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Chinese Medicine: The Law of Five Elements Author(s): DONALD M. PACHUTA Source: India International Centre Quarterly, Vol.
18, No. 2/3, HOLISTIC HEALTH (SUMMERMONSOON 1991), pp. 41-68 Published by: India International Centre Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23002364 . Accessed: 30/09/2013 05:42
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DONALD
M.
PACHUTA
Chinese
Medicine:
The Law
of Five
Elements*
In spring, hundreds offlowers; in autumn,

a harvest moon;
In summer, a refreshing breeze; in winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, Any season is a good season for you.1 Zen Flesh, Zen Bones P. by Reps. 1957, p. U~4
Compiled
this chapter we will examine an ancient system of healing. It

As we take this yet exquisitely simple. journey, it is useful to put the ancient Chinese system into it with the of all healing perspective by comparing origins traditions and by contrasting it to the Western system. is quite elaborate
In
The origins of ancient Chinese medicine lie in the concepts of the These three philosophical notions pervade Tao, Ch'i, and Yin/Yang. all systems of Chinese medicine and most systems of Eastern healing that arose are called from them. There traditional Chinese are a number medicine, of different systems but in this discussion, that we
shall explore only one of them in depththe Law of Five Elements. We will concentrate on two of the major cycles within the Law Five Elements. The of first of these is the Shen Cycle or the Cycle of the Spirit. It will demonstrate how the Chinese officials, regarded organs and functions, and the elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.2 Students of psychology will discover how dreams and
Reproduced
from
Eastern (ed),
and
Western A. Sheikh
Approaches and
to Healing:
Ancient
Wisdom
and and
Modern Sons.
Knowledge,
Anees
Katharina
S. Sheikh,
John Wiley
42 / India International Centre Quarterly The second major cycle, the K'o a view of the of emotions and cycle, provides unique relationships the idea of emotional which can be helpful in our daily antidotes, lives as well as in psychotherapy. the Finally we will investigate diagnostic and therapeutic systems of ancient Chinese medicine. emotions fit into the Five Elements.
healing systems began in religion and philosophy and

