Five Elements & Their Flavours - Lotus Care Acupuncture & TCM Clinic (心莲堂) | Acupuncture in Ottawa | 225 Metcalfe Street #404, Ottawa, ON, Canada

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 5 elements are said to govern all phenomena inside and outside the body.

The elements are thus associated with Organs (and their respective channels), Seasons, Flavours, Colours, etc.

Comprehensive Chart

WOOD – LIVER: The liver & Gallbladder are related to the Sour flavour!

These organs work together to regulate the flow of Qi through out the entire body. When stressed, the liver is impeded and the flow in our channels can become stagnant!

Moreover, the Liver (Wood) can overact on Spleen (Earth). Under such circumstances, rather than regulating Earth, Wood can harm or impede the Earth Elements functions of digestion (of food or thoughts).

Sour flavours are said to move the Qi and aids the digestion of food.
As the saying goes…”too much of a good thing …” can worsen the situation!

Too much sour flavour is said to constrain the Liver of its functions related to Qi movement dynamic.

Some examples of natural sour flavours:

Lemon & Lime
Vinegar, Pickles, Kimchi, Sauerkraut
Apple Cider / Sour Apples

FIRE – HEART: The Heart & Small Intestine are associated with fire, and thus, the flavour of Bitter is associated with these organs and their channels, because of the cooling role of the Bitter flavour.

Fire is seen as very important fuel for the heart & Small Intestine. For instance, the Yang / Fire element is necessary for function and health (warmth, circulation), however, just as a fire can consume a forest, when imbalanced, too much heat can be harmful (inflammation).

Some examples of bitter foods:

Bitter melon
Dark Chocolate
Valerian
Romaine Lettuce
Brussel Sprouts
Arugula
Green Tea
Coffee

Coffee & Chocolate can be too stimulating if taken in large quantities, however, they both contain Theobromine, which is considered beneficial to the heart health & our overall mood, while reducing inflammation at large. Theobromine is also considered to help our respiratory system. We find this interesting, since in TCM the heart and Lung are said to be connected due to both being situated in the “upper jiao” (out of the Triple Burners / San Jiao).

EARTH – SPLEEN: The Spleen & Stomach are associated with Earth and natural sweet flavours. This isn’t the sweetness of a cold ice-cream, however!

Earth element is said to engender the emotion of empathy within us… Think for a moment of the inner warmth we feel when we think of the one’s we care for. This can be our reminder that the Spleen enjoys warm food, and the Stomach enjoys moist food. (Not too damp, not too cold, and not too dry)

Some examples of natural sweet foods to eat in a balanced & seasonal approach:

Sweet potato
Squash
Carrot
Millet grains
Mango
Coconut
Papaya
Beets

METAL – LUNG: The Lung & Large Intestine are associated with pungent flavours.

When in a healthy state, the Lungs are meant to disperse and descend Qi – which is important for Qi mechanisms overall, and plays a role in bowel movements being carried out with ease and regularity.

Pungent foods are said to aid the body expel phlegm and bring balance to the body, especially the respiratory and eliminatory systems.

Examples of Disharmony in the Lung:

1. When our Lungs are fighting off an infection, the mucus build up can dampen the lung’s ability to ‘Disperse & Descend’ (D&D).

2. When our Lung Qi is weak, it can also inhibit the mechanism of D&D.

3. The Lung Yin is lessened and there are signs of dryness.

In the first example above, pungent foods could assist the lung in its role of D&D;

However, in the second example, pungent foods could further weaken the lung Qi.

In the third example, pungent foods are not nourishing enough on their own, and other flavours and ingredients would be needed to nourish the lung yin.

Some examples of pungent foods:

Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Radish
Chilies

Seaweeds are associated with Water element (which is the child element of Metal), and this ingredient is said to assist our lungs by protecting against lung cancer & pulmonary fibrosis for example.

In this way, we could see how nourishing the child element can support the mother element as well.

WATER – KIDNEY: The Kidney(s) & Urinary Bladder are associated with the Salty flavour through the element of water.

Salt and water are both seen as vital essentials in our being, and the kidneys are said to house the root of the whole body’s Yin & Yang, and Essence. This root Yin & Yang (the left and right kidneys) is regulated by the Heart Fire (warming the kidney waters).

Interestingly, Water element is associated with Winter season (cold)… & Salt exerts a role on metabolism by inducing thermogenesis — increasing the body’s temperature.

In Chinese medicine, we say to protect the lower back and the ankles (sites of the kidney organs and channels) so as to not dampen the Kidney Yang. We want Yin and Yang in relative balance, and salty flavours are seen as a way to bring balance.

Some examples of Salty foods: