Sweking
Pharmaceutical Corporation
Chief
Executive Officer
“Chinese Medical Theory –
Five Natural Elements and Five Vital Organs
“In traditional Chinese medical theory, the human body is
regarded as a microcosm of the universe. The external world, blood,
saliva and five vital organs are viewed as “yin”; qi (breath,
also a source of vitality) and six bodily organs are “yang.”
It is believed that illness is caused by the disorder of yin and yang in the
human body. The categorization of five vital organs, namely hsin
(heart), kan (liver), pi (spleen), fe (lung) and shen (kidneys),
and six bodily organs in Chinese medicine is not only based on the
names of these organs but also on their physical function. For example,
“heart” means the organ pumping blood through the body
in modern medicine, whereas it may be referred to the circulatory
system and nervous system as a whole in Chinese medicine apart from
a single organ.
In ancient Chinese medical discourses, the five vital organs in the human body
(microcosm) match exactly with the five natural elements (metal,
wood, water, fire and earth) in the macrocosm. Five vital organs
have their own natures, which are similar to five natural elements.
For instance, the heart is in charge of growth and similar to the sun, so it
stands for “fire.” The lung controls retrieval and collection,
also “metal” in five natural elements. The spleen is in
charge of development, also “earth”; the liver manages
vitality, also “wood”; the kidneys, controlling storage
by nourishing the body and discharging waste liquid, are called
“organ of water” and belong to “water” in five
natural elements.
The function and activity of five vital organs in the human body re closely related,
rather than separated in operation. These organs interact with each
other in a very complex process of developing and restraining each
other, which can be explained by the notion of the “five vital
organs circle”.
For example, “wood develops fire” means that the liver (wood) cultivates
heart (fire). In other words, if the liver functions well in blood
storage, it will help the heart enhance good circulation. Since
fire develops earth, the heart (fire) keeps the spleen (earth) warm;
if the heart enhances good circulation, it will nourish the spleen
and helps it in the development, movement, creation and management
of blood. Since earth develops metal, the spleen (earth) contributes
to the good function of the lung (metal); if the spleen is able
to keep the development of qi in normal and produce qi and blood,
the lung can manage both qi and respiration well with the nutrition
transited from the spleen.
According to the concept that metal develops water, the lung (metal) facilitates
healthy kidneys; if the qi of the lung is well managed, it will
help kidneys to restore energy and qi as well as to control bodily
liquid. Finally, since water develops wood, the kidneys nourish
the liver (wood) with energy stored, which is able to transform
into blood in the lung and helps the normal function of the organ.”
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