5 Transformations of Energy
The five transformations of energy, or five element theory, is one of the basic principles underlying eastern medicine and philosophy. We may obtain health and well-being by balancing the elements in our lives, and we can also use the principles to observe excesses or deficiencies both in ourselves and others. Imbalances in one aspect reveals potential problems in other aspects of the same element. For example, if we have difficulty hearing, we can know that our kidneys are not functioning optimally due to an imbalance in Water energy. The table below is a compilation of many five element aspects. Please study, enjoy, and investigate for yourself. |
In Humanity | TREE | FIRE | SOIL | METAL | WATER |
Organs | Liver, Gall Bladder | Heart, Small Intestine | Spleen/Pancreas, Stomach | Lung, Large Intestine | Kidney, Bladder, Reproductive |
Body | Tendons, Ligaments | Blood Vessels | Muscles | Skin | Bones, Teeth |
Head | Eyes | Tongue | Mouth | Nose | Ears |
Senses | Sight | Touch | Taste | Smell | Hearing |
Branches | Nails | Complexion | Lips, Breast | Body Hair | Head Hair |
Glands | Pituitary | Pineal | Thymus | Thyroid | Adrenals, Gonads |
Fluid | Tears | Sweat | Saliva | Mucus | Urine |
Joints | Shoulders | Elbows | Hips | Wrists | Knees, Ankles |
Voices | Shouting | Laughing | Singing | Weeping | Groaning |
Functions | Purification | Circulation | Digestion | Respiration | Elimination |
Tonifying | Reading | Walking | Sitting | Lying | Standing |
Emotions | Anger, Frustration | Mania, Excitability | Worry, Jealousy | Depression, Sadness | Fear, Guilt |
Virtue | Patience | Joyfulness | Empathy | Confidence | Courage |
Faculty | Intellect | Spirituality | Creativity | Wisdom | Will |
Age | Birth/Childhood | Teenage/Young Adult | Adulthood/Middle Age | Maturity | Old Age/Transformation |
Stress Reaction | Controlling | Sadness | Stubbornness | Coughing | Trembling |
In Nature | TREE | FIRE | SOIL | METAL | WATER |
Energy | Dispersing | Active | Gathering | Materializing | Dissolving |
Movement | Upward | Outward | Horizontal | Downward | Inward |
State | Expanding | Vapor | Condensing | Solid | Liquid |
Color | Green | Red | Yellow | White | Black |
Taste | Sour | Hot | Sweet | Pungent | Salty |
Direction | East | South | Center | West | North |
Season | Spring | Summer | Late Summer | Autumn | Winter |
Time of Day | Morning | Noon | Afternoon | Evening | Night |
Lunar | Waxing Half Moon | Full Moon | Waning Gibbous Moon | Waning Crescent Moon | New Moon |
Climate | Wind | Heat | Dampness | Dryness | Cold |
Number | 3, 4 | 9 | 2, 5, 8 | 6,7 | 1 |
Planet | Jupiter | Mars | Earth | Venus | Mercury |
In Society | TREE | FIRE | SOIL | METAL | WATER |
Political | Socialist | Libertarian | Moderate | Capitalist | Authoritarian |
Government | Democracy | Anarchy | Republic | Oligarchy | Monarchy |
Religion | Hinduism | Buddhism | Taoism, Confucianism | Judaism, Christianity | Islam |
Infinity Expression | Justice | Freedom | Peace | Truth | Love |
Personality | Romantic | Passionate | Balanced | Disciplined | Flexible |
Profession | Trade, Technology | Arts, Media | Politics, Education, Agriculture | Finance, Management | Transportation, Public Facility |
