Five Elements Emotions Chart

1. Five Elements Emotions

1.1 The Basic Concept of the Seven Emotions

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) posits that the seven emotions (joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sorrow, fear, and fright) are innate emotional responses that everyone experiences.

1.2 Emotional Fluctuations and Physiological Activity

Consequently, emotional fluctuations are a natural part of human physiological activity and generally do not cause illness. However, when emotional stimuli are sudden, intense, or prolonged beyond the body’s normal physiological range, they can lead to functional disturbances.

1.3 The Impact of Emotions on Qi Movement

According to TCM theory, excessive mental stimulation such as extreme joy, intense anger, sudden fright, or rage directly affects the Qi (vital energy) movement within the internal organs, causing Qi stagnation. Specifically, anger causes Qi to rise, joy slows Qi, fear drives Qi downward, fright scatters Qi, sorrow depletes Qi, worry gathers Qi, and contemplation knots Qi, ultimately leading to disease.

1.4 Individual Differences and Emotional Pathogenesis

The impact of these emotions varies depending on an individual’s personality, constitution, willpower, and self-cultivation. Generally, joy seldom causes illness, while fear and fright induce illness most rapidly, anger leads to more severe conditions, and worry and contemplation cause slower onset of disease.

1.5 The Relationship Between Emotions and Organs

Each emotion affects different organs in distinct ways, and these relationships are often visualized in the Five Elements Emotions Chart, which maps the interactions between emotions and the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water).

2. Five Elements Emotion Balance

2.1 Anger Harms the Liver

Anger causes Qi to rise and damages the liver, leading to liver Yang hyperactivity, which manifests as muscle tension, loss of control, and loud shouting. It can also impair the liver’s function of regulating Qi flow, resulting in depression, irritability, dizziness, and blurred vision. It is a significant contributor to hypertension, coronary heart disease, and gastric ulcers.
Sorrow overcomes anger: Using sorrowful words and actions to induce a sense of grief can help dissipate excessive Qi. By evoking sadness and allowing a good cry, pent-up anger can be released, thereby curbing excessive rage. This principle is rooted in the Five Elements Emotions theory, where sorrow (associated with Metal) counteracts anger (associated with Wood).

2.2 Joy Harms the Heart

Joy promotes the flow of Qi and blood, relaxes muscles, and aids in relieving fatigue. However, excessive joy can lead to uncontrollable laughter or even madness, indicating impaired heart Qi. When heart Qi is disturbed, it causes mental dispersion, resulting in palpitations, insomnia, forgetfulness, and dementia.
Fear overcomes joy: Using fear-inducing methods to create a sense of fear can help restrain excessive excitement and abnormal laughter. This involves exposing the patient to things they fear to counteract overexcitement. This dynamic is a key aspect of the Five Elements Emotions framework, where fear (associated with Water) balances joy (associated with Fire).

2.3 Contemplation Harms the Spleen

Contemplation causes Qi stagnation, leading to mental fatigue, chest tightness, and loss of appetite due to spleen Qi stagnation and impaired digestion. This is akin to the brain reducing digestive secretions due to overthinking, resulting in poor appetite, a haggard appearance, shortness of breath, fatigue, and depression.
Anger overcomes contemplation: Provoking anger through insulting or deceitful actions can help regulate Qi flow. Using offensive or deceitful language to incite anger can help alleviate excessive contemplation. This interaction is another example of the Five Elements Emotions theory, where anger (associated with Wood) counterbalances contemplation (associated with Earth).

2.4 Sorrow Harms the Lungs

Intense grief depletes lung Qi, causing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and low spirits. It can also lead to dry cough, coughing up blood, hoarseness, and digestive disorders.
Joy overcomes sorrow: Using joyful words, actions, or objects to uplift the spirit. Humorous speech and amusing expressions can induce laughter and dispel sorrow.

2.5 Fear and Fright Harm the Kidneys

Excessive or sudden fear and fright cause kidney Qi to become unstable, leading to a sinking sensation, constant anxiety, scattered spirit, incontinence, and indecisiveness. This can progress to tinnitus, deafness, dizziness, impotence, or even death.
Contemplation overcomes fear: Guiding positive thinking to alleviate fear. Through patient conversation, individuals can be encouraged to reflect on their fears rationally, fostering self-control and restraint. Alternatively, using facts or analogies to dispel doubts can be effective. This is essentially cognitive therapy, which treats psychological disorders by establishing correct cognitive patterns.

3. Emotions Balance Health Holistically.

The ancient Chinese emotional restraint therapy described above leverages the relationships between emotions and the five organs, using “normal” emotional activities to regulate “abnormal” ones, thereby addressing emotional or physical illnesses. In reality, the interactions between emotions are complex and multifaceted. One emotion can restrain several others, while one emotion can also be restrained by multiple emotions. Ancient physicians would tailor their approaches based on the patient’s specific circumstances, employing flexible methods to achieve balance, often guided by the Five Elements Emotions Chart for a holistic understanding of emotional and physiological harmony.