espoused mystical union with God or nature. In the Japanese, Korean, Indian, Tibetan, healing systems, this tradition remains intact after thousands of years. In Tibet, all of the medical books are still looked upon as Eastern sacred medicine nature Western Greece, often revelations generally irrelevant, traditions of the Buddha. ignores and avoids In contrast, modern Western considers its philosophical heritage, identification. any spiritual
All
great Chinese,
and other
In all cultures,
the original healers were shamans or priests. Our with In ancient the Oracle at began Delphi. the sick crowded the temple and the priests diagnosed them,
the interpretation of dreams after hallucinogenic through and Egyptian cultures, healing was also drugs. In ancient Hebrew in done by priests and in temples. Even in the New Testament, keeping with that tradition, Jesus tells some of the people who have to the priests or to bathe in the temple been cured to show themselves pool. The Greek tradition has persisted to some extent to the present take the Hippocratic oath and swear by physicians a god of healing. Also Western Apollo, the physician, and Asclepius, the staff of Asclepius as its symbol: a single medicine has adopted staff around which a serpent is coiled with its head pointed down time: Western ward to indicate An amazing mastery over sickness. of Eastern and similarity existed in the philosophy in in times. We hear the ancient Tao of early systems healing in Greece, the identical and in the Oracle at Delphi from China In the Nei the written text of "know admonition: Ching, thyself." Ch'i Po said, "The most important ancient Chinese medicine, of the art of healing is that no mistakes (Veith, 1972, p. 150). The first dictum of Hippocrates nocereFirst do no harm." requirement or neglect occur" is: "Primum non
Western
became the founding of Ch'i Po and Hippocrates The teachings Both and Western for Oriental traditions medicine, respectively. turned to and and created nature, philosophy, religion incorporated
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 43
millenia. Ch'i Po and Hippocrates demonstrated in in their of their philosophy healing, perceptions general agreement of diseases. Both emphasized of disease, and even in their descriptions that perception is the fundamental tool of the physician. Both spoke systems of the internal both and external causative factors of disease. that the internal factor, the spirit, is overwhelmingly They agreed important in patients recover
that lasted
said, "Some patient and practitioner. Hippocrates conscious that their condition is though perilous, nonetheless through their contentment with (Aphorisms). until the Judeo-Christian became The similarities more
solely
physician"
of the the good graces between the East and West became due not predominant, to Descartes's all physicians For instance,
persisted and the differences advocacy abandoned several
philosophy pronounced Of course, and
of a mind-body split. the ancient Oriental system of the fourteenth
of medicine.
depict manner. Indeed, European physicians taking pulses Sir William Osier, in this century urged his students to "feel the pulse with two hands and ten fingers" (Bean, 1950, p. 99). paintings in the Chinese and stethoscope, microscope, in in which ushered the age of measurement modern thermometer, these exquisite tools of diagnosis science, Western medicine discarded of bodymindemotionspirit. In fact, is now the technology causing gradual abandonment of the stethoscope. Today it is rare to find a physician who can listen to the heart with a stethoscope and make an accurate diagnosis; Pachuta, The unchanged. is a given, individual whereas, 1981.) Eastern of healing have remained systems virtually with the universe The Eastern way is circular. Oneness and one continually seeks balance and harmony within Paradox is an illusion and can be mastered. Each this was the norm a generation ago. (See also of the total person more sophisticated at all levels With the inventions of the
fifteenth centuries
this oneness.
Sameness is unique within the overall oneness. coexists with differences within and between all people. People are treated in the totality of bodymindemotionspirit. (The Chinese consider emotion I add emotion since our say bodymindspirit. sciences focus on it as separate from mind and spirit.) All things, all people, and all systems can assist healing and have a place. A disease may have an external cause, but all diseases part of mind and Western behavioral have an internal cause and involve to some degree an illness of the
44 / India International Centre Quarterly and the health spirit. Thus, the patient has a primary responsibility, can only assist him or her in becoming well. The care practitioner basic energy is treated; all else flows from it. In the Eastern systems, and wholeness centeredness of the practitioner are crucial, and love is essential to the cure. healing systems are linear and emphasize differences. We have great difficulty in tolerating paradox. We stress the division of the person into body and mind, and the spirit is generally irrelevant to person into body and mind, and the spirit is generally medicine whole irrelevant consists to Western scientific medicine. of the treatment of symptoms To most person. physicians, only external sources matter, and they pay little or no attention to the internal The practice of rather than of the of disease sources of In contrast, the Western
illness.
and the Therefore, the patient has little or no responsibility, is put on a pedestal. The state of being of such a practitioner it is not relevant; is the external medicine or the for, practitioner external technique for every ill. Love Ancient that effects the cure. A pill exists or must be found is completely ignored. medicine was always
a system of preventive In contrast, Western medicine, until very recently, had medicine. focused on the treatment of illness and paid little attention to prevention. Finally, the Eastern systems of healing differ radically from the Western ones in their regard for their healing heritage. The Eastern a deep reverence for their heritage. For the most systems display professionals part, we have lost that reverence in the West. Healing must realize that every time they pick up a prescription pad or an touch thousands of of traditions and needle, they years acupuncture somehow words share in the divine. Einstein: We would do well to remember the of Albert
Chinese
The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the emotion of the mystical. It is the power of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand in awe, is as good as dead. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself to us as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty . . . this knowledge, this feeling is at the centre of all true religiousness and spirituality. (Pachuta, 1987, p. 4).
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 45
he philosophical origins of a 11the Chinese systems of medicine, in detail, lie in ancient traditions of differences regardless and 5,000 years old. The notions ofTao,Ch'i, run a dominant role for all of the ancient they through Yin/Yang play and modern Chinese and other Oriental systems. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu espouses The ancient Chinese a translates "dow") profound Way of Life. The word Tao (pronounced JL as Way and much more. The Tao is a way the universe unfoldsa way of nature, a way of the seasons, planting and harvestit is a way of virtue, a way of heaven, a way of life, and a way of death. The Tao pervades every aspect of life and being. In later Taoist schools, Tao means something ultimately very much akin to God. Tao always The goal of life was to remains cosmic and eternal. It is the oneness. flow with the Tao, as individuals, families, groups, and society. When the Tao is present in the universe, The horses haul manure. When the Tao is absent from the universe, War horses are bred outside the city.3 Lao Tzu (Feng & English, 1972, p. 46) The Ch'i Energy, the one universal energy, the cosmic life force, of the entire Chinese is the most fundamental system of concept It is the vital life force, the flux, the flow. It is the energy of medicine. the heavens and the earth, the energy within and without. It is the vital life force that flows through us, and it does so in a very orderly called meridians. and logical fashion on pathways which so values order, generally Ironically, Western medicine, of an orderly flow of energy through us. But denies the existence the Western scientist, Albert Einstein, held the idea perhaps greatest held by energy. He said that the different energies but of one single energy. Finally, in part physicists were not separate the last several years, all notions of separate energies have crumbled, of a universal and his idea The Ch'i accepted. flows in an orderly way. Balance and harmony of this of the flow of Ch'i or disharmony means health. Imbalance This idea illustrates a fundamental Eastern notion: has been that are about
energy results in illness. namely,
that it is not possible to be sick in body without being sick in mind, emotion, and spirit. You cannot possibly have a sickness of the illness resides body, or the mind, or the emotions, or the spirit only;
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in the entire
The person, in the unity of bodymindemotionspirit. is the that needs to be corrected then can the first; only spirit aspect other aspects be brought into balance or harmony. The evaluation This medicine consists of an diagnostic system in Chinese of the state of balance of this Ch'i energy, this life force. takes
not only in the whole as place person but also in each specific organ, function, or official. bodymindspirit The therapeutic and system aims to bring the organs, functions, officials back into balance at all levels of bodymindspirit. It should be noted that Ch'i oneness is universal fundamental profound universe, The notion the divine. The energy that includes of all Chinese and medicine is the philosophy with nature, with the
assessment
of all things and of all people and with the divine. notion
of Yin/Yang has pervaded discussions about the nature of the universe since ancient times. It is one of the underlying and unifying principles of many traditions. The Yin and Yang (see dualities, opposites, and polarities Figure 1) represent the fundamental of the universe; yet, they also represent the unity of the circle and the Tao. This duality within unity often presents a problem for Western students whole all aspects of the universe, including white/black, female/male, earth/ opposites: Yin/Yang, night/day, and so on. It is the unity containing the duality. heaven, death/life, They are opposite, yet contained different yet the same. The Yin contains the Yin. within contains the same the Yang circle. and They are the Yang of philosophy and universe and contains medicine. The circle represents the
is not only outside of us in the universe but also Yin/Yang within us, because we are part of the universe. It is our duality and of our genetic sex. It is our polarity. It is our female/male, regardless good / evil, darkness outside, front/back, / light, rest / activity, softness / hardness, top/bottom, death/life, earth/heaven, inside / and so
Fig. 1: Yin/Yang
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 47
on. Yet it is also whole;
our unity, our integration of all these things into a it is a circle never ending and complete. To the Western mind, things are black and white or black or white. the Judeo-Christian chief battle is good sure that it is good.
But in the Eastern
In way, things are black/white. all are forces. The tradition, warring opposites evil. One must triumph, and we must be against Yin and Yang In the Eastern way, the inseparable other. Nothing Yin/Yang. in the universe They are
each
gently wrestle with is one or the other. Everything
contains
part of the same reality. They are of the same magnet, and it is impossible merely opposite polarities to have one without the other. Westerners
have great difficulty with this concept. We hold that life with death, good with evil, positive light battles with darkness, with negative. As Alan Watts said (1975, p. 20): Thus, the ideal to cultivate the former and be rid of the latter flourishes throughout much of the world. To the traditional way of Chinese
as electric currents without both thinking, this is as incomprehensible and For positive negative poles. polarity is the principle that plus/ minus, north/south (and indeed all parts of opposites) are different of either one of them aspects of the same system. The disappearance would be the disappearance of the entire system. As Lao Tzu said:
heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is
Under
Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short contrast each other; High and low rest upon each other; Voice and sound harmonize each other; Front and back follow one another.4
ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil. Therefore having and not having arise together.
(Feng & English, 1972, p. 2) but Westerners try to ignore the things are paradoxical, The Eastern philosophies, because they are confusing. paradoxes them and confront directly. Judaism was healing systems religions, after it became a state once very Eastern and mystical but changed Tzu. written Lao could have been Ecclesiastes by religion. Many
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To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the