In Food | TREE | FIRE | SOIL | METAL | WATER |
Nutrients | Fats | Electrolytes | Carbohydrates | Protein | Water |
Vitamins | A, B2 | B3, B5, C | B1, B6 | E | D |
Minerals | Copper, Iron | Sodium, Potassium | Manganese, Zinc | Phosphorous | Calcium, Magnesium |
Cooking | Sauteing, Frying | Roasting | Steaming | Baking | Boiling, Pressure Cooking |
Preservation | Vinegar | Alcohol | Honey | Drying | Salting |
Plant Groups | Nuts, Seeds, Sprouts | Fruits | Vegetables | Grains | Beans, Sea Vegetables |
Grains | Barley, Wheat, Oats | Corn, Quinoa | Millet | Brown Rice | Buckwheat |
Vegetables | Sprouts, Leafy Greens | Large Leafy Greens | Rounded Vegetables | Shorter, Rounder Roots | Longer, Thinner Roots |
In Healing | TREE | FIRE | SOIL | METAL | WATER |
Re-Generating | Broccoli, Bok Choy, Romaine, Parsley, Leeks, Celery, Sprouts, Wakame, Wheat grass, Leaf lettuce | Quinoa, Amaranth, Red Millet, Brussel Sprouts, Mustard Greens, Carrot Tops, Nori, Dulse, Asparagus, Dandelion, Endive, Scallion | Millet, Winter Squash, Cabbage, Onion, Arame, Collards, Carrots, Kuzu, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Rutabaga | Daikon, Hiziki, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Lotus Root, Turnip, Turnip Greens | Azuki, Kale, Kombu, Burdock, Water Chestnut, Watercress, Sea Salt |
Maintaining | Barley, Wheat, Oats, Green Lentils, Mung, Alfalfa, Ume, Green Peas, Rhubarb, Avocado, Green Pepper, Sesame Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar | Corn on the Cob, Long Grain Brown Rice, Basmati Brown Rice, Chick Peas, Wasabi, Red Lentil, Red Peppers, Okra, Sunflower, Sesame | Sweet Brown Rice, Soy Beans, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Summer Squash, | Short Grain Brown Rice, Rye, Cucumber, Whole Grain Bread | Buckwheat, Wild Rice, Miso, Chestnuts, Black Soy Beans, Agar-Agar, Shiitake, |
De-Generating | Peanut, Brazil, Cashew, Clam, Crab, Trout, Olive Oil, Vegetable Oils, Vinegars, Nut butters, Yeast, Orange, Plum, Sour Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit | Popcorn, Tomato, Pistachio, Shrimp, Beer, Wine, Apricot, Raspberry, Strawberry, Ketchup, | Eggplant, Coconut, Macadamia, Date, Fig, Papaya, Pineapple, Apples, Banana, Cantaloupe, Grapes, Mango, Prunes, Raisins, Sweet Cherry, Vanilla, Almond, Pecan, Pine Nut, Anchovy, Salmon, Tuna, Swordfish, Honey, Barley Malt, Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup, Stevia | White Rice, Potato, Hickory Nuts, Walnuts, Peach, Pear, Cod, Flounder, Halibut, Perch, Turkey, Egg Whites, White or Bleached Flour | Blackberry, Black Raspberry, Blueberry, Cranberry, Watermelon, Caviar, Egg Yolk, Abalone, Mussel, Sardine, Scallop, Duck |
Toxifying | Butter, Cream, Mayonaise, Sour Cream, Yogurt, Chicken, Livers, | Whiskey, Tobacco, Lamb, Heart, Liquor, Soft Drinks, Electromagnetic Radiation | Cottage Cheese, Ice Cream, Milk, Eel, Pheasant, Mutton, Rabbit, Carob, Sherbet, Brown Sugar, White Sugar, | Hard Salty Cheeses, Beef | Coffee, Chocolate, Ham, Pork, Iodized Salt |
Poisoning | Lard, Hydrogenated Oils | Amphetamines, Stimulants, Radiation | Saccharin, Aspartame, Artificial Sweeteners | Depressants, Barbiturates, Sedatives, Antibiotics | Steroids, Diuretics |