Читать книгу Reflexology: The 5 Elements and their 12 Meridians: A Unique Approach - Inge Dougans - Страница 8

‘Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember but involve me and I’ll understand.’

ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB

As Ted Kaptchuk explains in The Web That Has No Weaver:

‘To Western medicine, understanding an illness means uncovering a distinct entity that is separate from the patient’s being; to Chinese medicine, understanding means perceiving the relationships between the patient’s signs and symptoms … The Chinese method is thus holistic, based on the idea that no single part can be understood except in its relation to the whole … If a person has a symptom, Chinese medicine wants to know how the symptom fits into the patient’s entire bodily pattern … Understanding that overall pattern, with the symptom as part of it, is the challenge of Chinese medicine.’

Using needles, cupping or thumb and finger pressure on the acupuncture points to stabilize and harmonize the flow of Chi in the meridians, an important reflexology tool uses the concept of congestions within the meridians as an assessment technique.

As we have seen, congestions result from blockages along the meridians, thus obstructing the flow of vital energy or Chi. Congestion such as sinus problems, tennis elbow, breast lumps, headaches or knee pain, has at its root the same problem. For each organ to maintain a state of perfect health, the Chi must be able to flow freely along the meridians. The meridian system unifies all parts of the body and is essential for the maintenance of harmonious balance.

The atom, the basic form of an element, is composed of a central nucleus formed of protons and neutrons, around which electrons revolve. One of the largest entities we know of is the solar system, which has a similar structure to the atom: the sun the central nucleus with planets revolving around it. A group of atoms makes up a molecule, a group of molecules forms a cell, groups of cells form tissue, a mass of tissue forms an organ, a group of organs forms a system, a number of systems become a person, several persons make up a family, many families form a tribe, a clan or neighbourhood, many neighbourhoods make a town, many towns a province, and so on. Thus, one is in everything and everything is in one. In every part of the body, we find the whole body projected proportionately in an organic, precise, logical way.

If we accept the viewpoint of human beings as multidimensional bodies of energy, it follows that human beings can be affected by energy. We need to understand that energy, the Chi being referred to here is a vibration, and everything on our planet consist of vibrational energy. Reflexology, acupuncture and many other therapies are in basic essence, vibrational therapies.

Vibration is a synonym for frequency – different frequencies of energy reflecting varying rates of vibration. We know that matter and energy are manifestations of the same primary energetic substance of which everything in the universe is composed, including our physical and subtle bodies. The vibratory rate of this universal energy determines the density of its expression or form as matter. Matter, which vibrates at a very slow frequency, is referred to as physical matter. That which vibrates at speeds exceeding the velocity of light is known as subtle matter. In order to therapeutically impact on the system, energy needs to be administered that vibrates at frequencies beyond the physical plane.

Vibrational medicines such as homeopathic tinctures or flower essences are thought to be charged with a particular frequency of subtle energy. These subtle energetic patterns, which are stored within the vibrational essence, may be used to affect human beings at a variety of interactive levels.

‘The acupuncturists see meridian dysfunction as a precursor of organ pathology. The meridian circuit abnormality reflects an imbalance in the polar energies of the forces of yin and yang. Neither force exists alone, but in relation to the total energetic needs of the organism.’

RICHARD GERBER, VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE

It is at this level that we need to consider the impact of reflexology treatments on the human system. The stimulation of reflexes and meridians we practise generates vibrational waves which, on reaching a target organ or congestion, trigger a chemical reaction in the body; our body reacts to two fundamental stimuli – contraction and expansion – which we can translate into heat-cold stimuli, or yin and yang.

Congestion of the Meridians

Cooking and eating good food are the cornerstones of human civilization, however what we eat has consequences for the amount of Chi we receive to keep the meridians and therefore our body and mind in a healthy state.

As we have seen, subtle energy vibrates at different frequencies – the lower the frequency, the more solid the matter will be. This means that food which is dense is likely to be stagnant and so congest the meridian pathways. For this reason it is important to make sure that what we eat is as pure as possible.

The vibration of our food is increasingly dense as most is man-made with high levels of non-digestible and non-biodegradable chemicals. Hormone expert Dr John Lee made the following comment with regard to xenoestrogens – empty oestrogens that mimic real oestrogens and take the latter’s place in the body:

‘Xenoestrogens from the environment come from pesticide residues, industrial residues and plastics, which contaminate water and get into the food chain. Research has shown that the combination of tiny amounts of these hormone-disrupting chemicals, equivalent to the levels found in human blood, is carcinogenic and triggers breast cells to proliferate.’

These alterations in our food chains are the major underlying cause of many of our most devastating diseases such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, mental imbalances, as well as the many widespread intolerances and allergies. Pure food, naturally grown, such as vegetables, herbs and fruits which have not been genetically modified, treated with hormones, chemically fertilized or cold stored, have a much higher vibration supplying us with a greater level of Chi.

