell: fragrant Yin Organ: spleen Yang Organ: stomach Orifice: mouth Tissue: muscle Emotion: pensiveness Voice: sing Element: METAL cutting, hard, conducting Season: autumn Direction: west Climate: dryness Color: white Taste: pungent Smell: rotting Yin Organ: lungs Yang Organ: large intestine Orifice: nose Tissue: skin Emotion: grief Voice: weep Element: WATER wet, cool, descending, flowing, yielding Season: winter Direction: north Climate: cold Color: blue/black Taste: salty Smell: putrid Yin Organ: kidney Yang Organ: bladder Orifice: ears Tissue: bones Emotion: fear Voice: groan Qi Origin: parents, food, air Functions: movement and activity, warming, transformation, protection, containment Disharmonies: 1. Deficient Qi is when there is not enough to carry out the various functions. eg. chronic cold" 2. Sinking Qi occurs if the Qi is so deficient that it can no longer perform its holding function. eg. organ prolapse 3. When Qi flow is impaired, stagnant Qi will form, leading to sluggish flow or blockages, often causing pain and swelling. eg. bruise 4. Qi that flows in the wrong direction is rebellious Qi. eg. hiccups and nausea. Jing Origin: parents, ingested food Functions: growth, reproduction, development, promotes kidney Qi, produces marrow, forms constitution Disharmonies: 1. Jing deficiency can cause developmental disorders such as learning difficulties or physical disabilities. As one ages and Jing deminishes, physical deterioration occurs. 2. Kidney-related disorders, such as lower-back pain, tinnitus, and impotence are a result of Jing deficiency. 3. Marrow-related disorders are a result of weak Jing. eg. poor memory, poor concentration, dizziness. 4. Weak Jing also causes consitutional weakness, which can lead to cronic external disease patterns and allergies. Blood Origin: transformation of food, marrow Functions: nourishes, moistens, aids Shen Disharmonies: 1. Deficient Blood hinders the spleen's ability to move Gu Qi for blood production, resulting in pale complexion, dry skin, and dizziness. 2. Stagnant Blood leads to attacks of sharp and intense pain and sometimes the development of tumors. 3. Heat in the Blood can lead ot skin conditions and mental/emotional problems. Body Fluids Light Fluids Origin: distilled from ingested food Functions: moistens, nourishes skin, muscles, and hair Dense Fluids Origin: distilled from ingested food Functions: moistens, nourishes joints and brain Disharmonies: 1. Deficient Body Fluids lead problems related to lack of nourishment, such as constipation. 2. Accumulation of Body Fluids can lead to what Chinese medicine refers to as Dampness and Phlegm. shen Origin: manifestation of consciousness Functions: keeps mind sharp and alert Disharmonies: 1. Shen disturbances can produce slow and muddled thinking, anxiety, insomnia, and in extreme instances, serious personality disorder.