Chinese Medicine – Five Phase Theory and Application
Interrelationships of Organs
This article shows the reader how to understand these different relationships. Please refer to the table at the end of the article.
Each organ interrelates with a number of other organs.
Similar function
Organ proximity
Channel Proximity
5 Element – Sheng Cycle relationship
Mother and son relationship
5 Element Ko cycle relationship
5 Element - Reverse Ko Cycle relationship
Organs, their Qi type and Organ partners
Organ Qi Partners
Heart, H Yin KID, SI
Small Intestine, SI Yang H, BL
Bladder, Bl Yang KID, SI
Kidney, KID Yin H, BL
Pericardium, P Yin LIV, SJ
Sanjiao, SJ Yang P, GB
Gall Bladder, GB Yang LIV, SJ
Liver, LIV Yin P, GB
Lungs, L Yin SP, LI
Large Intestine, LI Yang L, ST
Stomach, ST Yang SP, LI
Spleen, SP Yin L, ST
Similar Function
Organs with a similar function.
Filters Blood: Liver, Kidney, Lung
Secretes/Makes fluids: Gall Bladder, Liver, Spleen, Stomach
Excretes Waste: Large Intestine, Bladder
Nutrient absorption: Small Intestine, Kidneys, Liver
Physical Organ Proximity
Lungs – both sides of thorax
Liver, Gall Bladder – right thorax, at lower half of right lung
Spleen – left thorax
Stomach – just left of centre thorax
Small Intestine – centre of abdomen
Large Intestine – square pattern over entire abdomen – ascends from Small intestine on right abdomen, moves across abdomen to left, descends, moves to right at sigmoid and descends to anus.
Heart/Pericardium – centre of chest
Bladder – lower, centre of abdomen
Kidneys – centre, right and left just under floating rib approximately in the L2 area
Sanjiao – not an organ but a convention of expression for three functions of the torso area – upper, middle and lower torso.
Channel Proximity
Arms
Anterior – Lungs/lateral, Pericardium/centre, Heart/medial. Similar pathways from chest to fingertips.
Posterior – Sanjiao, Small Intestine/posterior & medial, Large Intestine/lateral.
Legs
Anterior, anterior torso and head – Stomach
Lateral and posterior torso and head – Gall Bladder
Lateral and anterior torso – Spleen
Medial and anterior torso -Kidney, Liver
Posterior and Posterior torso – Bladder
Five phase Analysis – the Sheng, Ko, Reverse Sheng and Reverse Ko Cycles
Sheng Cycle [Phase] (Mother nourishes son) – Generating, produces, strengthens, nourishes, feeds, engenders
Therapeutic when path is yin-yin or yang-yang – see Element/ Organ Qi in table.
Ko Cycle [Phase] (Grandmother restrains grandson) – Controls, dominates, destroys, restrains, weakens
Therapeutic when path is yin-yang or yang-yin.
In both Sheng and Ko cycles or phases, alternative paths are pathologic. Organs are either yin or yang within a phase and the yang organs link together to form a circuit as do the yin organs.
An organ with an issue within a phase( Sheng or Ko) can be rebalanced through the complementary organ in the same
phase or through an organ in another phase but in the same circuit (yin or yang).
Balancing – refer to the table.
Balancing Yin Element
Example 1 – Sheng Phase(yin-yin) – if there is a liver issue where liver is in deficiency then balance liver with heart.
Example 2 – Ko Phase(yin-yang) – if there is a liver issue where liver is in deficiency then balance Liver with Stomach.
Balancing Yang Element
Example 1 – Sheng Phase(yang-yang) – for a Gallbladder issue balance Gallbladder with Small Intestine.
Example 2 – Ko Phase(yang-yin) – for a Gallbladder issue balance Gallbladder with Spleen.
Clinical example: Numbness in the leg – treat Liv 3 and GB 34 (Ko phase energetic balance, yin-yang) and also in the same treatment needling ST36 (but not a spleen point, as this would contravene therapy rules – Liv3,yin ST36,Yang = Ko Phase relationship energetics as yin-yang. However I would also use SP6 in the same therapy to strengthen the immune system and reinforce = Sheng Phase ie Liv3,yin ans SP6, yin which gives a yin-yin relationship and I feel supports the basic relationship to the two phases. Of course many other points are possible.
