Mastering the Five Elements: Ancient Wisdom on Healing and Seasonal Harmony

Emperor Huang inquired: “Considering the specific conditions of the body’s five organs, how can the principles of the Four Seasons and Five Elements be applied to the treatment of diseases? What does it mean to follow or go against these principles? I wish to understand the benefits and pitfalls of following or counteracting these methods in treatment.”

Qi Bo responded: “The Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—interact with the seasonal climates, exhibiting patterns of growth, decline, dominance, and suppression. By observing these patterns, one can gauge the prognosis of diseases, evaluate medical successes or failures, and determine the strength and decline of the organs’ energies, the severity of illnesses, and even the dates of death and survival.”

Emperor Huang said: “I would like you to explain this in detail.” Qi Bo elaborated: “The liver is associated with Wood and thrives in spring. The liver and gallbladder are internally and externally connected, making spring the optimal time for treating the Liver Meridian of Foot Jueyin and the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang. The Wood element days are Jia and Yi, with Jia representing the Gallbladder Meridian and Yi the Liver Meridian, hence these days are considered prosperous for the liver and gallbladder. Anger corresponds to the liver’s emotion, which, if excessive, leads to rapid energy surges. Sweet flavors can alleviate this, thus it is advisable to consume sweet foods in urgent situations to calm the liver.

The heart is associated with Fire and flourishes in summer. The heart and small intestine are connected, making summer ideal for treating the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin and the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang. Fire element days are Bing and Ding, with Ding representing the Heart Meridian and Bing the Small Intestine Meridian. Therefore, these days are beneficial for the heart and small intestine. Joy corresponds to the heart’s emotion, which, if excessive, leads to energy depletion. Sour flavors can help, so it is advisable to consume sour foods in such cases to preserve heart energy.

The spleen is associated with Earth and thrives in late summer (June). The spleen and stomach are connected, making late summer the best time for treating the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin and the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. Earth element days are Wu and Ji, with Ji representing the Spleen Meridian and Wu the Stomach Meridian. Hence, these days are beneficial for the spleen and stomach. Dampness harms the spleen, and bitter flavors can combat dampness. Therefore, it is advisable to consume bitter foods to keep the spleen in balance.

The lungs are associated with Metal and flourish in autumn. The lungs and large intestine are connected, making autumn the optimal time for treating the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin and the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming. Metal element days are Geng and Xin, with Xin representing the Lung Meridian and Geng the Large Intestine Meridian. Consequently, these days are favorable for the lungs and large intestine. The lungs govern qi and favor clarity. If qi rebels, the lungs fall ill. Bitter flavors can help disperse this energy, so it is advisable to consume bitter foods to maintain lung health.

The kidneys are associated with Water and thrive in winter. The kidneys and bladder are connected, making winter the ideal time for treating the Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin and the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. Water element days are Ren and Gui, with Gui representing the Kidney Meridian and Ren the Bladder Meridian. As a result, these days are favorable for the kidneys and bladder. The kidneys prefer moisture and detest dryness. Therefore, it is advisable to consume spicy foods to retain moisture in the kidneys.

By aligning treatment with these principles, one can facilitate the opening of the body’s channels, the circulation of fluids, and the harmonious flow of the five organs’ energies.

When the liver is afflicted, it should heal in summer. If not, the condition worsens in autumn. If the patient survives autumn, their condition stabilizes in winter and improves by spring. Liver diseases are highly sensitive to wind, and those affected should avoid exposure. Patients often recover on Bing and Ding days. If not, their condition worsens on Geng and Xin days. If they survive, their condition stabilizes on Ren and Gui days and improves on Jia and Yi days. Patients with liver diseases generally feel better in the morning but worsen by evening and stabilize by midnight. The liver favors relaxation and dislikes restraint, so spicy flavors should be used to disperse liver energy, with sweet flavors used to replenish and sour flavors to reduce excess energy.