Heavens. ..
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;...
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;... A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrainfrom embracing;... a time to keep, and a time to cast away: a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes, 3:1-7
modern philosophy. For example, and another
arise from the ancient Chinese systems of these involve 1 to 12. numbers from Many
Many coolers, Regardless tradition, or
one system is based on three heaters or is founded on eight principles or conditions. of variation, all arise in and remain faithful to ancient Energies, It
Tao, Ch'i, and Yin/Yang. including We shall examine the tradition called Five Elements, based on the ancient Tao, Ch'i, and
Phases
Yin/Yang.
encompasses the universe function
all aspects of being; and it offers a spectacular map of and of how we, bodymindspirit, to it and belong in it. It also provides the background for several elaborate information can be found in the Nei
systems of healing. Much of the Five Element
Ching, translated as The Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. This book was probably written between 200 and 600 bc, although the oral tradition ancient was thousands writing, which the translation from Chinese of years old, and it contains references to are now lost. Unfortunately, much is lost in
exquisite.
profound only the shadow
to English. The original Chinese is One need only read any work by Claude Larre to gain a of this fact. words resemble Furthermore, appreciation
of reality: the Chinese are convinced that reality is lived and that discourse is an inherently imperfect way of conveying that which is lived. Jack R. Worsley, founder and president of the of Traditional Chinese the U.K., developed College Acupuncture, chart "Law of Five Elements" (see Figure 2). He has done more than and healing anyone to bring a complex Eastern system of philosophy to the West. (See also Porkert, 1974; Worsley, 1973,1982). As we begin to examine the Five Elements, the following is illuminating (see Journal of Traditional Acupuncture, 5:2,1981, lesson p. 61).
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 49
In ancient times a young couple approached an old master and asked, "Please, master, speak to us of marriage and the place of love in our
union."
And the master said, "See that marriage is a union manifesting the Five Energies of nature held within us, and that love is only but one of those energies." "Then please, master, speak to us of the Energies held within us." And the master said: "The Fire Energy is like the sun, always giving to the mind/body/ with love; experience this spirit, bathing your relationship manifestation of nature within you as the urge to love, and express that love to your partner. The Earth Energy is like the soil, always giving to the mind/body/ spirit, providing your relationship with nourishment; experience this of nature within you as the urge to nurture, and express that nurturing to your partner. The Metal Energy is like the gem, always sustaining to the mind/ manifestation in nature that are
body/spirit, entrusting your relationship with strength; experience this manifestation of nature within you as the urge to be strong, and express that strength to your partner.
The Water Energy is like the spring, always refreshing to the mind/ body/spirit, forming your relationship in change; experience this manifestation of nature within you as the urge to change, and express that change to your partner. The Wood Energy is like the tree, always supportive to the mind/ body/spirit, seeding your relationship in growth; experience this manifestation of nature within you as the urge to grow, and express that growth to your partner. You are the Laws of Nature.
You You are ai'e Love. Nourishment.
You are Strength. You are Change. You are Growth. And know that the Energies will move and be moved, seeking their balance between the forces of control and creativity. And so your relationship will seek those balances also." And with that, the master turned and gently walked away.
Although we rarely look at ourselves in this manner, the Chinese hold that each of us reflects the laws of Nature, Love, Nourishment, Strength, Change, and Growth and that we are at one with the
THE
o75
ELEMENTS
WOOD
WATER
No.
ORGAN/FUNCTION HEART I.MAII INIF MINI S BLADDER KIDNEYS CIRCULATIONSEX THRfE HEATER GAIl IH ADDER LIVER LUNGS COl ON MOMACH SMltbN I'ANCRl AS ELEMENT FIRE 1 IRI WATtR WATER FIRE fIRE WOOD WOOD METAL METAL 1H 1 AM EARTH
mc
YIN/YANQ LESSER YIN
1/
RED BLUE RED GREEN WHITE YELLOW
1 1 1 ' I HI 1 'v 1 v 1 VI 1 VII I VIII 1 IX 1 X 1 * I XII
r.MIATtR YANG GREAIER YANG LESSER YIN ABSOLUTE YIN I FSSER YANG I ESSER YANQ ABSOLUTE YIN GREATER YIN SUNl IGHTYANQ SUNUGHIYANO GREAIER YIN 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1
FIGURE 2. Worsley.)
The
law
of the
5 elements.
(Reprinted
with
permission
from
].
R.
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 51
universe
and officials the student disbelief
and the eternal Tao. Many concepts, especially the elements that are all encompassing, raise disbelief in frequently from the West. It is useful to willingly suspend our in approaching this system.
One One
of the broadest principles underlying all Eastern systems is that they are a map of nature. Thus, they aid us in how we are in or out of harmony with nature. recognizing of the fundamental differences in Eastern and Western
is that in the East, man is one with nature, with the philosophy the seasons, trees, the water, the wind, and so on. Man is no exception to the rules and laws of nature. In the West, on the other hand, we have isolated and alienated ourselves from nature. The Hebrew there is a season." Yet Westerners scriptures say, "To everything resist being part of nature. We are always in a hurry. When we are in the season of winter, none of us can instantly make it spring. Yet we try. We lack the patience of the Orient. There it would be considered absurd to hate winter or rainy days or any of nature's manifestations. Figure 2 shows five circles and smaller circles within those. The and all opposites. or Spirit Cycle. In the Nei Ching, the Emperor asked Ch'i Po, "What is meant by .. The spirit cannot be heard Shen, the Spirit?" Ch'i Po answered: with the ear. The eye must be brilliant of perception and the heart The clockwise must be open and attentive, and then the spirit is suddenly It cannot be expressed through ones' own consciousness. the mouth; (Connelly, of healing of people revealed through only the heart can express all that can be looked upon" 1979, p. 34). Ch'i Po further stated: "The utmost in the art when entire universe is a circle containing the Yin/Yang flow of the circles forms the Shen
there is unity When the minds are closed and wisdom is locked out, they remain tied to It becomes that disease... those who have attained spirit apparent while those perish who and energy are flourishing and prosperous, lose their spirit and energy" (Connelly, 1979, p. iv). In other words, flow with the Tao, through the Shen and all other healthy people resist and fight the natural flow. cycles. The unhealthy one of the laws As the seasons beget each other, they enunciate of the Five Elementsthe law of mother/child. The red circle, fire, flows to the yellow circle, earth: out of the ashes of fire comes earth. The Chinese knew about the "big bang" theory even then. Earth is the
can be achieved
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mother Metal
of metalthe is the mother
white
circlefor blue
metals
come
from the earth. metals melt into
of waterthe
circlefor
on metal. In the modern Chinese version, liquid and water condenses all elements of the periodic table are on the metal element. Water in turn, nurtures and gives rise to wood, the green circle. Wood, creates fire. in nature continues with the seasons. or the season of The latter spawns Wood begets fire, which mothers earth, late summer, metal or autumn. wood or spring. This law of mother/child Fire is summer harvest. Earth, in turn, mothers
water or winter, and this produces which is summer. The Chinese the heavens Also, the heavens of a person heavens. The
had developed a system of astronomy that mapped in a way that Western science has found acceptable. their system of mapping the earth is still in use today. Between and the earth stands standing man. A fitting image might be that on top of a hill with arms outstretched to the flow of Ch'i
ancient seers also mapped out an orderly in man. it a looked as energy They upon system of internal Within this system, there are 12 organs or functions (the within the five elements in Figure 2), and each of the functions each
government. small circles 12 organs or Table 1 lists official. study by
acts as an official in this internal government. of the 12 organs or functions and the corresponding These have been given Roman numerals in order to aid Westerners. The
Ch'i energy that controls each official flows through the on a defined anatomical Besides these 12 organs, body pathway. several other meridian systems carry the Ch'i energy throughout the
body.
The purpose within harmony of all the officials is to maintain order, balance, and the government. Thus, the Heart, the Supreme Master or Controller, is the emperor of the kingdom. This official is that the word "Heart" It evokes. means "soul, spirit, love, everything all notions of heart held throughout joy"; it encompasses history, at all levels of bodymindemotionspirit, and at all levels of the universe. In addition, the Ch'i called pathway the along way. The Small Pure energy that controls the Heart flows the heart meridian, which has numerous is the Official called the Separator the Chinese could along points of the know a
Intestine
from the Impure.
It is a mystery
how
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 53
the function modern
of the anatomical or even
small autopsies.
intestine
without
the benefit are believed
of to
technology function at all levels
The officials
of bodymindemotionspirit. Thus, the Separator of the Pure from the Impure does not merely separate the physically the mentally pure from the pure from the impure, it also separates the from the impure, emotionally pure impure, and the spiritually pure from the impure. The ancient colon, waste, goes without Great Eliminator, Chinese separated the stomach, small intestine, and benefit of autopsy or scientific study. The Colon, the eliminates physical waste, mental waste, emotional government. The notion
and spiritual waste from the internal far beyond a mere anatomical organ.
Table 1. The Law of Five Elements
(The
Officials)
Number I
II
Organ/Function
Heart Small intestine
Element
Fire Fire
Official
Supreme Separator from Master of the Pure
the Impure of the Eliminator Waste of the
III
IV
Bladder
Water
Official of Liquid
Kidneys
Water
The Vital
Storehouse Essence Heart
Circulation/sex (pericardium)
Fire
The
Protector
VI
Three
heater
Fire
The and
Official Cooling
of Heating
VII
VIII IX
Gallbladder
Liver Lungs
Wood
The Official of Decision

