The true meaning of the law of five elements (organs’ reciprocal dependences and their practical use)

Abstract

The ancients believed that energy Chi circulates and activates the organs in a specific order reflected in the “law of five elements” (see the author’s book Maria Kuman, Modern Aspects of Ancient Acupuncture).1 Y Manaka, et al.2 in their book Chasing the Dragon’s Tail2 explained that the law means that at different times of the day or night the organs are in different phases of their cycles of activity and they consider the “Law of Five Elements” as a “Law of Five Phases”. The ancient book3 offers the following information for the cycles of organs’ activity, which is systematized in the table below.