Water element in Oriental medicine
The Water Element
Tao Sheng (11th century AD) said that water is submissive, but controls everything.
Water controls fire or becomes controlled by it, and runs away in a new form as steam.
Water floods the soft earth but when it flows in front of a strong rock it finds a way around it.
It rusts iron into dust and there are no forces that can prevent it from following its expected course to the ocean.
Water conquers in its ultimate battle without becoming aggressive.
It is lenient and modest but with passiveness succeeds in ruling the world.
The basic concept of Chinese philosophy is that all forces and changes in nature are duplicated in our body and soul.
There are five fundamental energies in the cosmos: Fire, Earth, Metal, Wood and Water, compared with the four elements in Western philosophy: Fire, Earth, Air, And Water.
The five elements are in a continuous state of change. They operate passively and actively in a creative circle. The interaction between them is expressed in different relationships: constructive and destructive, bridging and separating, controlling and consuming.
All five elemental qualities are in each of us, however, we are mainly characterized and driven by one Element.
Before being born, our parents contributed our Essence to us.
This Essence is the Qi that becomes stronger by the Lung Qi (air (and the spleen Qi (food- Gu-Qi).
The inherited Qi and the acquired Qi are gathered in the kidney reservoir for use as required.
To say: “the Kidney holds the Essence,” means that the Qi creates and stores the original material and is the foundation of all the other tissues.
The Kidney is the origin of our regeneration – our existence.
The kidney Essence enables the Shen’ expression.
People that have a Water Element dominant personality are characterized as: sensitive, introvert, gentle, great conversationists, and like to give affection,
Sometimes they seem to be loners and hate superficiality more than anything else.
Waters people are very creative and have an original and imaginative mind. They are modest and run away from the spotlight. They are independent and search for mystery in everything. They are very much in touch with themselves and with their emotions.
They have a sharp and critical intellect and are quick to tune into others’ nature.
They have a tendency to conserve and preserve everything.
Perseverance is the power of the water person, so you can depend on them to continue a task until it’s done.
Sometime they suffer from loneliness and isolation with fear of loosing their identity.
In the eyes of others they sometimes look like a riddle and unusual. In parties they feel uncomfortable and find it difficult to be part of the group. They have difficulty in remaining a part of the group, however, at the same time they suffer from not being a part of it.
They may suffer from gum and dental problems, backache and kidneys/bladder functionality deficiency.
Water -Out of order Patterns:
The kidney yin nature is characterized by coldness and humidity.Too much yin will humidify the heart Qi (Fire) and the digestion spleen Qi.
The kidney controls the lower body as the Heart and Lung control the upper body.
A water type person will have a strong energy centralized in the lower back, legs, hips and lower belly.
The yin kidney manifests in inner moisture and essential materials like the Marrow, spinal cord fluid, propagation hormones, sperm and urine.
The water element types tend to have big heads and bones with well-developed thighs, pelvis and legs.
Their arms and upper body may be small and unimpressive so they could have a pear appearance.
When water controls fire too much, the fire Qi is weakened and the person can become sensitive to cold. He may have difficulties making contact with people and they tend to be pessimistic.
When Wood is too wet we can’t easily ignite a fire so, the warmth, calm and comfort of the fire could become submissive to the water coldness.
A few other things happen when Yin controls Yang. For example, the deceleration in metabolism resulting in the partial loss of capacity for action, expression and speech. Too much excess fluid leads to the enlargement of the Heart and edema.
The dominant Yin kidney effect on the Spleen may result in a low function of the intestines and a lack of interest in food. The Lung Qi, when affected by the dominant Yin kidney, results in shallow respiration, nose and throat dryness and swelling.
Discomfort in the lower spine area and joint inflammation are sometimes caused by the concentration of fluid in the pelvis.
However, despite all the aches and pains water people may suffer, they tend to keep a sharp intellect, curiosity and clear consciousness. At the same time, Water people often struggle to maintain their capacity to be creative from the negative influence of cynicism and submissiveness.
The medical objective:
The treatment I would suggest for Water – KI. Yin deficient people is to maintain the heat that promotes the flow of moisture, and to encourage physical activity, social involvement and emotional expression.It is better to eat saltier food that will concentrate and hold the fluid. Spiced and bitter food could encourage a waste of heat and liquid which might lead to a loss of KI. Essence.
Typical body characters:
In order |
Exaggerated |
Exhausted |
Difficulties with |
| Strong body structure. Compact & Skinny |
Great hearing & eyesight sensitivity | Blunt hearing & eyesight | Memory |
| Long big bones | Headache – above the eyes | Ringing hearing noises | Sensory & motor Disturbance |
| Long and narrow head & face – well built |
Lack of sweat & urine | Spine, lower body & Joints becoming weak & stiff |
Deformed shape of bones, joints & teeth |
| Submerged eyes | Blood vessel & cartilage becomes stiff | Degeneration of discus – cartilage, buttocks legs & feet | Deformed reproduction & growth |
| Narrow shoulders | Stiffness of joints & muscles | Frequent urination | Deficiency of the ability to preserve/dispose Fluid |
| Large hip | Stones in the kidney & bladder | Pre-graying & Pre- wrinkling | Swelling |
| |
Bony tumor | Sleep disorder & Waking up cycles | |
| Long fingers & big toe | Pre-mature sexuality | Fertility deficiency. Frigidity & impotence | |
| Low digestion | Lack of durability | ||
| Retreating gums. |
Morning wakening problems | ||
| Insomnia, sleeplessness. |
Lack of appetite | ||
| Bronze face color |
Weak belly muscle | ||
| Excess blood pressure | Dark dull & sticky skin | ||
Characteristic mental quality:
In order
|
Exaggerated
|
Exhausted
|
Difficulties with |
| Integrity& honesty |
Bluntness |
Sarcasm |
Sociability |
| Self-analysis |
Introversion |
Narrow-mindedness |
Internalization |
| Modesty |
Acting |
Anonymity |
Norm discipline |
| Attentiveness |
Penetrating |
Voyeurism |
Generosity |
| Objectivity |
Indifference |
Being cut-off |
Hypochondria |
| Curiosity | Strangeness |
Criticism |
Isolation |
| Sophistication |
Suspicion |
Imagination |
Communication |
| Caution |
Importunity |
Fear |
Exposure |
| Accuracy |
Greed |
Pedantry |
Trust |
| Thrift |
Cynicism |
Miserliness |
Confidence |
| Rationality |
Mind scattered |
||
| Brightness |
Pessimism |
Connections, contradictions and challenges assumed from the table:
Water people seem to be truth pursuers but run away from exposure.
They lack patience in creating contacts but crave communication.
They like pressure but are frightened of being squeezed.
They want to search the interior but detest assimilation.
They enjoy being alone but have a continuous fear of abandonment.
Together, the Kidneys’ Yin & Yang components contain materiality and spirit at the same time.
Like sea depths that are quiet at the surface, the Kidney too is nourished by its own seasonal rains and sub-earth streams, immersed within us, wrapping us in its hidden life force and essence treasure.
Written by Anat Juran
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