The Five Elements
This is my personal favorite. The Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) model is the Chinese method of observing the human being and their relationship with the universe. The goal of therapy is to find the point of imbalance and restore balance through the interrelationships of the elements.
Sounds complicated, but I love it because it’s actually very simple. This page will only give you some general idea about it, but it’s all you need to spark a little curiosity.
The Creation (Nourishment) Cycle
This cycle describes how elements mutually nourish one another:
Fire nourishes Earth (e.g., lava/ash).
Earth nourishes Metal (minerals are found in the Earth).
Metal nourishes Water (minerals in water).
Water nourishes Wood (feeds trees).
Wood nourishes Fire (fuel).
The Control (Controlling) Cycle
This cycle describes how elements restrain or control one another:
Water extinguishes Fire.
Fire melts Metal.
Metal cuts Wood (like a saw).
Wood controls Earth (tree roots extract nutrients).
Earth contains Water (like a dam).
🟢 Wood
Wood is associated with the color green, the Liver (Yin organ), and the Gallbladder (Yang organ). The associated emotion is Anger (or shouting). Its physical expressions are the nails, tendons, and eyes.
🔴 Fire
Fire is associated with the color red and the Heart (Yin organ) and the Small Intestine (Yang organ). The associated emotion is Joy (or laughing). Its physical expressions are the complexion/color of the face and the blood and blood vessels.
🟠Earth
Earth is associated with the color yellow-brown and the Spleen (Yin organ) and the Stomach (Yang organ). The associated emotion is Worry/Thought/Rumination. Its physical expressions are the lips, mouth, and muscles.
⚪ Metal
Metal is associated with the colors gray/white and the Lungs (Yin organ) and the Large Intestine (Yang organ). The associated emotion is Sadness/Grief (or crying). Its physical expressions are the skin, body hair, and nose.
🔵 Water
Water is associated with the colors black/dark blue and the Kidney (Yin organ) and the Bladder (Yang organ). The associated emotion is Fear/Panic (or groaning). Its physical expressions are the bones, teeth, head hair, and ears.