Making and Judgements of Planning That Receives Ch' i The Official
Wood Metal
The Official from
the Heavensthe
Official of Rhythmic Order X

XI Colon Metal The Great Eliminator; the Drainer Stomach Earth of the Dregs
The Official of Rotting

and Ripening and
Assimilation XII
Spleen/pancreas Earth
The Official of the

Distribution Transporter and the of Energy
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Circulation/Sex, the circulation
the Heart of the blood
Protector,
controls
far more
than
simply with the circulation sexual organs. This official is concerned of the individual other them to have intimate among people, allowing that the Heart is protected from harm. The relationships knowing notion of the anatomical than a the original anatomical specific organ. and associations of Table 2 shows some of the correspondences It gives us an idea of the complexities and the each of the elements. in addition to the all-inclusive concept of an element. For example, later, and had correspondences with a specific meat, a fruit, are the dream a vegetable, a grain, etc. Of interest to psychologists that in Chinese Medicine We should here emphasize correspondences. tables each element discussed body. contradicts who whether later there are no psychologists Our Western split of body, mind, all of the Chinese notions. distinct from healers emotion, of the and spirit totally is only one practitioner was added pericardium probably involved a function rather concept much
and the function of the anatomical
There
treats
in the totality of bodymindemotionspirit, the person with acupuncture needles, herbs, moxa (heat to acupuncture
points), mantra therapy, or lessons in a Way of Life. All of these come in from the ancient Chinese system. There are no psychotherapists Oriental medicine, only teachers. The only exception to the totality of treatment This can be learned system doctor" acupuncture, for first aid. designed in 8 to 12 weeks and contrasts with the exquisite that treats the total bodymindspirit. with the season It encompasses of summer, the climate is "barefoot
Fire. Fire is associated heat, the direction Heart, Small has no Western system). Its sense south. Intestine,
Circulation/Sex,
the organs and functions of and the Three Heater (this
anatomical counterpart but may well fit the endocrine Fire supports and fortifies the circulation and blood vessels. Its time organ is the tongue, and its secretion is perspiration.
of day is from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the time of the Heart and Small Intestine, as well as from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., the time of the Heart Protector and Three Heater. Fire includes the emotion joy, the sound of laughter, the odor scorched, and the taste bitter. All the elements with the power contain a power and a life aspect. Fire is associated to mature and its life aspect is the spirit. Earth. The color yellow, late summer, humidity, the direction Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas belong to Earth. It
centre, the organs
DONALD
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/ 55
fortifies muscles. saliva.
Its sense organ is the mouth, and its secretion is The time of the Stomach is from 7 to 9 a.m., and the time of the
is from 9 to 11 a.m. Earth encompasses the emotion Spleen/Pancreas a the and a sweet taste. Its fragrant odor, empathy, singing voice, Westerners have been trained to usually view power is to decrease. If the fires and is a part of balance. negatively; yet, decrease of summer did not decrease, the planet would burn up. expansion The life aspect of Earth incorporates ideas and opinions. Beyond all decrease this, Earth is the Divine
Table 2. The Fire Color Season Climate Direction Organs Red Summer Heat South Heart small intestine Law
Mother.
(Correspondences Metal White Autumn Dryness West Lungs colon and Water Blue Winter Cold North Bladder kidneys Associations) Wood Green Spring Wind East Gallbladder liver
of Five Elements Earth Yellow Late summer Humidity Center Stomach spleen/ pancreas
circulation/sex three heater Fortifies Sense organ Secretion Time of day Emotion Blood Tongue Perspiration 11 am-3 pm 7 pm-11 pm Joy vessels
Muscles Mouth Saliva 7 am-11 am
Skin/hair Nose Mucous 3 am-7 am
Bones Ears Spittle 3 pm-7 am Fear
Ligaments Eyes Tears 11 pm-3 am
Sympathy/ empathy
Grief
Anger
Sound Odor Taste Power Life aspect
Laughing Scorched Bitter Mature The spirit
Singing Fragrant Sweet Decrease Ideas/opinions
Weeping Rotten Pungent Balance Lower spirit
Groaning Putrid Salty Emphasise Will power
Shouting Rancid Sour Birth Spiritual faculties
Metal. the direction Metal. secretion the sound of Metal
The color white, the season
autumn, (skin)
the climate and Colon
west, and the organs Lungs It fortifies skin and hair. Its sense is mucous.
dryness, reside in
time of the Colon
organ is the nose, and its The time of the Lungs is from 3 to 5 a.m., and the is from 5 to 7 a.m. Metal contains the emotion grief,
of weeping, a rotten smell, and a pungent taste. The power balances. Its life aspect harbors the lower spirit. Also Metal
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includes
the Father, Water
the Creator, is associated and
the Heavens, with
and
the Air. winter, cold,
Water.
the color
blue,
It fortifies bones. Its sense the Kidneys. north, organs are the ears, and its secretion is spittle. The time of the Bladder is from to 3 to 5 p.m., and the time of the Kidneys is from 5 to 7 p.m. the Bladder, of a groaning voice, a and its life Its power emphasizes, putrid odor, aspect is will power. Beyond this, Water has many spiritual points on It contains the primordial stuff of the universe, its very its meridians. Water includes the emotion a salty fear, the sound and taste. essence; and hence the nervous it represents utmost placed control of Water. knew system Also they put blood in the sea of bone marrow (they that marrow made blood) under the control of the Kidneys. in the sea power. The ancient Chinese of bone marrow, under the
that the Kidneys control the later was it "proven" Only centuries that controls the making of red blood bones and secrete a hormone cells. spring, wind, and the Liver. It fortifies ligaments and tendons. east, the Gallbladder, It is our eyes and our tears. The time of day of the Gallbladder is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the time of the Liver is from 1 to 3 a.m. Anger, with a shouting voice, a rancid odor, and a sour taste are associated green, Wood. Wood faculties. its life aspect is spiritual and vision. encompasses creativity spiritual We have a hard time accepting the organs as mother of each Its power is birth, and can the Liver 3)? Western between or Gallbladder research disease be the mother maintains and of the Heart Yet, I "scientific" that there is no Wood. Wood is associated with the color
other. How (see Table
relationship saw three young
gallbladder women die of heart attacks
heart disease.
removed, gallbladders although It encourages me to know disease. An acquaintance who had had two hospitalized cardiologist she had resolved attack). always
after having had their had known no they underlying that others know this connection.
heart attacks was previous with a gallbladder attack. Both the surgeon and the until told her that they would not touch her gallbladder
the cause of the the anger at her husband (perhaps I see a patient who needs gallbladder Whenever surgery, I assist them in dealing with their anger prior to the surgery. of Day. Table 2 shows the times of day. This is the and biological rhythm that indicates when the energy of a
Times circadian
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 57
official peaks in the course of the day. Even Western particular is less toxic at certain science is actually finding that chemotherapy times of the day than at others. Making, and the Liver is the official of Planning. Their peak time is from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. while they are awake. We avoid Hence, people making decisions and many of us the wisdom of this approach, intuitively recognize The Gallbladder to "sleep on" a matter of major consequence. is the time of the Lungs, the Heavens, the Father, choose Spirit; and from time immemorial, time of meditation. in all cultures, From 3 to 5 a.m. Creation, and the the this has been is the official of Decision
From 5 to 7 a.m. is the time of the Colon.
You eliminate
first, then
you take in. This principle operates at all levels. You must eliminate in order to take in new ideas. The and prejudices your judgements time from 7 to 9 a.m. belongs to the Stomach, 11 a.m. belongs to the Spleen/Pancreas. and the time from 9 to
