When talking about the five elements, particularly as applied to the organ systems of Chinese medicine, it’s easy to find an angle from which to proclaim the supremacy of any of the elements. Fire gets four organs, for instance, one of those being the Emperor – surely it’s the most important. Water, on the other hand, lies at the depths – no element is more revered than water in the cultural literature of the Chinese (the Dao is often said to be like water, the supreme man is said to be like water in taking the lowest place, etc….). Surely water is “top dog,” then. But what of Wood? Wood begins the cycle of the elements from most perspectives – it is the animating principle of the whole system – Wood must be the most important.
So on and so forth. The answer to the question, “Which is most important,” is the absurdly easy and frustrating, “None.” However, Earth could have a better reason than the rest to lay claim to this elusive prize. Earth is the center – the center is the axis upon which everything else spins. Without the center, you just have a group of unassociated pieces, functioning on their own in vain. The center brings it all together, ensures that it functions.
There are two ways to think about Earth seasonally. One perspective holds that Earth is associated with a kind of “late summer,” just before the fall rains begin. Another, which I prefer, holds that the Earth occupies an interstitial space between each season – the 14 days or so around each solstice and equinox – the transitions from one season to another. I’ve heard a variety of perspectives about the actual length of time and the precise arrangement of those periods, but this seems to be a consensus. Regardless, this “in between” nature of the Earth element makes it vital, it governs our transition from one energetic state to another.
Sunday, I went on a beautiful hike in the Columbia River Gorge. I decided to try to open my senses and not impose anything in particular on my experience. The overwhelming message, again and again, spoke of the Earth element. The sweet smell of decay – cloying, almost – with the merest hint of rich wine or butter or something I can’t define. No matter what part of the trail – metallic/mineral rock faces all around sharing their sharp, clean scent – deep, watery pools of clarity lending a weedy, fresh aroma – high and dry grassy plain full of pungency and heat… behind was the deep Earthen bassnote, emanating everywhere. Now, we are not officially in the period around the autumnal equinox, though we are technically within that “late summer” period perhaps – but the working of the Earth energy was present everywhere I looked.
The overwhelming idea that came out of all of this exploration is simple. Earth is at the center, and you must always look to its health. This is why dietary therapy is the root of most successful treatment plans. It’s also why so many of my patients seem to need a simple Earth tonification formula (such as Xiao Jian Zhong Tang) after any other series of formulas. In fact, from now on, I will be carefully examining that possibility with every patient. I feel that this is, in some ways, superior to the rampant practice of throwing some heavily tonifying formula at a patient after a big illness. The idea behind it is the same, but it is actually looking at the source of weakness and not the branches.
(Photos taken by Eric and his family, August 2008)
Tags: five phases, Organ systems, scent, stomach, senses, earth, spleen
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Eric,
One of the most important things that Chinese Medicine taught me, especially through Yin Yang and the 5 Elements, is that everything is relative. There’s no *one* thing more important than the other, and nothing can stand on it’s own, it has to be looked at as part of the bigger picture.
As Mufasa told Simba- we are all connected in the delicate balance of the circle of life. Something along those lines. :)
But his point is valid and true- one can not exist without the other.
Earth is most important?
I know you did not say it, but I do think that these kind of questions simply don’t exist here.
None of them can stand on their own, they depend on each other, nourish each other.
Understanding that makes life so much better, don’t you think? :)
Keep up the good work,
Yael
While I agree, ultimately, I think there’s an important point that can be missed by the “all are equal” proclamation. While it’s true that all are necessary (elements as well as yin/yang) I think it’s possible that greater therapeutic effect can be rendered by focus on one or another. Think of Yang within Yin/Yang. There’s an obsession with thinking of them as “equal,” but in reality I’ve seen much more powerful therapeutic effects when more attention is paid to the flow of Yang. This doesn’t mean one can IGNORE the Yin or that the Yin is “less important,” simply that for whatever reason when it comes to human beings intervening in the healing of other human beings, a greater focus on Yang seems to bring about greater results.
I think the same could be true of the elements.
e
Eric, beautifully written description of the Earth during its season, late summer time, when we experience quite literally Nature’s ripening and rottening! The fruit of summer’s industry, the collective harvest, comes to its fullness now, but at the same time things begin to die back to the earth… with the ultimate aim being that oh-so-Spleeny transformation.
Yael, I agree with you, but I can certainly see why Earth may lay claim to being the ‘most important’ element in some respects because it does provide the center around which everything orbits. We have the ’star’ layout of the five elements, but we also have the older glyph which places Earth at the center. If one considers that Earth is the plane upon which the theatre of life plays out, one can imagine why it is so essential to keep it sound. Certainly in treatment if you have several element systems manifesting chronic patterns of disharmony, the Spleen/Stomach network is a good place to turn, because it is the staging platform for health — without adequate nourishment, absorption and transformation, nothing can go right.
Just two cents from a fledgling herbalist!
Hi Eric,
I’m an earth type.
I think needing to tonify the centre is important because our western culture emphasises wood so much (taking initiative, being the general (entrepreneur), being flexible . . . on and on. And so we are liable to have our earth invaded.
Thanks for a great post.
Uh oh. Sounds like we’ve got a future Li Dong Yuan fan here. ;)
Hi Eric,
What a pleasure to read this article! I is so tangible and yet contains something important within, (may I dare say sacred?), this is just as Earth. Li Dong Yuan certainly understood this, but did he understand it enough to see that it is the Hearth quality of Earth which places it at the center, that it, like the physical body, contains and embraces, nurtures and transforms what is most sacred? When we consider Yin and Yang, we are often misled in to thinking of duality, yet when we consider that Yin, in the context of life and transformation of life can never be truly still, we see that there is Yang and there is the shady side of Yang called Yin, there is the Sun and its shadow. Thus, it’s not that Yang is more important or more prevalent than Yin, it is that there is only Yang, and that is what is most imporant. The Earth, holding the position of the center, holding the four pillars of transition periods between each seasion, and containing all of the other 4 elements by being designated the number 5, should thus be at the center of our focus in medicine. Yet, it is because the vessel is empty that is useful; for this reason, while I love the Guizhi based Xiao jianzhong tang as a model of returning to the central focus, I think bringing our patients to a formula like Fuzi lizhong wan touches upon why the center is so important.
Thanks Eric!
Michael G
Eric,
In the clinic you are right. Most of the times it’s best to focus on one, but then you always remember the other because you someimtes want that one thing to nourish or help that other thing…
When I say equal I mean equal in importance, maybe I should have been more clear about that.
Anne- to read your words about Chinese Medicine…. Ahhh :) You make me so happy!!!
Yes, Earth is the center, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most important. It’s very important, and when we can look at certain situations and think that Earth will be more important than others, but that’s not always the case.
I had a teacher who thought that everything has to do with the Earth element. Everything.
While I can understand this point of view, I don’t see things this way.
Yael
I really liked your description of your hike and the earth. Beautiful pictures as well (especially the shimmering drop one.) Thanks for sharing :).
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