The Five Seasons of Chinese Medicine and Philosophy: Part 1

by Jade Pierce

This is the first of a series of articles about the Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements. In this article I'd like to give you an overview of this philosophy so you can have a basic understanding of its history and meaning. As an acupuncturist and herbalist, I have been trained in the Five Elements tradition. This philosophy provides the foundation of all my interactions and treatments with my patients. Because it is a rich and complex system that addresses issues of mind, body and spirit in a deeply holistic way, it allows a profound level of rapport and healing.

Chinese medicine springs from the ancient philosophy of Taoism, which is based in the shamanic beliefs of the ancient indigenous people of what are now China, Mongolia and Tibet. These people, like all our indigenous ancestors, were great observers of nature. Using the lessons they learned from observing the Heavens and Earth, they used the metaphors of nature to help define their own systems of philosophy, medicine and society.

The Tao (or Dao) is the One, which is the Universal Force from which all life and matter arise. Dividing the Tao into two gives us Yang and Yin, which are Heaven and Earth. Heaven represents the Yang aspect of life that is energy-light, movement, heat, etc. Earth represents the Yin aspect of life that is substance-dark, quiet, receptive, etc. In terms of medicine, our spirits and the functioning of our bodies are Yang, and our bodies' physical structures are Yin. From Yin and Yang comes Qi (Ch'i). This is also called life force or energy. Qi is what motivates the Universe and activates Life.

One way that Qi activates life is to activate the cycle of life called Wu Xing (pronounced Woo Sheeng), or the Five Phases. Some people call them the Five Elements and the Five Seasons. These are the five phases of life.moving from birth to death, spring to winter, Yang to Yin. In a cycle, there really is no beginning or end. Just as Yang descends to Yin (Summer to Winter), Spring is always around the corner and Yin become Yang again.

The ancient Chinese knew that by living in harmony with Nature and the Seasons they could live long healthy lives. So they constructed a system of medicine based on the Five Phases. Each phase has many correspondences that are used as metaphors in Chinese medicine. The Five corresponding seasons are: Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. The following diagram shows some of the important correspondences of organs, emotions, health issues, and foods to each element and season.

There are many other correspondences, some dealing with health and the human body, some pertaining more to the mind and our emotional and personality traits, and some more subtle and esoteric that describe our spiritual aspects. In subsequent seasonal publications, we will present each of the Five Phases in detail so that you may see how living harmoniously with the Five Seasons can help you create a healthier and happier life.

Autumn - Metal Element

Metal is one of the Five Elements in Chinese philosophy and medicine. It is associated with Autumn because it represents the aspect of Nature which embodies condensation and crystallization. In Autumn, trees drop their leaves so that their simplest and most essential form is revealed, plants die back and reveal the stones of the earth, frost crystallizes on the leaves and the dew condenses on the golden dry grass. These are examples of the crystalline energy of the Metal element. The Chinese word for metal is jin - pronounced like how metal coins sound as they ring against each other. The Chinese character represents the treasure house containing nuggets of gold, representing that which is of finest quality and most value. Therefore, the gifts of the Metal element are righteousness and acknowledgment of our own value and that of others.

Metal gives the Earth its underlying structure as stone and crystal. Metal is created out of the Earth through a process of reduction and condensation, and Metal itself condenses and conducts the energy around it. It creates the aquifers for water. A jewel is the most beautiful representation of the metal element in its crystalline clarity. Metal can be cold and sharp and so can people-cutting others out of their lives; being judgmental or self-righteous and emotionally cold. Metal can also be warm and malleable and so can we- connecting with others and ourselves with respect, acknowledging our own value and that of others. Metal can be brittle and corroded, and so a person may appear brittle and lacking a sense of self-worth. And, like Metal honed to a fine edge, we can be discerning and be able to perceive the utmost essence of things.