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and The energy of the Heart peaks between 1 that of the Small Intestine peaks between and 3 p.m. From 3 to 5 p.m. is the time of the Bladder. From 5 to 7 p.m. is the time of the Kidneys. From 7 to 9 p.m. is the time of the Heart is the time of the Three Heater. We all have our own time on our level of balance Protector. From 9 to 11 p.m.
of day when we are at our best and harmony. Most people have depending the official a problem around 3 p.m. This is the time of the Bladder, of Energy. In this culture, we tend to draw heavily of the Storehouse on our general Some of energies, and this people by drinking water the Water element. honouring storehouse avoid Emotions. systems, consists The Law of Five Elements, hence we become tired. and at 2:30 or 2:45 p.m.
and
indeed
all Eastern
of cycles and rhythms. As part of nature and the feel the organs, and emotions of the universe, functions, people Each time I speak before a group, I ask season they are experiencing. how many people in the audience have suddenly and unexpectedly felt the emotion of that season. Usually 90 per cent of the audience has had such an experience in the preceding two or three weeks. Naturally, we experience all the emotions to some degree in all the seasons. Some feel like summer, winter, or spring. But the days of autumn with Also the organ associated emotion of the season predominates. a season is more susceptible during this time. On the worse winter
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International Table 3. The
Centre Law
Quarterly (The Shen and K'o Cycles)
of Five Elements
Heart Circulation/Sex Child of by Liver Bladder/ kidneys Mother of of Spleen/pancreas Lung/colon Controlled
(Fire) (Fire) (Wood) (Water) (Earth) (Metal) (Earth) Small intestine/ (Fire) (Wood) (Metal) (Water) Three heater
Small Intestine Three Heater Child of by Gallbladder Bladder/ kidneys Stomach of Lung/colon Controlled Mother of
(Fire) (Fire) (Wood) (Water) (Earth) (Metal) (Earth) Heart, circulation/sex Gallbladder/ liver (Fire) (Wood) (Metal) (Water)
Controller Stomach Child of
Controller
Spleen/Pancreas Child of Controlled Mother of of
Controlled Mother of
by
Gallbladder/ liver Colon
by
Lung Bladder/ kidneys
Controller
of
Bladder/ kidneys
Controller
Lung Child
(Metal) of by Spleen/pancreas Heart, small intestine, lation/sex, three heater circu (Earth) (Fire)
Colon Child of by Stomach Heart, small intestine, cir culation/sex, three heater Controlled
(Metal) (Earth) (Fire)
Controlled
Mother
of of
Kidneys Gallbladder/ liver
(Water) (Wood)
Mother
of of
Bladder Gallbladder/ liver
(Water) (Wood)
Controller
Controller
Bladder Child of by Colon Stomach, sple Controlled Mother of of
(Water) (Metal) (Earth) (Wood) (Fire)
Kidneys Child of Controlled Mother of of by
(Water) Lung Stomach, spleen/pancreas Liver Heart intestine, cir (Metal) (Earth) (Wood) (Fire)
en/pancreas Gallbladder Heart, small intestine, circu lation/ sex, three heater
Controller
Controller
culation/sex, three heater (Wood) Liver Child Mother of by of of Kidneys Lung/colon Heart/circulation/sex (Earth) Controller Stomach, sp(Earth) Controlled (Wood) (Water) (Metal) (Fire)
Gallbladder Child Mother of by of of Bladder Lung/colon Small intestine, three heater, Controller Stomach, sple en/ pancreas Controlled
(Water) (Metal) (Fire)
leen/pancreas
in-summer degrees
50 day that I have ever seen, the temperature dropped for a record low, and I saw more urinary tract infections and disease that day than on any day of my life. More
kidney/bladder
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
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arise in late summer. More lung, skin, or colon complaints in autumn. variations Indeed, many of the seasonal problems appear of illnesses known to Western medicine can be predicted by this ancient system. Let us now examine the various emotions within the Shen
stomach
Cycle. joy. Joy is the mother of the emotion of the Earth, sympathy or empathy. In the holy Indian scripture, Bhagavad to the joys Gita, empathy is the statement, "When a person responds and sorrows highest mother emotion as if they were his own, he has attained the of spiritual union" in turn, is the (6:32). Empathy, of grief, the emotion of Metal. Grief is the mother of fear, the state of Water. Fear is the mother of others
Fire is the emotion
of anger, the emotion of Wood. And although many people question this, anger is the mother of joy. For example, one minute a child may be screaming at you in anger, and the next he may be bouncing on your lap, joyous as can be. If you ask about his anger, he may not even remember it. He has passed from anger to joy in accordance with nature's law of mother/child. Also arguments are often followed by the joy of recognition. Anger thus leads to the heart. medicine is now the role of anger in recognizing illness. Suppression of anger creates a lot of disease. Fire contains the cardiovascular and the small the site of most ulcers. intestine, system When anger is suppressed and blocked, it cannot feed the Fire and flow into joy and serious problems arise in the fire. The heart, blood vessels, and small intestine do not receive the Wood energy, and disease sets in. Cardiovascular diseases kill more people than the other top five causes of death combined. Most people who work with cancer patients know that they have a lot of repressed anger, often manifested as frustration, bitterness, hatred, or envy. These feelings play a major outcome. role in the development of cancer as well as in its Western
in our society. is the Suppressed anger is endemic Anger forbidden emotion because we hold it as sinful. Sometimes it is appropriate appropriate anger rather natural laws to be sad, or afraid, or in need of sympathy, but it is never to be angry. We are encouraged from birth to repress than to appropriately express and thwarts all efforts to maintain it. This balance defies all the and harmony. communication of it will hold anything inI don't
To rid yourself of anger, often a simple suffice. A lot of patients say, "Well, I don't
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to worry about it. I just blow my top and it's gone." Blowing You should not have to blow your top. You your top is pathological. should not suppress the anger until it reaches boiling point and leads have to an explosion.
a second major cycle, the K'o this is important to all areas of Chinese Cycle. Understanding but particularly to the areas of emotions, thoughts, medicine The and behaviour. The K'o Cycle is the cycle of mastery or control. As arrows in Figure 2 illustrate Table 3 indicates, Earth; will wash One a limited Water (burns) is the controller Metal. Metal of Fire; for Water controls (cuts) Fire. Fire controls controls which puts out Wood. Wood have floods,
for, if we cut down
all trees, we shall
Water. the Earth away. Earth controls (dams) that there are of the Chinese is lesson approach important of emotions. overwhelmed. from this prevents people Knowing You can feel joy or the lack of joy, sympathy grief or the lack of grief, fear or the lack of of similar calls. The caller
number
becoming or the lack of sympathy, fear, anger or the lack of anger. I receive a number Every autumn "I'm I answer, "No
depressed." you're says, Mary or Mike." Then he or she says, "Okay, I'm sad." I respond with, "No, you're not sad. You are John or Mary or Mike." Next he or she says, "I feel depressed." intellectual I tell
not. You
are John or
is a the caller that depression is To "feel" depressed impossible. concept. sophisticated It is not a feeling. Then finally the caller says, "Okay, I feel sad." I say, Welcome to the human race. The whole universe "Ah, ha! Wonderful. feels sad. acorns It's autumn, the trees are sad. The leaves are falling, the insects are dying. The whole often helps a Why should you be any different?" This conversation and from nature. Also, in alienation from the self deal relieving great or "being" than "feeling" feeling sad is far less overwhelming depressed Time frustrated, and thus easier and again, and you cannot to manage. I hear, "I'm frustrated." No, you are not are dying, the is sad. universe
like possibly feel frustrated. Frustration, that contains no a intellectual is concept sophisticated depression, is a frustration is anger. Frustration emotion. The feeling behind because we in and mental force illness, physical major pathogenic suppress the anger, intellectualize it as frustration, and it eats away
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
