A theory that states that everything in the universe is composed of five elements- fire, earth, metal, water, and wood- each of which corresponds to a variety of bodily systems and functions.
Wu Xing or Five Elements: The foundation of Chinese Medicine's diagnosis and treatment philosophy. These five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water and their respective relationships are seen as vital to health.
Yin and Yang: The concept of balancing opposing forces in the body, such as light and dark, hot and cold, and more subtle aspects of energy.
Qi or Chi: Pronounced "chee," this is the vital energy that circulates through the body's energy channels or meridians, and is regulated by acupuncture and herbal therapy.
Meridians: Channels in which the Qi or Chi flows, regulating the body's organs and functions.
Organs: In Chinese Medicine, organs are said to have a much wider definition than in contemporary Western thinking, and there is a relationship between organ function and elements in the environment.
Syndromes: Broad diagnostic categories that affect the whole body or a particular organ, including dampness, wind, heat, and cold.
Diagnosis: A skill developed over years of practice and training that includes observation, questioning, pulse diagnosis, and palpation.
Herbs: Used in Chinese Medicine to promote healing, balance, or tonify the body while avoiding side effects.
Acupuncture: Aka needle therapy or just TCM, this is a practice in which needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points to encourage Qi flow and promote healing.
Dietetics: Practiced in a way that seeks to match the individual patient and their symptoms to various foods, which can be either cooling, nourishing, or warming to restore balance to the body.
Wu Xing Theory: Also known as the Five Phases Theory, Wu Xing theory is the most commonly known version of Five Elements Theory. It is based on the five elements -- wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, each with specific characteristics and associations.
Wu Yun Liu Qi Theory: Wu Yun Liu Qi Theory considers the importance of celestial and meteorological factors in influencing the flow of qi (energy) in the body. It uses the principles of the Five Elements to analyze the relationship between the five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), the sun, the moon and the five elements.
TCM Body Type Theory: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Body Type Theory involves a comprehensive approach to characterizing people's physical and psychological makeup based on Five Elements Theory. It assigns each individual a primary element, and evaluates how other elements affect their health, emotions, and behavior patterns.
Zang Fu Theory: The Zang Fu Theory is an essential aspect of TCM, which describes the functional organization and workings of the internal organs (also known as Zang Fu). The Zang Fu correspond to the five elements and their respective characteristics, which helps practitioners diagnose health disorders and prescribe appropriate treatments.
Five Spirits Theory: Five Spirits Theory describes the five spiritual aspects of the human mind: Hun, Po, Yi, Zhi, and Shen - each linked to one of the five elements. Practitioners diagnose mental and emotional disorders by evaluating which element is dominant among the Five Spirits, and develop treatment plans accordingly.