Five Elements
In Chinese medicine, everything is interconnected. The five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) represent five types of energy in your body and mind, each with their own organ, emotion, season and flavour. Click on an element to discover what belongs to it.
The green lines show the nourishing cycle (Sheng): each element nourishes the next. The red lines show the controlling cycle (Ke): each element keeps another in balance.
Answer 19 short questions and discover which element suits you best, and which element also plays a role. For each question, choose what feels closest to you; there are no right or wrong answers.
The five seasons
In Chinese medicine the year has five seasons. Each season belongs to an element and invites something different.
Spring · Wood
In spring, everything that stood still starts moving again. Energy rises, in plants, in animals, and in you as well. This is the time for new plans, new habits and the urge to grow. The Liver and Gallbladder are active in this period. You may notice that you want more than you can manage, or that you are more easily irritated than usual. That is part of it. Use the energy of spring, but also make sure you get enough sleep, fresh food and daily exercise in the open air.
Summer · Fire
Summer is the high point of the year: full of light, warmth and connection. The Heart and Small Intestine are central in this season. You are naturally more social, more energetic and more open. Do take care not to ask too much of yourself, because even in summer your body needs rest. Cool moments, drinking enough and conscious relaxation help prevent the heat outside from stoking things up inside as well. Enjoy connecting with others, but keep time for yourself too.
Late summer · Earth
Late summer is the transition between summer and autumn: warm, golden and slower in pace. The Spleen and Stomach are most active in this time. It is a period of harvest and digestion, literally and figuratively. What has the summer brought you? Take time to give that a place. Eat plenty from the season's harvest, such as pumpkin, corn, courgette and tomatoes. In this season your digestion is sensitive to cold and raw food, so prefer warm meals eaten at ease.
Autumn · Metal
Autumn asks for letting go. Leaves fall, the light fades and life draws inward. The Lung and Large Intestine are most active in autumn. This is the season for putting things in order: your home, your diary and your thoughts. Many people notice they are more prone to colds and airway complaints in this period. Keep your lungs warm, wear a scarf and eat food that can support your resilience, such as garlic, onion and ginger. Also let go of what no longer feels right: autumn is the time for it.
Winter · Water
Winter is the time of stillness, inward movement and recovery. The Kidneys and Bladder are active in this season. Like a seed under the ground, nature uses winter to store strength for what is to come. Do not push on at full speed through the dark months, but allow yourself more rest than you are used to. Warm food, early nights and fewer stimuli are the best support. Cold and damp weather can ask more of your kidneys: keep your back and feet warm.
This explorer is intended to provide insight and show connections; it is not a diagnosis. The five-element theory is classical Chinese medicine theory. For a personal assessment, a consultation with tongue and pulse diagnosis by a practitioner is needed.
