Chinese Health Exercise: Qigong. Part Two

The SHENG / Creation or Nourishing Cycle is where each element nourishes or creates the next cycle (element) e.g. Fire creates Earth. The sequence can be rationalised as follows

WOOD creates FIRE (the wood is burnt to create the fire). FIRE creates EARTH (Fire expends it’s self and what is left is ashes which become Earth).

EARTH creates METAL (the element Metal is found by digging in the Earth)

METAL creates WATER (by melting– solid metals melt to form a liquid). Metal also corresponds to AIR (in Western astrology) and air condenses to form a liquid.

WATER creates WOOD (by nourishing growth)

If each element is fed and strengthened it will feed the next element in the cycle like a mother feeds a son or daughter, thus it is termed the cycle of creation and it gives birth to the Mother / son theory used in treatment of disharmonies.

The KO / inhibiting / repressive or controlling cycle is where each element inhibits or controls the element two steps ahead in the sequence e.g.. WOOD controls EARTH. This is like a Grandparent exerting control over a Grandchild, in T.C.M. called Grandmother / Grandson cycle. It works as follows—

FIRE controls METAL (by melting it).

METAL controls WOOD (by cutting it).

WOOD controls EARTH (by covering it).

EARTH controls WATER (by damming it).

WATER controls FIRE by extinguishing it).

DIAGRAM NO. W 2

Organ element relationship.

ST = STOMACH, HT = HEART, LV = LIVER, BL = BLADDER, KD = KIDNEYS, CO = COLON OR LARGE INTESTINE, PC = PERICARDIUM, TH = TRIPLE HEATER, LU = LUNGS, SP = SPLEEN, SI = SMALL INTESTINE, GB = GALL BLADDER.

The harmonious balance of the SHENG and KO cycles represents the mutual support and control of the 5 elements. The SHENG (creative) Cycle ensures that there is continual growth and generation. The KO Cycle ensures that there is growth within limits, that growth dose not continue unchecked. Thus the two cycles represent the balance of the 5 elements. Both cycles are natural and positive, unless an imbalance or blockage occurs in the flow resulting in the generation of a destructive cycle.

The SHENG Cycle is predominant during the day and the KO Cycle is predominant during the night. Each element has it’s corresponding colour, smell, body organ / channel, etc. that can form the basis of diagnosis. If any concordance tends to predominate or is lacking, a practitioner will be able to diagnose which part of the sequence is disturbed and treat the energies accordingly to open the natural flows.

Another way of using this system is as follows:

An inflammatory condition occurring in an organ or tissue can be seen as a FIRE type symptom (feels hot and will cause irritation, etc.) so using the WATER Pt to reduce this FIRE (inflammation) can have a dramatic and immediate effect on the inflammation. If the inflammation is not completely relived by the WATER PT then add a METAL PT to nourish the WATER and increase the affect of the action of WATER.