Author: Ya Zhu Gabriel

Food and Herbs to Regulate Excess: A Controlling Cycle Approach

In Chinese medicine, food is more than fuel — it’s medicine. In our earlier posts, we explored how eating in harmony with the seasons and your Five Element constitution can nourish health and prevent depletion. But there’s another role food and herbs play that is equally important: regulating excess. As we’ve learned in the Five […]

Balancing Daily Life Through the Controlling Cycle

In our journey through the Five Elements, we’ve explored how life is supported by a cycle of nourishment and growth — the generating cycle. We’ve seen how aligning our daily habits with the seasons, foods, and emotional rhythms of each element helps us maintain vitality and flow. But just as nature grows, it also restrains. […]

How Aging Affects the Five Elements: A Case-Based Look at Woman’s Generating Cycle

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body is viewed as an interconnected system governed by the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements aren’t just symbolic—they represent real physiological systems working in harmony to maintain health. One of the core principles in TCM is the Generating Cycle (Sheng Cycle), where each element […]

Emotional Balance Through the Five Elements

In Chinese medicine, health includes the balance of body, mind, and emotions. Each emotion reflects the natural flow of Qi (energy) within specific organ systems. When the body experiences blockages or depletion, it creates emotional Issues. The Five Elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — create a nourishing cycle. Each Element relates to […]

Water Element in Chinese Medicine: Balance, Renewal, and Spring Vitality

As we move from winter into spring, the Water Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays a crucial role in ensuring a smooth seasonal transition. The Water Element governs the kidneys and bladder, influencing our energy reserves, emotional balance, and overall resilience. Supporting kidney health and energy balance is essential to maintain harmony as the […]

Lung and Large Intestine Health: Understanding the Metal Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body’s health is influenced by the balance of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The Metal element, associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, plays a vital role in respiration, immunity, and elimination processes. A harmonious Metal element contributes to robust lung and large intestine health, while […]