Taste and the 5 Elements

[Guest guest]

5 Element Theory is fairly advanced TCM. I recommend learning 5

Element Theory because it can enable healers to better analyze and

better treat imbalances. This is very apparent when one starts to

look at how diet and flavors of herbs can affect individuals.

 

The 5 Elements are Wood (Liver and Gall Bladder), Fire (Heart and

Small Intestine), Earth (Spleen and Stomach), Metal (Lungs and Large

Intestine), and Water (Kidneys and Bladder).

 

Think of 5 Elements as enlarging the understanding of TCM

physiology. For example, one 5 Element relationship is that

of " Mother and Son " . What this says is that each element " generates "

the following element. Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth,

Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates

Wood. The way the Chinese put it is that Wood is the Mother of Fire,

and Fire is the Son of Wood.

 

If a particular Element is weak, it cannot generate its son. For

example, if Water is weak (Kidneys, Bladder), then the Son, Wood

(Liver, Gall Bladder), won't get what it needs from Water, its

Mother. For example, if Kidney Yin is Deficient, then eventually

Liver Yin will be Deficient because the Kidneys supply the Yin to the

Liver (and the rest of the body). If the " Mother " , the Kidneys

doesn't have the Yin to supply, the " Son " , the Liver, won't get

enough Yin.

 

Liver Yin Deficient can arise from different causes. Sometimes the

correct treatment is to treat the Liver directly. But sometimes the

correct treatment for the Liver Yin Deficiency is to treat the

Kidneys. By treating the Kidneys and taking care of its Yin

Deficiency, the Kidneys now have enough Yin to pass on to the Liver.

 

The Mother - Son rule states that if one tonifies the Mother, the Son

automatically will be tonified too. In this particular example,

tonifying the Kidney Yin automatically makes Yin available to the

Liver. The Mother now has enough Yin to pass onto the Son.

 

Another 5 Element relationship is that of Control, aka " Victor-

Vanquished " . This states that each Element controls another. Wood

controls Earth, Fire Controls Metal, Earth controls Water, Metal

controls Wood, and Water controls Fire.

 

This is an inverse relationwhip. If the Controlling Element is

tonified or in Excess, this will sedate or suppress the controlled

Element. For example, Wood (Liver, Gall Bladder) Controls Earth

(Spleen, Stomach). If the Liver is in Excess, this can suppress the

Spleen or Stomach. In this case the person's diegestive system

problems aren't aren't arising in the Spleen; they're being caused by

the Liver being in Excess. All the Spleen tonic formulas in the

world are not going to cure the imbalance and those digestive

problems because they are not arising in the Spleen itself but in the

Liver. That Liver Excess has to be treated so the Liver will

stop " Invading " the Spleen. Sedate the Victor, and the Vanquished

will be tonified. Tonify the Victor, and the Vanquished will be

sedated. It's an inverse relationship.

 

So how does this relate to the taste of herbs and foods? The sour

taste is related to the Liver (Wood). If the Liver is in Excess

(Liver Invading Spleen or Liver Invading Stomach), you want to go

light on the herbs and foods with a sour taste. Otherwise, they are

going to further increase the Excess in the Liver which further

suppresses the Spleen (or Stomach).

 

" The 'Spiritual Axis' in chapter 56 deals with the effect of the five

tastes. It says: 'The sour taste goes to the Liver, the bitter taste

goes to the Heart, the sweet taste goes to the Spleen, the pungent

taste goes to the Lungs, the salty taste goes to the Kidneys ... if

the Liver is diseased one should not eat pungent foods' (because

Metal (Lungs) control Wood (Liver)), if the Heart is diseased on

should not eat salty foods' (because Water (Kidneys) controls Fire

(Heart)), if the Spleen is diseased one should not eat sour foods'

(because Wood (Liver) controls Earth (Spleen)), 'if the Kidney is

diseased one should not eat sweet foods'(because Earth (Spleen)

controls Water (Kidneys)), 'if the Lung is diseased one should not

eat bitter foods' (because Fire (Heart) controls Metal (Lungs)).

 

" Thus, if an organ is diseased one should avoid the taste related to

the Element that controls that organ along the Controlling sequence. "

(Giovanni Maciocia, The Foundations of , p. 33.)

 

Victoria

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon " wrote:

> " The 'Spiritual Axis' in chapter 56 deals with the effect of the

five tastes. >>>

 

 

You can also read Su Wen chapters 66-74 for the rules about 5

elements---as well as 10 stems and 12 branches. It also provides an

alternate theory to the Shan Han Lun for the development of cold/flu

and other seasonal disorders.

 

 

Jim Ramholz

[Guest guest]

About the tea and taste. It seems that the tea could be taken in different

strengths. Hand steeping instead of brewing could make your tea strength less or

more according to your taste. Teas and herb brews are sometimes associated with

color. We have discussed sounds as notes for healing and also tastes. The

importance of each should be included in your diagnosis and diet

reccomendations. Each element water, wood, earth, metal ,fire have to be

considered in the age of the patient and the hour of their birth. Tastes , like

bitter, sweet etc. has a corresponding color. If you are making your teas,

sometimes color can be a factor. How about a banana, honey and aloe tea for

softening? Sometimes we can match a heat or coldness in order to fight it. Like

fighting fire with fire. Any other tea ideas?

James Ramholz <jramholz wrote:Chinese Traditional Medicine ,

" victoria_dragon " wrote:

> " The 'Spiritual Axis' in chapter 56 deals with the effect of the

five tastes. >>>

 

 

You can also read Su Wen chapters 66-74 for the rules about 5

elements---as well as 10 stems and 12 branches. It also provides an

alternate theory to the Shan Han Lun for the development of cold/flu

and other seasonal disorders.

 

 

Jim Ramholz