Five phase theory and its use in medicine

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Philip A.M. Rogers MRCVS  
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1982, updated 1993, 1995
Postgraduate Course in Veterinary AP, Dublin, 1996

 
 

SUMMARY

 

Nature and the body are unities, in which mutual control and harmony are maintained by creation (anabolism) and destruction (catabolism). Five Phase Theory extends Yin-Yang Theory, in which all things in nature are classified into five basic types or Correspondences: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood. The Phases and their Correspondences interact in predictable ways. As Yin and Yang have anabolic and catabolic aspects, so also have the Five Phases. Thus, the Five Phases have a Sheng (Mother-Son, anabolic, creative, nourishing = ->) and a Ko (Grandmother-Grandson, catabolic, controlling, destructive, = X) Cycle.
 

The Sheng Cycle is: Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water -> Wood -> Fire. In the Sheng Cycle, Fire is the Mother of (feeds or strengthens) Earth and Metal is the Son of (is nourished by) Earth.

 

The Ko Cycle is : Fire X Metal X Wood X Earth X Water X Fire. In the Ko Cycle, Fire is the Grandmother of (dominates or controls) Earth and Metal is the Grandson of (is brought under control by) Earth.

 

Each Phase (or ELEMENT) relates to a specific Yin/Yang pair of the Channel-Organ System (COS) and to a wide list of Correspondences (function, emotion, excretion, body tissue, season, food etc). Thus, Fire relates to the COSs Heart and Small Intestine (HT and SI) and their Correspondences (sweat, tongue, speech, face, circulation, excitability, psyche, bitter taste, red, summer, south etc).

 

Disease involves imbalance (Excess, Deficiency or Stagnation) of Qi in one or more COSs. Therapy involves restoration of the balance of Qi. Each Channel has 5 special Points, corresponding to each of the Five Phases and a Luo (Passage) Point. These Points are used to transfer Qi between COSs when there is one or more with Qi Excess and an equal number with Qi Deficiency. This restores the balance and harmony of Qi. One usually stimulates the Deficient COS, to draw Qi from its Yin/Yang mate (via the Luo Point) or from another COS (via the Sheng or Ko Cycle). Any Deficiency thus created in the donor COS is filled from an Excess elsewhere. However, if only one COS is involved, it may be Tonified by needling its Mother Point, or Sedated by needling its Son Point.

 

Five Phase Theory has many implications in medicine. However, the theory is incomplete and it has its limitations. It is a useful guide to aetiology, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy but it is not absolutely necessary for therapeutic success. Knowledge is an ongoing process. While AP can produce good clinical results without a knowledge of the use of Five Phase Theory, the theory enhances the probability of optimal results, especially in complex disease syndromes.