We are now experiencing the season of Autumn, one of the five seasons represented in Chinese philosophy. This is the time of transition from the bright, yang energy of Summer to the dark, yin season of Winter. We gather and store the last of our harvest, stocking up and letting go of what is not essential. Autumn is a very poignant season-the juxtaposition between loss and beauty. Autumn is the time of withering and decay, as the trees lose their leaves and the plants die back into the ground. So the emotion associated with Autumn and the Metal element is grief. Chinese medicine and the philosophy of the Five elements help us to understand this powerful emotion and how we can find the healing gifts within our loss and grief.

Our word Fall describes this season's energy of falling from the height of life in nature, when all is blossoming and fruiting, back into the depths of the barren season of Winter-the transition from life to death. The Metal element is associated with our connection with the Tao, which is our original nature or higher self. So the Fall can be interpreted as separation from our higher self. Or, the time can be an alchemical time of evolution and alignment with our higher self. The Nei Jing (a Chinese classic) describes the energy of Autumn as Killing energy. Death and judgment are associated with this energy. However, death can be of the ego or behaviors and things that no longer serve. And judgment may be the discernment of what is good and beautiful from the mundane. This is the gift we are given to help us heal our grief from the many losses we experience in this life. The death of a loved one is painful and must be fully grieved. And, with the perfect timing of Metal, we begin to heal and realize that the death or loss is a transformation. In the case of a physical death, the body and the P'o (the spirit of our physical expression) return to the Earth, and the Spirit is reunited with its Tao, which can be thought of as Heaven, the Beloved, Truth, or the higher self, depending on your personal philosophy.

It is helpful to ponder the meaning of the names of some of the acupuncture points on the lung and colon meridians- the organs associated with Metal. These point names are the poetry and soul of Chinese medicine. They can tap into the energy of the Metal element not only on a physical level, but also on emotional and spiritual levels as well. One point is called the "Very Great Abyss," which is used when there has been a separation between a person and his/her Tao or higher self. He/she may feel on the edge of chaos and despair. This point brings together Heaven and Earth within a person so that he/she may find his/her inner core strength to deal with pain and loss. Another point is "Wail of Grief." This is a wonderful point to help a person access deep-seated grief and be able to move through it. A third point is "Joining of the Valleys," a commonly used point for many conditions. Its greatest purpose is to help us let go-whether physically or emotionally.

Ways that we can enhance and balance our Metal element to physically support ourselves include massage, dry-brushing, drinking fluids, and eating a high-fiber diet. Ways to support ourselves emotionally include remaining mentally flexible, seeking inspiration, having time for ceremonial and spiritual pursuits, and seeking counseling for issues of grief or lack of self-worth. Acupuncture treatments to help align with the energy of the season can be supportive as well as herbs like Mullein to soothe the lungs, Astragulus to support the immune system, and Ginger to warm and circulate the Qi and blood. Qi Gong exercises can strengthen Metal Qi, and Feng Shui techniques can be used to enhance or balance the Metal element in your home.

Understanding the Metal element and the energy of Autumn can give us insight into our own Metal element and our sense of self-worth, our ability to grieve and let go, our connection with our higher self or Heaven, and our physical health-especially our immune system, elimination, lungs, and skin. We can then take action to strengthen and balance our internal Metal element, which will lead to balance and health in all aspects of our lives.

The moon is full, the autumn nights grow longer.
In the north forests startled crows cry out.
Still high overhead, the star river stretches,
The Dipper's handle set to southwest.
The cold cricket grieves deep in the chambers,
Of the notes of sweet birds, none remain.
Then one evening gusts of autumn come,
One who sleeps alone things fondly on thick quilts.
Past loves are a thousand miles farther each day,
Blocked from my drifting and my sinking.
Man's life is not as the grass and trees;
Still the season's changes can stir the heart.
- Wei Ying Wu

Jade Pierce M.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and Doula (birth assistant). She practices in Saxapahaw, Durham and at the Chatham Wellness Center in Pittsboro. She also teaches Oriental bodywork, Qi Gong and herb classes. Her phone number is 336-376-8778.