The five elements in Chinese medicine are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each of them has its own character.
Wood is growing and it is the same as tree to some extend. Fire is hot, and ascending. Earth means sow and gain. Mental is constringent and variational. And wanter is wet and alow.
The five elements has relationship among each other. One can generate another, meanwhile it is generated by a third. Still, one can destory another and can be destoried by a third too.
According to the generation and destory relationship of the five elements, we can cure diseases more easily.
