Kidney Yin or Yang Deficiency
Fear affecting Heart
Water failing to nourish Wood → Liver Wind from Kidney Yin Xu

Water Pathology

Spleen Qi Deficiency
Damp accumulation
Earth not nourishing Metal (Lung)

Earth Pathology

Lung Qi Deficiency or Dryness
Grief damaging Lung
Metal failing to control Wood → asthma from emotional stress

Metal Pathology

Liver Qi Stagnation
Liver Fire rising
Liver overacting on Spleen

Wood Pathology

Heart Fire disturbing Shen
Pericardium Heat
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

Wood ⟶ Earth
Fire ⟶ Metal
Earth ⟶ Water
Metal ⟶ Wood
Water ⟶ Fire

Each element restrains another to maintain balance

Five Element Pathology

The organ is under-functioning, and:

Fails to nourish its Child
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

One element exerts excessive control over another

Liver (Wood) overacts on Spleen (Earth) → stress-induced digestive issues, bloating, diarrhea

Excess / Overacting

The child element attacks the parent or
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