Five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water
Admin • 26 November 2020
The theory of the five elements in medicine
The five elements refer to five categories in the natural world, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The theory of the five elements holds that all phenomena in the universe correspond in nature either to wood, fire, earth metal or water and that these are in a state of constant motion and change. The theory of the five elements is applied to generalize and explain the nature of the Zang-fu organs, the inter-relationships between them, and the relation between human beings and the natural world. It serves to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment. Early times, the Chinese people recognized the wood, fire, earth, metal and water were indispensable in their daily lives a swell as having different natures.
The character of wood is to grow and flourish.
The character of fire is to be hot and flare up.
The character of earth is to give birth to all things.
The character of metal is to descend and be clear.
The character of water is to be cold and to flow downwards.
Early doctor applied the theory of the five elements in medicine and explain the complicated physiological and pathological relationships between the Zang-fu organs, and between the human body and the external environment. The law of movement of the five elements mainly manifests in the following way; interpromoting, interacting, overacting, counteracting, and mutual relation between mother and son.
Promoting implies promoting growth, wood promotes fire, fire promotes earth, earth promotes metal, metal promotes water and water promotes wood. This inter-promoting relationship of the five elements is known as the “mother and son” relationship. Each element being the “son” of the element is promotes it, and the “mother” of the one it promotes. The theory of the five elements is explains the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang-organs.
Explaining interactions among the five zang-organs; the five zang-organs coordinate with each other physiologically and affect each other pathologically. Under pathological condition, disorder of one organ may be transmitted to another.
The theory of five elements is applied to analyze clinical data obtained through four diagnostic methods and determine pathological conditions according to natures and laws of the five elements.
Zang –Fu is the general term for the internal organs of the human body, and includes the six zang organs, the six fu organs and the extra fu organs. The six zang organs are heart, lung, spleen, liver, kidney and pericardium. The six fu organs are gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and triple energizer. The extra fu organs are brain, marrow, bones, vessels, gallbladder and uterus are known as the extra fu organs.
COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2,Ginger,Immunomodulation,Anti-viral,Anti-inflammatory,Anti-oxidative
Effects of moxibustion for COVID-19 convalescence A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading around the world. Moxibustion, as a significant therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been widely used to treat COVID-19, especially in recovery period. The study will aim to assess the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for COVID-19 convalescence. Methods: We will systematically search the relevant randomized controlled trials in the 7 databases from inception to February 2021, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Clinical Trials Database, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. No language and publication status restrictions will be applied. Two reviewers will independently conduct and screen all included studies and the meta-analysis will be performed with RevMan V5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, England). Results: The study will provide a high-quality convincing assessment of the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for the treatment of COVID-19 convalescence, which will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion: Our study will give more comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of moxibustion for COVID-19 convalescence. Source: https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2021/04090/Effects_of_moxibustion_for_COVID_19_convalescence_.72.aspx
Alternative medicine of Corona virus