What Are the Five Elements?

The Five Elements refer to the elements of Nature that underlie all creation. They are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Because we, as human beings, are also a part of Nature, each of these Elements lives within us.

The Chinese developed a system of correspondences relating to the Elements. For example, the Element of Wood corresponds to the physical organs of the liver and gall bladder, and relates to our ability to have a vision of our future and make plans and appropriate decisions in order to manifest that vision. Thus, each of the Elements relates to specific organs, emotions, abilities, and functions. There are other correspondences as well, such as the seasons, time of day, color, sound, and odor, among others.

In order to be in a state of perfect health, each of these Elements needs to be healthy and balanced within us. We know, however, that we are not in a state of perfect health. Why is this so? According to Classical Five-Element theory, at birth or in early childhood a constitutional weakness is present or develops in one of the Elements. Eventually this weakness begins to affect the other Elements, in a domino-like effect.

The Element that is the basis for the imbalances a patient may experience is called the CF (Causative Factor). Because the CF is the root cause of imbalance, it is the focal point of treatment, in order to create a reverse domino effect that restores health and balance.