When the heart is afflicted, it should heal in late summer. If not, the condition worsens in winter. If the patient survives, their condition stabilizes in spring and improves by summer. Heart diseases are sensitive to heat, and those affected should avoid warm foods and clothing. Patients often recover on Wu and Ji days. If not, their condition worsens on Ren and Gui days. If they survive, their condition stabilizes on Jia and Yi days and improves on Bing and Ding days. Heart disease patients feel better at noon but worsen by midnight and stabilize by morning. The heart favors relaxation and dislikes tension, so salty flavors should be used to soften heart energy, with sweet flavors used to replenish and bitter flavors to reduce excess energy.

When the spleen is afflicted, it should heal in autumn. If not, the condition worsens in spring. If the patient survives, their condition stabilizes in summer and improves by late summer. Spleen diseases are sensitive to dampness, and those affected should avoid warm foods, overeating, damp environments, and wet clothing. Patients often recover on Geng and Xin days. If not, their condition worsens on Jia and Yi days. If they survive, their condition stabilizes on Bing and Ding days and improves on Wu and Ji days. Spleen disease patients feel better in the afternoon but worsen by morning and stabilize by evening. The spleen favors relaxation, and sweet flavors can help, while bitter flavors should be used to reduce excess energy.

When the lungs are afflicted, they should heal in winter. If not, the condition worsens in summer. If the patient survives, their condition stabilizes in late summer and improves by autumn. Lung diseases are sensitive to cold, and those affected should avoid cold foods and thin clothing. Patients often recover on Ren and Gui days. If not, their condition worsens on Bing and Ding days. If they survive, their condition stabilizes on Wu and Ji days and improves on Geng and Xin days. Lung disease patients feel better in the evening but worsen by noon and stabilize by midnight. The lungs favor astringency, and sour flavors should be used to preserve lung energy, with spicy flavors used to reduce excess energy.

When the kidneys are afflicted, they should heal in spring. If not, the condition worsens in late summer. If the patient survives, their condition stabilizes in autumn and improves by winter. Kidney diseases are sensitive to heat, and those affected should avoid grilled foods and heated clothing. Patients often recover on Jia and Yi days. If not, their condition worsens on Wu and Ji days. If they survive, their condition stabilizes on Geng and Xin days and improves on Ren and Gui days. Kidney disease patients feel better at midnight but worsen during certain hours of the day and stabilize by evening. The kidneys favor stability, and bitter flavors should be used to strengthen kidney energy, with salty flavors used to reduce excess energy.

When evil qi invades the body, it overwhelms the body’s normal functions. Diseases heal during their corresponding elemental seasons but worsen during opposing seasons. The diseases stabilize during their dominant seasons and improve during their corresponding elemental days. To accurately predict the course of a disease, one must first understand the normal pulses of the five organs.

Liver diseases cause pain in the flanks and lower abdomen, leading to irritability. If the liver energy is deficient, it causes blurred vision and impaired hearing, along with fear and paranoia. Treatment involves the Liver Meridian of Foot Jueyin and the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang. If the liver energy rebels, it causes headaches, deafness, and cheek swelling, treated by needling the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians.

Heart diseases cause chest pain, rib distention, and back pain. If the heart energy is deficient, it causes abdominal distention and lower back pain. Treatment involves the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin and the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand Taiyang, with additional needling under the tongue. If the condition changes, treatment includes needling the Wei Zhong point.

Spleen diseases cause heaviness, hunger, muscle weakness, and foot pain. If the spleen energy is deficient, it causes abdominal distention and diarrhea. Treatment involves the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin, the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, and the Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin.

Lung diseases cause coughing, shortness of breath, shoulder and back pain, and excessive sweating. If the lung energy is deficient, it causes breathlessness, deafness, and dry throat. Treatment involves the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin, the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang, and the Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin.

Kidney diseases cause abdominal distention, leg swelling, shortness of breath, and heavy limbs. If the kidney energy is deficient, it causes chest and abdominal pain, cold limbs, and depression. Treatment involves the Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin and the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang.

The organs are associated with colors and flavors: the liver with green and sweet flavors, the heart with red and sour flavors, the lungs with white and bitter flavors, the spleen with yellow and salty