We are very lucky to have the passion and wisdom of 
on the team at Natural Medicine. He quickly found his feet in the collective as a well spring of ideas and support, and you can find him rocking his mod outfit on the Discord server, happy to give TCM advice if needed, and a cheerful hello. You might have caught his post a few weeks ago where he wrote of how Natural Medicine has provided a source of healing to him as well, which really made us feel all gooey inside. He's been involved in the natural health profession, training as a TCM practitioner, running qi-gong classes and dietary health programs and other workshops. Whilst he insists he's ex-TCM, the knowledge he has of it kinda refutes that disclaimer in our book. He's also been hosting the Natural Medicine radio every second Sunday.
How could we even begin to plumb the depths of this kind of knowledge! We thought maybe with something a little familiar to most of us - the 5 elements theory in Chinese Medicine. Enjoy, and feel free to add value to this post by commenting below! We had to cut the interview short when life got in the way, but still, we hope you learn a little here.
We will upvote the comments that add to this post, because it takes a whole community of wisdom to build such knowledge banks, and we totally support that kinda thang!
NM: Most of us have heard of the 5 elements in some capacity as it seems so integral to Chinese thought, theories and practices, such as the martial arts. It always floats around the periphery of our understanding of the world and it's not a difficult stretch for us to imagine, for example, the summer season with 'fire', or a sense of movement and fluidity with 'water'. These seem to be natural, archetypal and symbolic associations that make sense and whenever I personally encounter such theories I find myself nodding as if it's uncovered something I already knew on some level. However, in the interests of deepening our understanding of the 5 element system, can we begin with a basic outline of what the 5 Element Theory is?
MM: Reference to the the 5 elements is found quite early historically - I can’t recall dates at present, but somewhere around the 1st millennium BCE. These are mentioned as fire, soil, metal, water, and wood. They’re described as the fundamental material aspects of existence. But then much later, around the 3rd-2nd centuries BCE something shifts in the understanding of them, and it happens around a time when there was a lot of different philosophical theories being discussed. The 5 elements begin to be referred to as the 5 ‘phases’ or ‘movements’, and the traditional figures of the elements become signifiers of how Qi moves or changes at different times. We actually think this comes from the understanding that these originated as the observation of the 5 planets visible to the naked eye (mercury, Venus, mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). Each of these 5 phases describe a unique movement. So Wood (it should actually be translated as ‘tree’) is a quick-bursting, upwards movement, Fire is an expansive, outwards-spreading movement, Metal is an inwardly-contractive movement, water is a slow, downwards movement, and soil (earth) is a stabilising, holding, and moderating energy.
Each of these 5 phases describe a unique movement. So Wood (it should actually be translated as ‘tree’) is a quick-bursting, upwards movement, Fire is an expansive, outwards-spreading movement, Metal is an inwardly-contractive movement, water is a slow, downwards movement, and soil (earth) is a stabilising, holding, and moderating energy.
Each also have a specific relationship with the other phases, and this is what most people would recognise in the Shengke diagram: a generative relationship, a relationship of constraint, an insulting or rebelling relationship, and an over-active relationship.
So, for example: * Generative - water creates wood, it feeds and nourishes it so it will grow * Constrains - water controls fire and prevents it from getting out of control * Insulting - water insults Earth which would normally control it. So instead of water being dammed or contained by earth, it turns earth (a solid) into something like mud. * Over-acting - water drains metal which would normally be nourishing it, it takes rather than receives. At the same time that these ideas became linked with change, movement, and relationship, they began to form a system of correspondences, which allowed the theory to be applied in multiple contexts. So it could be applied to astronomical patterns, seasonal climatic patterns, and also in humans as evidenced by patterns in physiology and illness.
NM: What I like about this system is the inconnectiveness of the elements - the relationship between all things. Nothing is independent of the other. Personally, for example, I am familiar with the sense of being ungrounded- a windy day can really make me feel unsettled, as if my centre is blown off course (especially if I'm feeling out of sorts to begin with). This elemental understanding thus makes sense to me from a self analytical viewpoint too and even how we move in our bodies. Did you find this to be true as you began to study the 5 elements in depth? Are understandings of these cycles of balance and imbalance something you notice week to week, season to season, hour to hour?