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inside useful
us.
controlled instance,
2 indicates, anger is mothered by fear and whenever are be Hence, you by grief. angry, it would to ask, "What am I afraid of? What am I sad about?" For As Figure
if you feel annoyed by having to wait in traffic, if you feel angry at the "bum" who cut you off, ask yourself those questions. You may discover that you are afraid that you will feel embarrassed at being late and that people will think ill of you. Also you may feel loss of prestige and self-esteem. As you sad due to the anticipated find the cause of the anger, it will dissipate. Since anger is generated by fear, it follows that the most violent of the greatest fear. Paranoia is an abnormal fear, anger is indicative that is not real. Paranoia is the diagnosis that the fear of something fear most, for they know that those psychiatry ward staff perhaps in Western are prone to violence. This is-an acknowledgment psychiatry of the concept that fear is the mother of anger. will not say, "I am The next big issue is guilt. Most people patients guilty." That is too heavy. Instead, they say, "I feel guilty". No one notion. If you look into feels guilty, because guilt is an intellectual force and that that it is very powerful yourself, you will discover of your life is run by guilt. The emotion fear of retribution. much under guilt is fear, the
You can change your life with these three things: know that you that you never are or feel frustrated, and never are or feel depressed, that you never feel guilty. On the other hand, it is fine to feel sad, to the human race. angry, or afraid. Welcome we do not express or feel something, Often when we experience it. Eventually our mind it. We run it through the mind and suppress determine our feel. Our to determine how we concepts begins when parents tell This process often begins in childhood, us how we feel. Being as we are is far easier than trying to be how we are not. It takes no effort and no energy to feel sad when we feel sad emotions. or to feel angry when we feel angry. energy trying to be unlike ourselves. "feel" Yet we spend For example, a great deal if we begin of to
we waste all our energy a little depressed, ourselves for being depressed, or blaming depressed that we should the sadness,
trying not to be since we believe
It is more natural to feel and not be depressed. At the very it and then quickly goes away. experience To live fully and to least, it does not interfere with our functioning. is to feel own emotions be the master of your angry when you feel
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angry, sad when you feel sad, afraid when Mastery is being how you are.
you feel afraid, and so on.
The K'o Cycle is written in our hearts. We all Empathy/Fear. know it at some level, but many of us do not function by it. Mastery of the emotions involves the K'o Cycle of control. The knowing emotion is the antidote of the emotion it controls. Fear is controlling controlled by empathy, not by love or joy as is often thought. You can tell someone who is afraid that you love him or her, and it does no good. But if you tell the person that you understand, absolutely the fear lessens. If you tell a child who just fell down, "Mommy loves if it does not But look the child in the and you," help. you eye say, "Hey, that must really hurt," he or she stops cold, looks up at you, and said, "Yes, it does hurt." The child experiences that you know the feeling. I treated a man who was beaten and robbed. He had received a lot of love from others, but he still had numerous When symptoms. I empathized with this fear, he fully recovered. is the Empathy antidote. We often use empathy as the antidote for sadness results. When we say to a friend whose very disappointing mother has just died, "I know how you feel," the reaction is, "You can't possibly know how I feel. This is my experience, not yours." Yet Joy/Sorrow. with if we put our hand on the friend's shoulder and tell him that we care, the grief starts to subside. The antidote for grief is love and joy. Joy is a major preventer and cure of depression. There Anger/Sympathy. Anger is the antidote for sympathy. are people who are grand victims, and they carry a sign that says, "Give me sympathy." On their back, they have another sign that are sympathy that will soak up every ounce of your energy and still not be sponges satisfied. They usually evoke an angry reaction. I saw a woman in the emergency room who was receiving says, step people intravenous medication to treat her asthma. she was to any of the drugs, nobody understood it, enough. because She was not responding wailing on and on about how and I said, "I am a doormat, on me." These
"Stop Shut up." The residents thought my bedside manner left to be desired. I said to her, "Your job is to stop wheezing. something It is not to lie here and moan. Your problems will not be solved in this emergency room. The only thing that will be decided here is whether
her. I walked
in on this scene
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
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we take you out of here in a box or we move you up to a bed. Your and we are giving you the best medicines to job is to stop wheezing, help you do the job." Even as I said this, you could hear the wheezing This patient never had another emergency room visit. When I she began to wheeze, she would call me, and helped her get in touch with her own anger; the wheezing always stopped. subside. The best way to obtain sympathy is to ask for it. Simply say to a friend, "Jean, I need some sympathy. How about it?" If she agrees, you have your sympathy. Or she may say, "I'm tired; I can't give you any right now, wait until later. Let's have a drink first and relax." All sympathy needs can be met this way.
Some say sadness is a quiet anger. That is an Grief/Anger. the antidote for and controller observation because is interesting grief it helps to express it: "It of anger. If you react to anger with sadness, makes me dissipate to draw blood will seeing you angry." Very often this response the anger. When I was a junior medical student, I was asked sad
from a man who had just beaten up six police officers. As I entered the room, he screamed at me, "What do you want?" He He became even was a giant of a man, and I trembled as I explained. I looked up at him and said, "You angrier and refused to cooperate. it really makes me sad to see you like this." went from violent to peaceful, and I had no problem know, he Immediately carrying out my did of it. Of The course, it cannot be assignment. expression grief to try to deal with anger, but Often we use sympathy phony. generally it does not work.
I M
] he Law universe,
of Five nature,
Elements and
is not only but also ourselves, chart
a map of the an exquisite
dences voice,
The Chinese used all of the correspon diagnostic system. and associations (Table 2), including color, the sound of the emotion,
the smell, as well as the pulses on to to diagnose imbalance, predisposition and the type and extent of imbalance. imbalance, and aims to evaluate the state of balance The art of diagnosis the predominant the wrist, and dreams of the Ch'i, the Life Force, the Universal We Energy. lack of balance. "I enjoy liver," of blue," may
harmony
indicate or deficiencies already noted that excesses "I like green," Statements such as "I prefer summer," care for liver," "I am not fond "I don't especially
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indicate blue," a week,"
balance. "I detest
who say, "I can't stand summer," "I despise "I can't live without several liver times red," eating are manifesting excesses and show a lack of balance or
Those
harmony in an element. In the diagnostic system, the law of mother / child must be borne in mind. According to it, if the mother becomes sick, she cannot nurture the child, and it, in turn, becomes may be due ill. Thus, an imbalance in the mother Wood in of a particular element that element. An imbalance in disease tastes, in abnormal to the imbalance that controls
in the flow of Ch'i
in the liver or gallbladder, in a craving and resentment, and in acute anger
may result or avoidance of sour and chronic
back pain. However, the imbalance also may cause the childFire to scream, so that the person in the heart, may have symptoms sexual organs, endocrine circulation, system, and so on. in the flow of Ch'i energy that controls Water may as of it; excess up kidney disease; a craving for salt or avoidance sexual inadequacy; and fear; lack of willpower, drive, or resolve; Imbalance show no sense pathway is then as But the problem pain diagnosed psychosomatic. made clear by a practitioner skilled in Chinese medicine. Pachuta, Branson, & Measures, 1973). problems meridian with cold. A person that makes can even pain radiating to Western doctors. have on a Such
