Five Element Characteristics and Balancing Suggestions FIRE
METAL
WATER
WOOD
Spleen
Lungs
Kidneys
Liver
Stomach
Large Intestine
Bladder
Gall Bladder
Heart &
Yin Organs (Meridians)
EARTH
Pericardium or “
Circulation-Sex ”
Small Intestine & Yang Organs
Triple Heater or Heater or “Triple
(Meridians)
Warmer ” (Adrenal Glands and Thyroid) Heart:: Heart
Time of Day
11am-1pm
“Peak”
Meridian Organ Function (click here to
Circulation-Sex:: 7Circulation-Sex
Stomach:: Stomach
9pm
7-9am
Small Intestine: Intestine:
Spleen:: Spleen
1-3pm
9-11am
view a Meridian
Subscapularis
meridian muscles (click each meridian organ to view its related muscles or click here to view the meridian muscles on the Touch for Health website)
Circulation-Sex:: Circulation-Sex Gluteus Medius, Adductors, Piriform is (sciatic nerve), nerve), Gluteus Maximus Small Intestine: Intestine: Quadriceps (Jejunum & Ileum), Ileum), Abdominals –
Oblique, Rectus, Transverse (Duodenum) Triple Warmer :
Teres Minor (Thyroid), (Thyroid), Sartorius (Adrenals), (Adrenals) , Gracilis (Adrenals), (Adrenals) , Soleus (Adrenals), (Adrenals), Gastrocnemius (Adrenals)
Sense Organs
Large Intestine: Intestine: 5-7am
5-7pm Bladder : 3-5pm
Liver : 1-3am Gall Bladder : 11pm-1am
9-11pm Heart:: Heart
Kinesiology
3-5am
Kidney:: Kidney
Triple Warmer :
Clock)
Specialized
Lungs:: Lungs
Tongue
Stomach:: Stomach Pectoralis Major
Kidney:: Kidney
Clavicular, Anterior
Psoas, Illiacus
Neck Flexors, Brachioradialis, Posterior Neck Extensors, Levator Scapulae Spleen:: Spleen Latissimus Dorsi (Pancreas), (Pancreas), Middle Trapezius (Spleen), (Spleen), Lower Trapezius (Spleen), (Spleen),
(associated with Lungs:: Lungs
transfer of waste
Anterior Serratus,
from small
Deltoids,
intestine to large
Coracobrachialis,
intestine), intestine), Upper
Diaphragm
Trapezius
Large Intestine: Intestine:
(associated with
Fascia Lata,
function of the
Quadratus
eyes and ears)
Lumborum,
Bladder :
Hamstrings
Peroneus, Sacrospinalis,
Opponens Pollicis
Anterior Tibial,
Longus
Liver : Pectoralis Major Sternal (associated with Glaucoma, spots in front of the eyes, and liver conditions), conditions), Rhomboids Gallbladder : Anterior Deltoid, Popliteus
Posterior Tibial
(Pancreas), (Pancreas), Triceps (Pancreas) Mouth
Nose
Ears
Eyes
1
FIRE
EARTH
METAL
WATER
WOOD tendons,
Tissues
blood, vessels
muscles
skin, mucous membranes
bones, teeth,
ligaments,
bone marrow,
sinews
nerves
(connective tissues)
Manifests
complexion
lips
body hair, skin
head hair
nails
Colors
red
yellow
white,, grey white
blue
green
Instinct
Spirit
Conscience
Health
Will
Emotion
Odour
scorched (burnt)
fragrant
rotten, rank
putrid (urine)
rancid
Sounds
laughing, talkative
singing
crying, weeping,
groaning,
wailing
complaining
shouting
Emotions (click here to view all the emotions
joy, love, hate
associated with
anxiety, worry,
grief, sadness,
pensiveness
sorrow
Sweet
fear, depression
anger, jealousy
Pungent
Salty
Sour
ginger, garlic,
sea vegetables
lemon, lime,
mustard, raw
(kelp, dulse), sea
sauerkraut,
onion
salt
vinegars
each organ or meridian) Tastes (Food)
Bitter
root vegetables Foods
arugula, asparagus
(carrots, potatoes,
collards, kale
beets, yams) and sweet tasting food
Pressure Roasting, Boiling,
Cooking
Sautéed, Stir Frying,
Stewing,
Dry Roasting,
Casserole,
Flambéing, Toasting,
Mashing, Pureeing,
Dehydrating, Raw food
Jams and Jellies, Caramelizing
Cooking, Baking, Composed Foods, Garnishes, Condiments, Finishing
Grilling, Soups, Boiling,
Smoking,
Steaming,
Searing, Pickling
Poaching, Curing,
and Fermenting,
Freezing
Campfire Cooking
Sauces, Julienne , Mincing, Dicing
Late Summer
Seasons
Summer
Direction
south
center
Outward (dispersing
Downward (balance
energy of the summer
or circling energy of
season)
fall season)
Energy direction
(Indian Summer)
Autumn
Winter
Spring
west
north
east
Floating (dormant
Upward (rising
energy of winter
energy of spring
season)
season)
Inward (contracting energy of late fall season)
2
Environment (constitution)
Body Types
Developmental Stages
Personality
FIRE
EARTH
METAL
WATER
WOOD
Heat
Dampness
Dryness
Cold
Wind
pointed features
large features
triangular features
round features
tall slender
small hands
strong legs
strong voice
strong digestion
strong bones and
quick energetic
calm generous
meticulous, strong
loyal, enjoy
joints
willed
movement
hard workers
harvest, decline
storage, death
birth
meticulous,
loyal but few
strong-willed,
friends, smart,
focused worker,
loves to play with
independent
family
growth
loves attention, talkative, sensitive
Out of Balance
drama queen, paranoid
Strained by
Reading
transformation, change friendly, calm, generous, caring (motherly) worried and over
anxious and
protective
oblivious, OCD
Walking
Sitting
fearful Lying down
Leader, hard worker, loves a challenge angry, mean, cranky Standing
Central Vessel Meridian: - Connected to brain function - Color: violet - Kinesiology meridian muscle: Supraspinatus – relates to people who do a lot of thinking - Meridian muscle imbalance indication: brain fatigue, learning difficulty (learning disabilities), anxiety, emotional stress - Click here to view balancing points such as: spinal reflex points (C1 & C2), neurolymphatic massage points (shoulder creases) and neurovascular points (points on head) - Foods for balancing: sardines, propolis (made by bees), bee pollen, spirulina, raw honey, water
Governing Vessel Meridian: - Connected to spine and nervous system function - Color: violet - Kinesiology meridian muscle: Teres muscle: Teres Major – relates to pineal gland function (day/night function (day/night cycles) - Meridian muscle metaphor: What burden or weight needs to be removed from your life? - Click here to view balancing points such as:
3
- Foods for balancing: whole protein foods (meat, fish, eggs, dairy products) may be helpful Reference websites: http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/chinese/five_element_acupuncture_theory http://www.5elementvet.com/Alternative_Veterinary_Medicine/5_element_Theory.html http://andrewsacupuncture.com/five_elements.html
4
