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Kidney Yin or Yang Deficiency
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Fear affecting Heart
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Water failing to nourish Wood → Liver Wind from Kidney Yin Xu
Water Pathology
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Spleen Qi Deficiency
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Damp accumulation
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Earth not nourishing Metal (Lung)
Earth Pathology
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Lung Qi Deficiency or Dryness
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Grief damaging Lung
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Metal failing to control Wood → asthma from emotional stress
Metal Pathology
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Liver Qi Stagnation
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Liver Fire rising
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Liver overacting on Spleen
Wood Pathology
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Heart Fire disturbing Shen
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Pericardium Heat
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Fire exhausting Yin (e.g. KI Yin Deficiency failing to control Fire)
Fire Pathology
The Five Elements Theory (五行 Wǔ Xíng) is a fundamental diagnostic and therapeutic model in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It describes five dynamic forces — Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土), Metal (金), Water (水) — that govern and regulate all natural and physiological processes, including pathology. In pathology, the Five Elements explain how disharmony in one organ/system can affect others, either through deficient nourishment or excessive control. The theory is particularly powerful for understanding organ relationships, emotional imbalance, energetic cycles, and chronic syndromes.
Five Elements Theory Pathology
Generating (Shēng 生) Cycle
Mother-Child
Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood
Each element nourishes the next
Controlling (Kè 克) Cycle
Grandparent-Grandchild
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Wood ⟶ Earth
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Fire ⟶ Metal
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Earth ⟶ Water
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Metal ⟶ Wood
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Water ⟶ Fire
Each element restrains another to maintain balance
Five Element Pathology
The organ is under-functioning, and:
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Fails to nourish its Child
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Is not nourished by its mother
Kidney (Water) Deficiency → can’t nourish Liver (Wood) → leads to Liver Yin Deficiency → dizziness, blurred vision, tremors
Weakness / Deficiency of an Element
1
One element exerts excessive control over another
Liver (Wood) overacts on Spleen (Earth) → stress-induced digestive issues, bloating, diarrhea
Excess / Overacting
2
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The child element attacks the parent or
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A weaker element is attacked by what it normally controls
Spleen (Earth) counter-controls Liver (Wood) → chronic Dampness in Spleen weakens its control, allowing reverse attack → emotional instability, menstrual irregularity
Counter-acting (Reverse Control / Insulting Cycle)
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