Moxa and Shingle pain: I would also recommend to mix modalities and use moxa wherever possible, especially with Shingle pain as it is very effective, produces rapid pain relief from the viral attack on the nerve and requires little expertise other than care with the moxa stick.
In five phase theory the focus is on maintaining energy distribution. Any excess or any stagnation is interpreted as a blockage of energy flow and needs treatment – this can be said to be the focus of acupuncture.
Case Studies
1. Robert has been diagnosed with hepatitis. According to the liver organ interrelationships, what could
go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of hepatitis and why?
Response: Weakened Liver causes H/P to behave in excess yin causing yang partner Small intestine to go into excess yang. Low Liver yin causes excess Liver yang flaring into the Heart and manifesting in the tongue as a red spot on the front of the tongue and in the throat as obstruction. The mother, Kidney will go into excess yang affecting the Bladder channel resulting in either lumbar pain or sciatica.
2. Joanne comes into your clinic and informs you she has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The Chinese might view this as a kidney imbalance since the kidneys govern the reproductive system.
According to your Kidney organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and why?
Response: The Kidney yin will go low causing the Bladder Channel to balance with excess yang. However, the Ko cycle relativity will likely result in a Spleen/ Stomach imbalance resulting in digestive disorders. Lung will go into excess yin to try to balance energy which may result in extra disorders and Bladder disorders.
3. Peter has been diagnosed with Diabetes, a Pancreas disorder. In TCM the Spleen is the organ that represents the Pancreas.
According to your Spleen organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Diabetes, and why?
Response: Spleen function is impaired. Heart/P tends to balance, resulting in Liver/Gall Bladder problems. G/B attack is likely and could occur. Lung function is impaired with shortness of breath.
4. Jim has been getting treatment for Heartburn and Acid Reflux, a Stomach complaint in TCM.
According to you Stomach organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Heartburn and Acid Reflux, and why?
Response: St(yang excess) produces too much acid. Puts pressure on the Pancreas to adjust Small Intestine pH and affects Li function probably resulting in loose stools.
5. Urinary Tract Infections are often caused by Urinary Bladder problems.
According to your Urinary Bladder organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Urinary Tract Infections, and why?
Response: Bladder yang is affected going low, resulting in excess Kidney yin to compensate. The excess salts delivered by Kidney imbalance causes burn at urethra. Lungs will be damp and mucus results in cough.
6. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the Gall Bladder.
According to your Gall Bladder organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Cholecystitis, and why?
Response: GB dysfunction results in bile blockage causing fats to pass into Small Intestine results in bowel sluggishness and constipation due to compromised bowel.
7. A friend of yours has come back from trekking through the Nepalese Mountains. She has not eaten well because she was worried about gastrointestinal problems. As a result she has developed Malabsorption. In her case it is due to a Small Intestine imbalance.
According to your Small Intestine organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with other organs in the body as a result of Malabsorption, and why?
Response: Small Intestine will lose yang resulting in deficiency of nutrients and perhaps lower water reabsorption causing diarrhoea.
8. Paul has been getting treatment for Diverticulitis (a Large Intestine complaint).
According to your Large Intestine organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Diverticulitis, and why?
Response: Diverticulitis can result in bleeding and inflammation of the sigmoid. Inflammation translates to low Large Intestine yang resulting in increased Lung yin to compensate. Dampness could result with mucusy cough.
9. A patient of yours is recovering from Pneumonia (a Lung complaint).
According to your Lung organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Pneumonia, and why?
Response: Results in lowered Lung yin (increased yang) causing inflammation and mucus. Stomach and Kidneys are affected as impaired function.
10. A patient of yours has a Heart rhythm problem called Tachycardia.
According to your Heart organ interrelationships, what could go wrong with the other organs in the body as a result of Tachycardia, and why?
Response: Impaired Heart function results in low yin, high yang causing the abnormal ryhythm. The Liver yin is affected causing impair Liver function. However the cause is due to the Ko cycle organ/Lung. Due to stress and shallow breathing, the body is not removing toxins correctly, high cortisol levels result in adrenal overload (high levels of adrenalin) mostly likely causing the Tachycardia. Bring Lung into balance by regulated breathing to metabolise cortisol and a cure is likely.
