At a glance
- Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water are five movements of energy, not five substances.
- Each Element nourishes one and regulates another.
- Balance arises from these two cycles, in nature as in the body.
Five movements between Heaven and Earth
For some 5,000 years, Chinese thought has observed nature through Yin and Yang, Earth and Heaven. Between the two, energy transforms through five movements: Wood that is born and grows, Fire that blossoms, Earth that ripens, Metal that gathers in and Water that withdraws and rests.
The nourishing cycle
In the generating cycle, each Element nourishes the next, as a mother nourishes her child: Wood feeds Fire, Fire produces Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal enriches Water, and Water nourishes Wood. It is also the order of the seasons: spring, summer, inter-seasons, autumn, winter.
The regulating cycle
In the controlling cycle, each Element tempers another to prevent excess: Wood holds Earth, Earth channels Water, Water moderates Fire, Fire works Metal, and Metal cuts Wood. When an Element is too strong or too weak, the balance of the whole changes, and the skin or hair may show it.
It is on this reading that Laboratoire Géomer designs its care: supporting each season and each Element rather than correcting an isolated symptom.
Key points
- The 5 Elements are movements of energy over the year.
- The generating cycle nourishes, the controlling cycle regulates.
- The skin and hair reflect the balance between the Elements.
The correspondences of the 5 Elements
| Element | Season | Organs | Emotion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Spring | Liver, gallbladder | Anger |
| Fire | Summer | Heart, small intestine | Joy |
| Earth | Inter-seasons | Spleen, stomach, pancreas | Worry |
| Metal | Autumn | Lungs, large intestine | Sadness |
| Water | Winter | Kidneys, bladder | Fear |
This information is provided for informational and holistic purposes. It does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. If you have a diagnosed condition, consult your doctor.