Yin-Yang & the Five Elements: follow the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and be one with the cosmos

According to traditional Chinese medicine philosophy, the human body and mind is a microcosm of our external environment, nature, universe, the macrocosm. This is a holographic relationship and it reflects the ancient Chinese view that humans are an inseparable part of the cosmos, and the same forces, patterns, and laws that govern the universe also govern our inner world.

Yin-Yang and the Five Elements 

The basis of the Yin-Yang relationship by nature is to be mutually opposing- depending, consuming-increasing and transforming. In traditional Chinese medicine, we see the basic causative factor of disease or dis-harmony, in body, mind or spirit, as an imbalance between Yin & Yang.

Wood, fire, earth, metal & water constitute the Five Elements and are the basic substances constituting the material world. This dynamic movement and interconnectedness of the elements and the opposing forces of yin and yang are in an eternal state of flux innately striving for balance & harmony within our universe and body alike. We see this transforming relationship when observing night and day, hot and cold, movement and stillness and the change of the seasons, neither yin nor yang can exist without the other.

These theories of Yin-Yang and Five Elements were created and evolved from the ancient Chinese tradition of observing nature’s cycles and changes and have been applied to various aspects of life including the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) model and explains the physiological actions and pathological changes of the human body and assists practitioners of TCM in differentiating syndromes and determining our clinical treatment plans which may include acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, massage, moxibustion, dietary and lifestyle recommendations.

 The Five Elements as a bridge- between the human body and the natural environment

The Five Element theory assigns each of the five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water a series of abstract generalizations including, different characteristics, functions and forms, the complex inter-relationships between physiology and pathology as well as the correlation between the human body and the natural environment.

This classification of all phenomena refers to the way the natural world, human life and health are understood through systems of categorization and patterns that reflect universal principles.

For example, the Wood element involves aspects of germination, dispersion, softness and harmony, thus anything with those characteristics is included in the category of the wood element. The Wood element in the macrocosm, may be represented by: the season of spring; environmental influence, wind; the orientation, of the east; the development phase of creation & birth (germination); the color green; the flavor, sour; and the grains, wheat and oats. In the microcosm, the body: the liver and gallbladder organs and meridians; the sense organ, eyes; and the sense, sight; the tissues of tendons and sinews; the emotion anger; and the sound, shout.

Fundamental substances that govern the universe also govern our inner world

Elements, climatic and celestial influences are eternally circulating in nature and changing the shape, form, structure and function of our physical environment. At times we see the destruction of these forces in the form of natural disasters,

In the body, the circulation of Qi, blood and body fluids when in optimal health provide considerable support and protect the body from the invasion of exogenous factors (wind, cold, summer-heat, damp, dryness and fire/mild heat), however when out of balance, the body is susceptible to the destruction of these exogenous factors and they can become pathogenic causing disharmony and /or disease.    Again, the body is a mirror of these environmental fundamental substances and in health we see how it sustains the normal physiological functions of the zang-fu organs and tissues I the body.

 Living in harmony with these rhythms

Day-night cycles and the circulation of Qi: Yang qi rises in the day, it is active and warm; and Yin qi dominates at night, it is more restful and cooling. The hormone melatonin is very much influenced by this cycle and its balance disrupted with irregular sleeping hours.

Seasonal cycles and the circulation of Qi involve the following aspects: in spring qi is more yang and it rises and expands; in summer, it is even more yang (hotter), it is flaring, flourishes and expands; in autumn, it contracts and involves growth, nourishment and changing; in winter, storage.

We are healthiest when our lifestyle, diet and emotions move in harmony with these rhythms.

Healing through reconnection

Living in sync with the understanding of the cycles of change in nature and within our body, we have the ability to restore balance and harmony and maintain good health and wellbeing

Seasonal living, eating local foods (chemical free or organic where possible), cultivating emotional balance and aligning work, rest and play with natural cycles supports good health and a harmonious way of life.

Aim to restore balance and harmony within your body (microcosm) and between your body (inner microcosm) and environment (outer macrocosm), supporting the process with traditional Chinese medicine therapies, acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, exercise (qigong & tai chi or whatever exercise suits you best), dietary and lifestyle practices (meditation & relaxation) and be one with the cosmos.