High vibrational food

On the whole, if we buy commercially grown fruits and compare their aroma to that of organically grown equivalent, which have been allowed to ripen naturally on the tree or bush influenced by the sun’s rays, a marked difference will be found. A ripe, red sun-grown tomato, picked directly from the garden is deliciously sweet and has a strong pleasant aroma. By comparison, a commercially grown tomato has very little aroma, and the sweetness is almost undetectable. There is a crucial difference between the vibrational patterns of these two tomatoes. The one that has been left to ripen naturally under the sun in healthy soil has the optimum balance between its sodium and potassium, as well as other minerals, thus giving it a high vibrational pattern, as well as being alkaline forming.

The tomato which was commercially grown and picked green, not allowing the sodium and potassium to become balanced by the action of the sun’s rays, and which may contain many pollutant chemicals, will have a lower vibrational pattern resulting in a tomato with little or no aroma or sweetness, as well as being acid forming.

Although we may be under the impression that we are eating very healthily when we eat much fruit and vegetables, this may not be the case if they are grown in such a way as to distort the mineral content and therefore the Chi.

This illustrates how important it is not only that we eat healthily from the point of view of food groups, but also from the point of view of vibrational energy – or Chi.

The Thoughts We Think – and the Feelings We Have

As humans we are energy and we are sustained by energy. Our bodies are ever-changing, dynamic fields of energy and not static physical structures. Every part of our body contains information about the whole. We know from quantum physics that at the sub-atomic level, matter and energy are interchangeable. Christine Northrup in Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, uses the expression: ‘Matter is the densest form of spirit and spirit is the lightest form of matter.’

When you are confronted with or you are the recipient of negative, hurtful or destructive actions, you experience negative thoughts and feelings. If you do not let go of those feelings, they become heavy dense vibrations. And this energy vibration will manifest somewhere, maybe in the subtle body or maybe in the physical body. Furthermore, it will drain the Chi that is otherwise needed for homeostasis. Caroline Myss, in her book Anatomy of the Spirit, brings it together concisely when she says that ‘your biography becomes your biology.’

How Much Chi do We Need?

Food labelling on most man-made products indicates the amount of kilojoules or calories they contain, converting them into a measure of energy. In addition, an indication of the content of fat, vitamins, colouring and preservatives using E-numbers gives the consumer an estimated idea of what they are eating. Lifestyle experts have worked out how many kilojoules an average male and female will need in order to stay healthy and active without too much of a weight problem – yet the developed world is becoming obese and lethargic with many diseases relating to a weak immune system.

However, no food labelling gives the Chi content of a product, nor do we know how much Chi we need for our meridians to function optimally, thereby supplying our cells, tissues and organs with the correct amount in order to experience homeostasis.

As an analogy, vital energy may be seen as a form of electricity. This does not mean it is electricity, but that its behaviour, responses and reactions indicate that many of the laws applying to electricity also apply to vital energy – Chi. Every life function depends on this energy. According to Eastern tradition, it circulates in the viscera, the flesh and, ultimately, permeates every cell and tissue.

According to Chinese medicine, the body has 12 pairs of meridians, as well as 2 special meridians. Together these constitute the body’s energy system, which works to maintain the health of the human body. The meridians are pathways forming a continuous circuit through which the universal energy – the life force, the Chi – circulates. It circulates through the body organs and keeps the energetic system of the body in harmony. In these terms, the meridians can be thought of as electrical pathways, which can be used as an assessment tool by warning us that there is insufficient energy running through them.

Internal branch congestions versus meridian congestions

Throughout the artwork of the meridians found in this book, you will see dotted and solid lines, representing ‘Internal Branches’ and ‘Meridians.’

When I first wrote The Art of Reflexology in the late 1980s, I came across this division, although scarce information was then available on the subject. Since then, I have since come to appreciate the difference and have added my own interpretation. The ‘normal’ meridian is illustrated with the solid line and the internal with the dotted line.

To continue the electrical analogy, when we flick a switch in our home, we automatically have electricity supplying us with power; however, we rarely even consider the source. With the meridians, the idea is very similar. The meridians (solid lines) can be compared to outdoor electricity. Each streetlight can be likened to an acupuncture point, which is an amplifier for this electricity. These are needed because without boosters the effect of the electricity would be weakened and eventually lost over the course of the circuit. Our acupuncture points are like these electrical amplifiers; when stimulated they release blockages along the pathways, amplifying the energy and allowing it to flow freely again. This is one way to try and visualize the internal meridian.

The external meridians differ from the internal meridians, as they warn us of potential blackouts in our electricity (Chi) supply, by means of congestions along the pathways. In order that each of the 12 meridians are at their optimum balance, feeding every cell, tissue and organ with Chi, imagine that the body needs 1200 watts of electricity daily. Everything we eat becomes electricity or Chi, however if our food chains are loaded with chemicals and impurities, we might only consume the equivalent of 300 watts of electricity.

