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organ. Treating the ‘mother’

organ might provide a route

to improving the health of a

deficient ‘son’ organ. This is

more of a supportive role:

the heart is considered to

support the spleen, while

the spleen supports the

lungs, etc.

• The kecycle implies a
  degree of control, as when
  water ‘controls’ fire. When
  an organ is weak it is
  unable to exert the control
  necessary to assist other
  organs. Thus, if the lungs
  are weak the liver may
  become too strong, leading to headaches or hypertension.


• The cosmological cycle (or sequence) considers water to be the most
  important element. As water corresponds to the kidney it reflects the
  importance that Chinese prescribers place on this organ. It is viewed as
  the centre of all yin and yang energy in the body and its health is
  therefore vital.

The five phases are in a complex relationship with other important elements
of TCM as shown in Table 6.1.

124 | Traditional medicine

Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

Seasons Spring Summer Late summer Autumn Winter

Environment Wind Heat Damp Dry Cold

Zang organs (yin) Liver Heart Spleen Lung Kidney

Fu organs (yang) Gallbladder Small intestine Stomach Large intestine Bladder

Directions East South Middle West North

Tastes Sour Bitter Sweet Pungent Salty

Senses Eye Tongue Mouth Nose Ear

Tissues Tendon Vessel Muscle Skin, hair Bone

Emotions Anger Joy Worry Grief Fear

Table 6.1Relationships of the five phases

Figure 6.3 Generating cycle.

Water

Metal

Earth

Fire

Wood