is readily (See also
A person in a state of disharmony is predominantly with colored one or more of the following five colors, regardless of skin color. Green is the color of anger (Wood). We are all familiar with the expression, "Green with envy." Envy is an intellectualisation of In "You look The liver and anger. England they say, livery." are on the green circle and are associated with anger. We gallbladder say, "He has a lot of gall." That comes from a place of anger. Red is the color of joy (Fire); yellow is the color of empathy (Earth); white is the color of grief (Metal); blue is the color of fear (Water). With training and by letting go of your barriers, it is not hard to see these colors. The color, of course, is associated with all the other correspondences Sound. of that element.
Color.
of anger is shouting. Some people's voices even when they are speaking grate your eardrums softly; others seem to be yelling all the time. The sound of joy is laughing. A voice generally indicates an imbalance in the Fire element. laughing
The sound
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
/ 65
in the mother of Fire it may also point to a problem often brings out The singing voice of Earth, or sympathy, it sings all the time, regardless of the anger in the listener, because content. The voice of Metal, or sadness, is a weeping voice or crying. Of course, (Wood). Some people sound The voice of Water, all the time, even Taste. Wood Each as if they are weeping or fear, is a groaning voice. even at times of great joy. Some people groan
if they win a lottery. of the elements has an associated taste. The taste of the
is sour; the taste of Fire is bitter; the taste of Earth is sweet;
taste of Metal aversion element. element
is pungent; and the taste of Water is salty. A craving or in an for a particular an imbalance taste can indicate It is interesting that the ancient Chinese associated the Earth and a sweet taste, even though
with the spleen/pancreas they did not know about diabetes. Odor. Odor also
odor odor Wood
of Fire is scorched of Metal is rancid.
information. The much diagnostic provides or burnt; the odor of Earth is fragrant; the is rotten; the odor of Water is putrid; and the odor of For instance,
a patient I saw with acute abdominal an pain emitted an odor like perfume, which helped me diagnose smelled infarct in'his spleen, an Earth organ. Another patient distinctly like burned pipe tobacco (Fire). He had chronic hepatitis. The liver is associated with the Wood of the child Each element, screaming which when is the mother the mother of Fire. This is ill. is an example Pulses.
has a pulse. These pulses, six on a great deal. After watching a each wrist, tell a skilled practitioner famous practitioner take a pulse, a cardiologist said, "I, who have taken a hundred thousand pulses, realized that I had never even taken one." In the Western might be considered three. In the Chinese undesirable, Dreams. predominance for zero system, a person who has a pulse of plus three to be better off than the one who has minus system, represents the two conditions harmony. in dreams, either by the element or of are equally balance and
of the 12 officials
Imbalance or
also can be revealed of a
absence
correspondences searching for fire can reveal associated food, the predominance
of that element.
particular Dreams of flames, could involve
an imbalance
or burning, in the Fire element. Dreams an excess yellow, or lack of a fragrant
with the Earth element or absence
of the color
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odor,
a sweet
taste,
and
so
on.
Since indicate
Earth
is associated
with of
assimilation association element. the color
and
connection, associated
dreams with Metal
of disconnection an imbalance contain could
or lack
with others also could Dreams
in the Earth
element could through involve ships, the color blue, fear, groaning, a salty taste, or a putrid odor. Dreams of Wood could focus on plants, forests, the color green, of anger, a sour taste, and a rancid smell. In the interpretation we must always keep in mind the law of mother/child. For a dream of fire may indicate an imbalance in the Wood instance, dreams, element, and so on. system of healing includes a variety of therapies, such as traditional mantra therapy, herbal therapy, acupuncture, and even behavioural These are no therapists, only teachers therapy. of a Way therapies, unbalanced of Life for the whole no matter how Ch'i. Factors. causative The Chinese seven external and propose of disease. The number seven is and bodymindemotionspirit, are directed at different, altering all an The Chinese
a rotten odor, a pungent white, weeping, the air. Dreams associated with the Water
metal objects, taste, or flying
Causative seven internal somewhat
factors
factors of disease mystical. The seven external causative are cold, heat, humidity, fire, dryness, dampness, and wind. Originally there were only five internal causative factors. These were the five emotions: or lack of joy, sympathy, grief, fear, and anger. Later the Chinese added two additional factors: anxiety and constitutional or hereditary factors. The people who know the most about the Chinese system say that they know little and will never master it in one lifetime. It is awe an exquisitely beautiful map of inspiring by its breadth; it provides nature and the universe. Yet it also is reassuring man's by indicating scheme. Lao Tzu provides us with a place in this all-encompassing wonderful summary of the Tao: excess
Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind rest in peace.
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return They grow and flourish and then return to the source. Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Knowing constancy is insight.
DONALD
M. PACHUTA
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Not knowing constancy leads to disaster. Knowing constancy, the mind is open. With an open mind, you will be open-hearted. Being open-hearted, you will act royally. Being royal, you will attain the divine. Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao. Being at one with the Tao is eternal. And though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away.5
Notes
Reprinted The officials to them anatomical From with permission from Charles E. Tuttle to convey referring Company, the broad to the Tokyo, notions idea Japan. ascribed of an
and elements
are capitalized When
in Chinese organ 1972 A. Knopf,
medicine. only
narrower
they are not capitalized. Tzu. Translated and by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. by permission
Tao Te Ching
by Lao by Gia-Fu Inc.
Copyright of Alfred
Feng
Jane English.
Reprinted
Ibid. Ibid.
References
Bean, W.B. (Ed.) (1950), Sir William Osier, aphorism fromhis bedside teachings and
writings. Easwaran, Connelly, MD: Feng, Larre, G.F., Books. C., Schatz, Sarah J., & de la Vallee, Stang The E.R. (1979). Survey of traditional Traditional Chinese medicine, D.M. The New York: Henry Schuman. Gita. Petaluma, CA: Nilgini Press. Columbia, E. (Trans.) (1979). Centre (1985). Bhagavad
Traditional
acupuncture: (1972). Lao
The law of the five elements. Tsu: Tao Te Ching. New
for Traditional J. (Trans.)
Acupuncture. York: Vintage
& English,
Elizabeth
(Trans.).
Columbia,
MD:
Acupuncture of Traditional Institute for
Foundation. Pachuta, D.M. (1981). integration save of east and west. Journal
Acupuncture, Pachuta, D.M.
7:1, 29-34. The life you may be your own. Baltimore:
(1987). Mastery Branson,
Learning Pachuta, D.M.,
Press. B.M., & Measures, of acquired 7:2, pp. foundations MIT Press. Rutland, VT: Tuttle. Bones. J. (1983). Acupuncture and other adjunct Journal of
therapy Traditional Porkert,
in the treatment Acupuncture, Theoretical MA: Zen The
immunodeficiency of Chinese medicine:
syndrome.
27-30. Systems of correspondence.
M. (1974).
Cambridge, Reps, P. (1957).
Flesh,
Zen
/ India Veith,
International (1972). CA:
Centre
Quarterly The Yellow Emperor's Press. York: York: Pantheon Harper vol. Books. & Row. and points. Classic of Internal Medicine.
I., (Trans.) Berkeley, A. (1975).
Nei Ching:
University
of California way. New
Watts, Worsley, Worsley,
Tao, the watercourse Is acupuncture Traditional England:
J.R. (1973). J.R. (1982).
for you? Chinese Element
New
acupuncture, Books.
1. Meridian
Tisbury,
Wiltshire,

