Health Reflecting Nature

In Chinese medicine, we see the body and health as a kind of reflection of what is going on in nature. The 5 elements in nature are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each corresponds to different organs in the body and to different emotions.

• Fire corresponds to the heart and small intestine. The emotion that correlates with these organs is joy. 
• Earth corresponds to the spleen and stomach. The emotion that correlates with these organs is worry or overthinking.
• Metal corresponds to the lungs and large intestine. The emotion that correlates with these organs is grief.
• Water corresponds to the kidneys and urinary bladder. The emotion that correlates with these organs is fear.
• Wood corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. The emotion that correlates with these organs is anger. 

Achieving Balance

There is a natural holistic interaction between all the elements. Each generates one and each controls one to make sure there is balance. For example, the kidneys generate the liver and the liver controls the spleen. 

However, if unbalanced the elements can hurt each other. For example, if the spleen is weak, the liver can over-control and harm it. If the spleen is in excess, it can overpower the liver. Then the liver cannot do its natural job of controlling the spleen. 

This is why emotions are so important. Emotions have the power to help or hurt physical aspects of our health too. Taking the time to work on your emotional wellbeing and find what makes you feel peaceful is a valuable tool that can improve your health leading to balance.