The ancient Chinese medical physicians used the Five Elements theory to study the connections between the physiology and pathology of the organs (五脏六腑 wu zang liu fu) and the natural environment. A general designation for Chinese medicine in the human body, including the five zang 五脏 internal organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) and six fu internal organs 六腑 (stomach, gallbladder, three visceral cavities, bladder, large intestine, small intestine).
By adopting the methodology of "comparing the similarities and exposing the phenomenon," the ancient Chinese physicians attributed different phenomena or different illness to the categories of the five elements. On the basis of the phenomena's different characteristics, functions, and forms, the complex links between physiology and pathology as well as the correlation between the human body and the natural environment were explained.
This Five Elements theory assigns each of the five elements a series of abstract generalizations and then applies them to the classification of all phenomena. Wood, for example, involved the aspects of germination, extension, softness, and harmony. It is then inferred that anything with those characteristics should be included in the category of the wood element. As for the rest of the five elements: fire involves the aspects of heat and flaring; earth involves the aspects of growing, nourishing, and changing; metal is associated with cleaning up, killing, strength, and firmness; and water is associated with cold, moisture, and downward flowing. As in the case of wood, the aspects of the other five elements are used to categorize all material objects in terms of one of the particular five elements.
Both the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and the Five Element practitioner refer upon the Five Element diagnostic. They will pay more attention to physical symptoms, and design treatment to eliminate the symptoms and they will focus on the imbalance, and aim their treatments at the root cause of the disharmony.
In our BaZi Four Pilllars of Destiny, the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements not only denotes a person’s personality and characteristics, talents, strengths and weaknesses. But the Five Elements can also reveal your health levels – whether it is weak or strong, or if there is a hidden ailment. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure” and thus, this foresight will give you the upper hand in seeking a proper remedy and medical attention early.
For example, if a person’s BaZi is having strong water and weak earth, first he or she will have a weaker kidney; his feet and hand is cold, scare of cold whether and will have illness related to stomach, urinary and digestion system.
Below is a true example of a lady. She lost her hearing at her very young age.
Chart 1. Her BaZi : She lost her hearing at her very young age.