The Metal Element

[Guest guest]

Here is some additional information on the Metal Element. Some

readers may be wondering from other posts why chronic constipation

points to the Metal Element. The Lungs are the Yin Metal Organ, but

the Large Intestine is the Yang Metal Organ.

 

http://www.jenniferharper.com/nineways.asp?content=metal

 

The Metal Element

Boosting your Immune System

Better Breathing

Super Skin

Letting Go of Grief

Eliminating Toxins from your Bowels

Partner Organs: The lungs and large intestine are the partner organs

for the Metal Element. The lungs expel carbon dioxide, and the large

intestine eliminates solid residue. If this waste is not eliminated

frequently it can have an effect on the skin. The skin is known in

TCM as 'the third lung'; it is part of the Metal Element and can

reflect sluggish bowels (toxins that remain in the colon for too

long will be discharged through the skin). The bowel is one of the

most important routes of elimination for self-cleansing, and works

together with the kidneys, bladder, lungs and skin to help eliminate

waste efficiently from the body. It contains friendly bacteria which

can synthesize B vitamins and help to keep the level of harmful,

pathogenic bacteria to a minimum.

 

Climate: Dryness: a passion for dry weather or, conversely, a hatred

of it point to a Metal Element imbalance. In nature, Autumn reflects

dryness, as seen in the leaves when they lose their moisture,

shrivel up and 'let go' of the branches they have hung on to since

Springtime.

 

Season: Autumn, the time to reflect on the past year and to prepare

for withdrawing as the Winter months close in. It is a time to

protect the back of the neck from the winds, which begin to get

cooler, otherwise you will be more susceptible to minor illnesses

after the hot Summer months.

 

Colour: White. Someone obsessed with wearing white or who strongly

dislikes the colour can be demonstrating an imbalance in the Metal

Element. A white hue coming off the face is also indicative of lung

problems according to TCM, just as a very white or pale skin in

Western medicine is considered a sign that the lungs are too tight

or there is local congestion, constricting the circulation.

 

Time of day: 3-5 a.m. (lungs): if there are problems with this organ

you may wake up between these times and even experience breathing

difficulties. This shows that there are unresolved issues around the

emotion of grief, which corresponds to the Metal Element. Extreme

grief is injurious to the lungs, and a person who is going through a

period of grieving will often have bowel problems. The time of day

for the large intestine is 5-7 a.m.; according to TCM this is the

best time of day to have your first bowel movement. If there are any

imbalances in the bowel, getting up between these times will

encourage the body to rid itself efficiently of toxins held in the

bowel.

 

Body Tissue: The skin is seen as the third lung and breathes just as

surely and necessarily as the lungs themselves. The link between

lung problems and the skin is quite well documented in Western

medicine: it is common for children who have been given suppressive

skin treatments for eczema to go on to develop asthma. It is known

that many skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, rough, dry skin

and rashes reflect an imbalance in the body that relates directly to

the lungs. The correlation of the skin with the lungs and

respiratory function is an important diagnostic tool in Chinese

medicine. Elimination is also associated with the skin, since the

skin is involved in the process of ridding the body of wastes. In

Japan there is also an ancient belief that the skin reflects the

condition of the internal organs: if the latter are fatigued in any

way, it will reflect on our skin. Dead sea salts can greatly improve

the texture and appearance of your skin. They are an extremely rich

source of minerals including potassium, magnesium and calcium. These

relaxing and restorative minerals allow for the absorption of more

moisture, contributing to softer, smoother skin.

 

Voice sound: The sound of the Metal Element is a weeping tone of

voice, which does not always coincide with actual tears. There is

often a sense of sadness and loss, grief being the emotion of the

Metal Element. The voice will invariably be very soft, too, almost

angelic or ethereal.

 

Sense Organ: We usually breathe through the nose. In TCM, the lungs

are never separated from the nose, which is the sense organ of the

Metal Element. Problems which affect the nose have a direct bearing

on the lungs; equally, lung problems are often accompanied by

disturbances in the nasal fluids. The secretion for this element is

mucus, from any of the mucous membranes in the body. A deficiency of

mucus can show that the body is over-heated, causing dryness on the

surface of the skin. Alternatively, an excessive amount of mucus

indicates an imbalance in the lungs. Therefore, dryness in the

throat or nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, aching in the lungs,

rasping, nasal drip and sinus blockages can all be related to the

Metal Element is not properly balanced.

 

Reflector: Body hair is the physical manifestation of the Metal

Element. Excessive body hair or the loss of body hair points to an

imbalance. The hair on our head, however, is ruled by the kidneys.

 

Symptoms of Imbalance: Oedema, wet skin, excessive mucus and

abnormal perspiration patterns are connected with the lungs, as the

lungs, along with the Water Element, play an important role in the

regulation of body fluids. Conversely, deficiencies of moisture can

cause severe dryness in the body, signs of which may be lack of

secretions, emaciation, anaemia, poor appetite and a white, ethereal

appearance. The skin will be tight and therefore perspiration

sparse. The large intestine has the ability, on a higher level, to

generate movement forwards in our lives, encouraging evolution and

change. Constriction and cynical behaviour patterns emerge if the

energy of the large intestine is poor. In TCM, nose bleeds, sore

throat, neck swelling, thirst and a dry mouth, toothache and pain

along the relevant meridian are all symptoms of an imbalance in the

large intestine. When there are intestinal disorders, including

chronic constipation, the blood can become congested in the colon.

[Guest guest]

* victoria_dragon; <victoria_dragon on 14 May, 2005 wrote:

>Here is some additional information on the Metal Element. Some

>readers may be wondering from other posts why chronic constipation

>points to the Metal Element. The Lungs are the Yin Metal Organ, but

>the Large Intestine is the Yang Metal Organ.

 

I am a student at the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Leamington Spa,

and 5E is the style we are being taught.

 

I would like to add couple of things. In my opinion it is better to

think in terms of phases rather then elements as they are moving things

not static situations.

 

Su Wen Chapter 8 says

 

" The Lungs hold the office of minister and chancellor. The regulation of

life giving network stems from it "

 

" The Large Intestine holds the office of convetance; the transmutation

and transformation exit from here "

 

In Chinese the idiogram used to represent this phase is showing Gold

under the earth. Gold is precious and used for spirituality, Egyptian

Pharaoh mummies had a gold mask on their faces, buried inside the tombs.

 

As for the white, it is used for spirituality as well, " enlightment " is

a word which is connected with this concept. White also mean pure,

clean. So the Metal CF will mostly be a perfectionist, taking the

details into consideration. Self-worth is IMHO is also a characteristic

of this CF.

 

In 5E style, the whole idea is to try to see the patient in his/her

balanced situation. As each phase has its virtues and together they make

the human being. We all have a predominant CF (Causative Factor), as

long a the harmony is present in body, mind and spirit the person is

healthy. That is my understanding of 5E style of acupuncture.

 

So in my opinon in order to understand the phase one needs to look to

the virtues also as this would show the situation in harmony.

 

 

 

--

Togan Muftuoglu

He who knows does not speak

He who speaks does not know.

-- " Tao Teh Ching #56 "