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Chinese Medicine: The Law of Five Elements Author(s): DONALD M. PACHUTA Source: India International Centre Quarterly, Vol.

In spring, hundreds offlowers; in autumn,

this chapter we will examine an ancient system of healing. It

healing systems began in religion and philosophy and

persisted and the differences advocacy abandoned several

philosophy pronounced Of course, and

of a mind-body split. the ancient Oriental system of the fourteenth

energy results in illness. namely,

on. Yet it is also whole;

But in the Eastern

gently wrestle with is one or the other. Everything

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;...

modern philosophy. For example, and another

Many coolers, Regardless tradition, or

encompasses the universe function

systems of healing. Much of the Five Element

profound only the shadow

RED BLUE RED GREEN WHITE YELLOW

1 1 1 ' I HI 1 'v 1 v 1 VI 1 VII I VIII 1 IX 1 X 1 * I XII

and officials the student disbelief

of metalthe is the mother

from the earth. metals melt into

government. small circles 12 organs or Table 1 lists official. study by

from the Impure.

the function modern

of the anatomical or even

the benefit are believed

technology function at all levels

the Impure of the Eliminator Waste of the

Storehouse Essence Heart

The Official of Decision

The Official from

Official of Rhythmic Order X

The Official of Rotting

The Official of the

Circulation/Sex, the circulation

the Heart of the blood

and the function of the anatomical

the organs and functions of and the Three Heater (this

centre, the organs

fortifies muscles. saliva.

Muscles Mouth Saliva 7 am-11 am

Skin/hair Nose Mucous 3 am-7 am

Bones Ears Spittle 3 pm-7 am Fear

Ligaments Eyes Tears 11 pm-3 am

Sound Odor Taste Power Life aspect

Laughing Scorched Bitter Mature The spirit

Singing Fragrant Sweet Decrease Ideas/opinions

Weeping Rotten Pungent Balance Lower spirit

Groaning Putrid Salty Emphasise Will power

Shouting Rancid Sour Birth Spiritual faculties

Metal. the direction Metal. secretion the sound of Metal

The color white, the season

the climate and Colon

time of the Colon

the Father, Water

the Creator, is associated and

the Heavens, with

the Air. winter, cold,

other. How (see Table

relationship saw three young