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Tai Chi & The Five Element Theory by Roz RessnerPractitioners of the Tai Chi are well aware of the health benefits derived from daily practice of the form which massages and energizes each of the internal organs and allows the chi (vital energy) to flow unimpeded through the 12 meridian channels, creating balance and harmony throughout the body. Learning about the inter-relationships of the internal organs and their functions is no easy task; but the Five Element Theory, which represents the activities of yin and yang in the cyclic changes of nature, classifies everything in the world according to five primary elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. In regard to the human body, each element is connected to an internal organ(s) and other external manifestations. For example, Fire is associated with Summer and represents the heart, the tongue as a sensory organ, the blood vessels, the emotions of joy and happiness, the sound of laughter, a bitter flavor, a scorched smell, and the color red. The diagram illustrates the interrelationship between the human body and our natural environment. The Creation cycle (outer arrows) depicts how each organ draws strength from the one that precedes it and strengthens the one that follows. The Destruction Cycle (inner arrows) shows how an overly strong organ will weaken the another. In the Nei Ching, a compilation of Chinese medicine first written down in 400 B. C. but reputed to be over 4,000 years old, these physiological relationships were noted: The Liver nourishes the muscles and the muscles strengthen the heart; the Liver governs the eyes. The Heart nourishes the blood and the blood enlivens the stomach; the Heart rules over the tongue. The Stomach strengthens the flesh, the flesh protects the lungs; the Stomach rules over the mouth. The Lung strengthens the skin and body hair, the skin and the hair protect the kidneys; the Lungs govern the nose. The Kidneys strengthen the bones and marrow, and the bones and marrow strengthen the liver; the Kidneys rule over the ears. Even today, the Five Element Theory seems to prove itself highly effective in medical diagnosis and treatment. Combined with the physical and mental challenges of Tai Chi, they remain as exciting today as when they were first conceived. Whether used as preventative tools or alternatives to the all-too-familiar western medical practice of surgery, drugs, radiation or chemotherapy, Tai Chi and the Five Element Theory serve as a wonderful combination to be studied and practiced!
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