Five phase theory and its use in medicine

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COMBINATION OF SHENG AND KO CYCLES BALANCES THE FIVE PHASES

 

Without Sheng (nourishment) there can be no growth and development. Without Ko (restraint), excessive development would be harmful.
 

Thus, both the Sheng and Ko Cycles are necessary for balance. They represent a state of continuous dynamic anabolism and catabolism respectively. All things in nature must change. In biology, as in nature, nothing is static (i.e.) the system is in continuous movement, one Phase becoming another. During this movement (rhythm) there are active (Yang) and passive (Yin) phases. The combination of Sheng and Ko is represented in the following diagram: ===> represents Sheng Cycle (nourishing, promoting anabolic); ---> represents Ko Cycle (restraining, controlling, catabolic); +++> represents Counteracting (a Reverse Ko) Cycle: Fire X Water X Earth X Wood X Metal X Fire. Earth restrains (controls) Water (in the Ko Cycle) but Water may Counteract on Earth (in the Reverse Ko Cycle):

 

 

The balance of growth (Sheng) and restraint (Ko) is necessary for harmony in the system. Thus, by a process of mutual synergism and antagonism, harmony is maintained.

 

 

DISHARMONY, DISORDER

 

If there is an Excess, Deficiency or Stagnation (Blockage) in one Phase, abnormal phenomena may appear in other Phases because the primary imbalance may Overact or Counteract on other Phases.
 

Overacting means attacking a Deficient Phase via the Ko route. A Phase with normal Qi, but especially one with an Excess of Qi may attack a Deficient Phase via the Ko Cycle (the Grandmother annoys (or weakens further) the Weak Grandson). A normal (or, especially hyperactive) Grandmother harms the Deficient Grandson Phase. For example, if Wood is Deficient (weak), Metal could Overact on it, thereby exaggerating the problem. If Wood is in Excess, it can Overact on Earth (weaken it). Counteracting is another type of attack by one Phase on another, via the reverse Ko route (the Grandson annoys the Grandmother). If Wood is in Excess it can Overact on Earth and simultaneously can Counteract on Metal. If Wood is Deficient it can be Overacted upon by Metal and be Counteracted upon by Earth at the same time.

 

The Sheng, Ko, Overacting and Counteracting forces are the basis of all interactions between diseased organs. We will see later that each Phase has a set of Correspondences, including a solid Yin Organ and hollow Yang Bowel. For now, it is sufficient to know that Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood are associated with the Yin COSs HT, SP, LU, KI, LV respectively. Disease in any one of these COSs can have secondary effects on any other member of the group. For instance, Lung disease could be primary. However, it could be secondary to disease in Spleen (Mother (Earth) affecting the Son (Metal) in the Sheng Cycle); to disease in the Kidney (Son (Water) affecting the Mother (Metal) in the Sheng Cycle); to disease in the Liver (Liver (Wood) Counteracting on Liver (Metal)) or to disease in the Heart (Heart (Fire) Overacting on Lung (Metal)).

 

In summary (so far), Five Phase Theory is a UNIVERSAL THEORY relating types of things in a harmonious, balanced system (the Sheng and Ko Cycles). If one of the Phases becomes too weak or too strong, the entire system can become unbalanced. By Overacting and Counteracting forces, one imbalanced Phase may affect others. Any one Phase may be imbalanced by imbalance in any other Phase. Correction of the balance depends on recognition of the Excess and Deficient parts of the system and in redistributing the Qi to the correct parts of the system to restore harmony. This concept is the first documented concept of Holistic medicine: any one organ is related to, and can influence the functions of, any other organ.