The core concept of traditional Chinese medicine is the theory of elements yin yang and five elements, which originated from ancient philosophy and summarized natural and human phenomena. This theory explains the interdependence, restraint and transformation of five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) and yin yang (two opposite forces). The theory of elements yin yang and five elements are applied in the diagnosis (observation, auscultation, interrogation, palpation) and treatment (acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, diet therapy) of traditional Chinese medicine, which has achieved remarkable results. Understanding this theory is key to learning and applying traditional Chinese medicine.
Overview of Elements Yin Yang and Five Elements
Yin yang and five elements are the basis of traditional Chinese medicine theory and the core of the academic system of traditional Chinese medicine. It is the product of ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts and a theory that summarizes and generalizes the natural and human life phenomena systematically. Yin yang and five elements include five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, as well as the two poles of yin and yang.
Concept of Yin Yang
1. Origin of Yin Yang
Yin yang originated from ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts, and first appeared in the Book of Changes. The Book of Changes believes that everything in the world has a division of yin and yang, and these two opposite forces depend on and restrain each other.
2. Meaning of Yin Yang
(1) Yin: refers to the nature of things that gather, condense, contract and consume inwardly
(2) Yang: refers to the nature of things that diffuse, expand, grow and create outwardly
(3) There are relationships of interdependence, restraint, and transformation between yin and yang
3. When yang is prosperous, it declines; when yin is prosperous, it grows
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that there is also a division of yin and yang within the human body. If a person’s yin qi is too strong, it will cause cold symptoms in the body; if a person’s yang qi is too strong, it will cause heat symptoms in the body. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes that the balance of yin and yang is very important.
Concept of Elements Yin Yang and Five Elements
1. Origin of Five Elements
Five elements originated from ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts, and first appeared in the Book of Changes. The Book of Changes believes that everything in the world is composed of five elements, and these five elements depend on, restrain, and transform each other.
2. Meaning of Five Elements
- Wood: represents growth, expansion and creation.
- Fire: represents passion, vitality and brightness.
- Earth: represents stability, heaviness and security.
- Metal: represents solidity, convergence and essence.
- Water: represents fluidity, penetration and moistening.
3. Relationships of Five Elements
- Generating and overcoming relationship: wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water, water generates wood; the opposite is overcoming.
- Overcoming and generating relationship: wood overcomes earth, earth overcomes water, water overcomes fire, fire overcomes metal, metal overcomes wood; the opposite is generating.
- Harmonizing relationship: wood harmonizes with earth, earth harmonizes with water, water harmonizes with wood, fire harmonizes with metal, metal harmonizes with fire.
Application of Elements Yin Yang and Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
1. Observation method
The observation method of traditional Chinese medicine mainly observes the patient’s complexion, tongue coating, eye color and other external manifestations. It judges the imbalance of yin yang and five elements in the patient’s body.
2. Auscultation method
The auscultation method of traditional Chinese medicine mainly listens to the patient’s voice, abdominal bowel sounds and other sounds. It judges the imbalance of elements yin yang and five elements in the patient’s body.
3. Interrogation method
The interrogation method of traditional Chinese medicine mainly asks the patient about the physical symptoms, medical history and other information, and comprehensively judges the imbalance of yin yang and five elements in the patient’s body.
4. Palpation method
The palpation method of traditional Chinese medicine mainly touches the patient’s pulse, muscles and other parts, and judges the imbalance of yin yang and five elements in the patient’s body.
Application of Elements Yin Yang and Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
1. Acupuncture treatment
Acupuncture treatment is a method used by traditional Chinese medicine, which can adjust the balance of yin yang and five elements in the human body through acupuncture, and achieve the effect of curing and preventing diseases.
2. Herbal medicine treatment
Herbal medicine treatment is a common treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, which can adjust the balance of yin yang and five elements in the human body through taking herbal medicine, and achieve the effect of curing and preventing diseases.
3. Massage
Massage is a common treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, which can adjust the balance of yin yang and five elements in the human body through massaging the acupoints and meridians, and achieve the effect of curing and preventing diseases.
4. Diet therapy
Diet therapy is a common treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, which can adjust the balance of yin yang and five elements in the human body through eating foods with specific effects, and achieve the effect of curing and preventing diseases.
The bottom line
Elements Yin Yang and Five Elements are the basis of traditional Chinese medicine theory, which profoundly reflects ancient Chinese philosophical thoughts. In the diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, the theory of yin yang and five elements is widely applied and has achieved remarkable results. Therefore, it is necessary to deeply understand the theory of yin yang and the five elements when learning and applying traditional Chinese medicine knowledge.