MM: Yeah. Having been familiar with a 4-element system from Western traditions, when I first encountered the 5-element system, everything clicked into place. There was something about a four-fold system that I could never quite reconcile; but 5 elements that constantly changed into each other and affected how each of them operated in the world just worked for me. It’s been about 15 years now; I’d say that the more I immerse myself in the framework has led me to fine tune my felt sense of the world in this way. I can certainly notice it on an annual level, in the changes of the seasons, and even the ‘season’ of each year. But also monthly, and even daily. Not so much from hour to hour... But also, and probably more importantly from a Taoist Alchemy sense, feeling these changes internally within myself, independent on what I observe ‘out there’ in the world. Understanding the elements as ‘phases’ of movement of my internal states has been the key to personal healing and continued growth as a person.
NM: I find it a remarkable and beautiful system, though I’m still yet to learn about it in any depth. I can see parellels with other paradigms that enable a going inward in order to have a more flexble and comfortable relationship with the outer. It's that interoceptive exploration that is often ignored yet if we'd been schooled in this kind of awareness from a young age I think we would be happier human beings! Speaking of the seasons, here in Melbourne we are now in Spring whilst northern climes are in Autumn or Fall. What might be understood about these seasonal changes from an elemental perspective?
MM: So the Taoists use this framework to predict climatic changes to the seasons. The 5-phase system has its origins in astronomy as well as climatic observations, so it’s quite dynamic. The seasons have their times when they are ‘meant’ to be begin in the lunar calendar, as well as their typical conditions. The Taoists observe how a season has been, and then predict what will happen based on the 5-phase Map. So for example, we had a very mild, dry, and windy winter (water element), it started later than normal, and spring (wood) started early - this implies a deficiency of water, and a excess of wood. If we look at the schema, then a lack of water will fail to control fire; combined with an excess of wood which will generate a big fire. The prediction then I that the fire element will also be in excess. That manifest for us a very hot and dry summer.
Taoist medicine practitioners can also apply this kind of predictive modelling, in that illnesses are also affected by the climate and seasons. So one would predict that the kinds of acute illnesses will manifest in the summer months with fever, dry sore throats, dry coughs, rashes, headaches, red eyes, and so on.
NM: Ah, like hayfever?
MM: Yes, that could be one manifestation. Also, for those who may have chronic tendencies to 'Heat' type disorders, these will be exacerbated.... this can be certain types of hypertension, skin conditions, and even maybe anxiety. Heat-stroke and dehydration also being potentially more prevalent than usual – like common cold/flu that is more 'hot' in nature.... can also include things like chicken pox, measles.
NM: So, as a TCM practictioner, how might you apply this elemental understanding to someone who comes to you as a patient?
MM: So the map [see the 5 elements diagram I provided] helps me to determine a couple of things.
Firstly using our models to determine patterns of disharmony, I can see prognosis - For example, if left untreated, where will it go? Perhaps I don't need to do anything as the illness will resolve (there is a lot of evidence coming from Harvard studies into placebo which are showing this more and more). Or maybe it'll get worse, in which case I know where to focus my attention and interventions to have the best effect.
Secondly, the map also therefore shows me the nature of what and how any intervention I need to make. So let's use High Blood Pressure as an example. I can see the problem is too much FIRE, then I can either supplement WATER to douse it (by improving kidney function), or drain it using EARTH (improve digestion to reduce blocked arteries). But if I strengthen WATER, I also will increase WOOD (circulation), which could end up boosting FIRE, so that may not be the best approach. And if I strengthen EARTH, I may diminish WATER, which then cannot constrain FIRE... so again maybe not appropriate to get the best result. BUT, if I boost the body's METAL energies (improve respiration), then I also strengthen WATER, and I can insult FIRE at the same time. The elements are metaphors, so they stand in for descriptions of physiological processes, organs, and also channels to use in acupuncture treatment.