References
Chinese Philosophy, AIAS
Five Phase I Ching – Sheng and Ko Cycles, members.iimetro.com.au/~lofting/myweb.icfiveA.html
Five Element Acupuncture, Theory and clinical applications, Yin Yang house, yinyanghouse.com/theory/chinese/five_element_acupuncture_theory
Table
Five Phase – Element and Phase (cycle) interrelationships
Element Yin Qi Organ Yang Qi Organ Mother Son Sheng phase Ko phase Reverse Sheng Reverse Ko Reinforces
Wood………Liver…………..Gall Bladder……….Water…….Fire……..Fire…………..Earth………….Water…………….Metal…………Wood
Fire………..Heart/Per……..Small Intestine……Wood…….Earth…….Earth…………Metal………….Wood…………….Water………..Fire
Earth………Spleen…………Stomach…………..Fire……….Metal……Metal…………Water………….Fire………………Wood………..Earth
Metal……….Lungs……….Large Intestine……..Earth……Water…….Water………..Wood………….Earth……………Fire……………Metal
Water………Kidneys………..Bladder……………Metal…….Wood…….Wood…………Fire…………..Metal……………Earth………….Water
Authors note on this table: Sheng and Ko phases may be yin or yang within the phase. When calculating relationships to the primary element use either the yin organ or the yang organ. eg starting with Yin Qi Organ: Sheng Phase: liver/heart Ko Phase: Liver/Stomach eg LIV3, ST36 (yin-yang) and Reverse Sheng: Liver/Kidneys Reverse Ko: Liver/Large Intestine eg 4 gates, LIV3,LI4 (yin-yang). Ko cycle is therapeutic when yin-yang, see below.
Sheng Cycle [Phase] (Mother nourishes son) – Generating, produces, strengthens, nourishes, feeds, engenders
Therapeutic when path is yin-yin or yang yang – see Element/ Organ Qi in table.
Example: Wood is mother to Fire. Fire is mother to Earth etc.
Authors note: Strictly speaking, this should be termed either Mother/daughter or Father/son to keep it in line with correct Qi cycle energetics such as yin-yin and yang-yang respectively. This has not been addressed in texts and may lead to confusion. Just remember the Qi type you are dealing with and follow the rules for each cycle. That is for the Sheng Cycle it is always the same Qi eg yin-yin or yang-yang. For the Ko Cycle it is always yin-yang or yang-yin. It always starts from the primary Qi organ ie Yin Qi or Yang Qi as in columns 2 and 3 in the table, and goes from there. I hope this makes sense. Needling follows suit ie use appropriate Qi type needle point and you won’t go wrong.
The same applies to moxibustion – after all moxa follows the same rules, however can be therapeutic when needling fails. A case in point is when treating for Shingle pain – moxa is used around the lesions and will eliminate all pain by treating the immediate area whereas it will be useless to needle an inflamed area and painful as well and will not eliminate the pain. Moxa heat destroys the virus lying on the nerve but it must get quite hot at each point. See my article on Moxa for Shingle pain but this explanation should help.
The energetics must be of the same type, yin-yin or yang-yang but not a mixture eg yin-yang. This is opposite for the Ko Cycle.
Ko Cycle [Phase] (Grandmother restrains grandson) – Controls, dominates, destroys, restrains, weakens.
Therapeutic when path is yin-yang or yang-yin but not when yin-yin or yang-yang – this applies to needling points.
Example: Wood is Grandmother to Earth( grandson). Fire is grandmother to Metal. This is termed correctly as Grandmother/grandson, yin-yang or yang-yin depending on the starting reference for the Qi Organ circuit eg Yin or Yang Qi Organ Circuit as in the table, columns 2 and 3.
Conclusion:
The table above is very useful in making the connection across organ relationships. The reader can use the data and insert it into a Word table for future reference.
A most useful combination is the relationship between the Liver and the Large Intestine. Reverse Ko: Liver/Large Intestine eg 4 gates, LIV3,LI4 (yin-yang). This remarkable combination shows the usefulness of the five phases in diagnosis and healing.
Ron Campeanu MRACI Chartered Chemist
Ron Campeanu – Industrial Chemist, studying an Advanced Diploma in Acupuncture, designed the Q10Sport formula in 2003 in Australia. It is a Listed Medicine and a very potent energy formula. Actives are naturally occurring in the body. The formula helps rebuild cells to allow the body more energy capacity when needed – in times of stress, training, work.
For more information please visit the website at http://www.realhealthproducts.com where you can read more information in the various health blogs.
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