The FIVE-ELEMENT THEORY describes energetic balances and correspondences within the body and outside the body, and how these interact to generate health or dis-ease.
The FIVE-ELEMENT THEORY provides a means of organizing and grouping concepts into a workable whole.
The "Laws of the Five-Elements", that are depicted above and stated below, should be seen as tendencies towards transformation:
| Creative Cycle | Controlling Cycle |
|---|---|
| Wood tends to create Fire | Wood tends to control Earth |
| Fire tends to create Earth | Fire tends to control Metal |
| Earth tends to create Metal | Earth tends to control Water |
| Metal tends to create Water | Metal tends to control Wood |
| Water tends to create Wood | Water tends to control Fire |
| ELEMENT | WOOD | FIRE | EARTH | METAL | WATER |
| Yin Organ | Liver | Heart | Spleen | Lungs | Kidneys |
| Yang Organ | Gall Bladder | Sm. Intestine | Stomach | Lg. Intestine | Bladder |
| DIRECTION | East | South | *Centre | West | North |
| CYCLE | Birth Dawn Awakening | Growth Midday Wakefulness | Maturity Late Afternoon Transition | Harvest Dusk Quieting | Rest Midnight Slumber |
| SEASON | Spring | Summer | *Indian Summer | Fall | Winter |
| WEATHER | Wind | Heat | Damp | Dry | Cold |
| CLOCK | 11pm-3am | 11am-3pm 7pm-9pm | 7am-11am | 3am-7am | 3pm-7pm |
| YIN STORES | Blood | Shen | Ying/Nutritive | Qi | Jing |
| COLOR | Green | Red | Yellow | White | Black |
| EMOTION | Anger Decisiveness | Joy | Worry Harmonizing | Grief Sustainability | Fear Determination |
| ORIFICE | Eyes | Tongue | Mouth | Nose | Ears |
| SENSE | Vision | Speech | Taste | Smell | Hearing |
| RESIDUES | Nails | Complexion | Lips | Body Hair | Head hair |
| BODY TISSUES | Tendons/Sinews Nerves | Blood Vessels Blood | Flesh  Muscles | Skin Fascia | Bone/Teeth Marrow |
| BODY FLUID | Tears | Sweat | Saliva/Sticky | Mucous | Saliva/Watery |
| TONGUE | Sides | Tip | Center | Behind Tip | Root |
| TASTE | Sour | Bitter | Sweet | Pungent/Hot | Salty |
| SOUND | Shouting | Laughter | Singing | Weeping | Groaning |
| ODOR | Rancid | Burned | Sweet | Rank | Putrid/Musty |
| LABOR | Walking | Watching | Sitting | Lying Down | Standing |
| ACTION | Dispersing | Softening | Harmonizing | Restraining | Hardening |
| OFFICE | General | Sovereign | Min. of Agricul. | Architect | Treasurer |
| DUTY | Planning | Ruling | Nourishing | Create Order | Store Essence |
| STORAGE | Soul | Consciousness | Intent | Vitality | Determination |
| SPIRIT | Hun/Yang Soul | Shen/Spirit | Yi/Thought | Po/Yin Soul | Zhi/Will |
| VIRTUE | Benevolence | Righteousness | Faith | Decorum | Wisdom |
* The Earth phase corresponds to a short period at the end of each season (approximately 18 days). In other words, at the end of each season the energy goes back to the "Centre" for replenishment. For this reason, the Earth does not correspond to any season in particular.
Calvin Dale Smith, BA, MSc, DOM
Doctor of Oriental Medicine (USA)
Riverside Acupuncture and Wellness Centre
2211 Riverside Dr., Suite 106
Ottawa, ON K1H 7X5
613-232-5888
cdalesmith at calvindale.com