If each meridian automatically divided the 300 watts between them resulting in a 25% of delivery of our optimum need, the meridians would effectively be dimmed down, just like a soft light in your living room. The body would not have the energy required to function normally and maintain itself. In such a situation, one is forever tired, lethargic and often has aches and pains throughout the body. However, the meridian system might decide to divide the 300 watts differently, resulting in some of the meridians having more supply while others struggle due to energy starvation. We find that we are heading for an ‘electrical blackout’ - a serious disorder or malfunction.

If we take the case of the lung meridian, we could be suffering from arthritis in the thumbs, pain along the arm and even skin conditions along the path of the meridian, as well as pain in front of the shoulder blade. If we do not take notice of these warnings and understand that they are signs of a particular meridian struggling due to vital energy starvation, we may find that we are heading for congestions within our internal meridian, ending with serious and chronic conditions.

While we may go to our doctor and hand over the responsibility for treating the condition by numbing or suppressing it with medication, this may only give a temporary illusion of well-being. Since the internal lung meridian passes through the lungs and part of the colon, if we ignore the warning signs we may end up with a serious asthma attack, difficulty in breathing or ongoing infections within our respiratory system, simply because the Chi has diminished to such a degree that the lungs cannot function properly. (Each meridian and their internal implications is discussed in detail in chapter 4.)

Stress

‘The mass of men leads lives of quiet desperation.’

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Stress is one of the most commonly used words today but stress is not new to the human condition. It has always been present, but is now more prevalent as the pressure and demands of the 21st century take their toll. The word ‘stress’ is derived from the Latin word stringere that means ‘to draw tight.’ The modern word ‘uptight’ accurately describes the response to stress.

The stress reaction is a primitive response to a threatening or dangerous situation, and has been of essential importance in ensuring the continued survival of the human species. Man is the product of thousands of years of evolution. Our survival has depended on quick physical responses to dangers and the stress reaction is commonly referred to as the ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction. In primitive times, this burst of energy was utilized in physical activity such as a life-or-death struggle or a quick dash to safety. Today these responses are largely unacceptable or inappropriate.

Until recently, it was believed that all stress was a result of external forces exerting pressure on an individual. However, this does not explain why, when confronted by similar situations, one person will react calmly while another may be completely devastated. More recent theories emphasize that the stress response depends on the interaction between people and their environment. The intensity of the stress experience is determined by how people feel they can cope with an identified threat. The hormonal and chemical defence mechanisms that evolved over the centuries as a means of protection have been retained, but today they have little outlet. The inability to express a physical response to a stressful situation means that our natural instincts are suppressed and this can cause dire harm.

But what exactly are the physiological effects of stress? When confronted by a situation we perceive as threatening, our thoughts regarding ourselves and the situation trigger two branches of the central nervous system – the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

The sympathetic nervous system initiates involuntary responses designed to activate all the major systems of the body. The first response is a flood of hormone secretions. The hypothalamus, when recognizing a danger, triggers the pituitary gland. This gland releases hormones which cause the adrenal glands to intensify the output of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline into the bloodstream. These two hormones mimic the actions of nervous stimulation in a number of organs in the body. Although any number of factors can trigger the adrenocortical stress reaction, the response itself is always the same. It involves the release from the adrenal glands of specific hormones, mainly the corticosteroids, which in turn mobilize the body against invading germs or foreign proteins and enhance one’s level of arousal. The stress response always activates the immune system.

The stress chemicals induce physiological changes designed to improve performance. Blood supply to the brain is increased, initially improving judgement and decision-making. The heart speeds up and fuel is released into the bloodstream from glucose, fats or stored blood sugar to provide additional energy. More blood is sent to the muscles to allow for instant action. Breathing rate and function improve as air passages relax. A sense of stimulation is produced and blood pressure rises. Because digestion and excretion are not considered high priorities in a ‘dangerous’ situation, adrenaline causes vascular constriction, which reduces the flow of blood to the stomach and intestine. Blood vessels dilate in some areas and constrict in others; for example, blood is drained from the skin to make it available for use in other areas such as the muscles.

When the body prepares for ‘fight-or-flight’, it is ready for a short burst of heightened activity. In modern society, many factors can trigger this response, but few can be dealt with by a short burst of activity. Stress situations are often continuous so stress responses are semi-perma-nently on red alert, but physical release is usually unacceptable, so the responses are suppressed – a situation which cannot be maintained safely for too long. The stress build-up eventually explodes internally, knocks the body systems out of balance and causes extreme physical and mental exhaustion.

The role of the parasympathetic nervous system is to relax the body after a stressful encounter. However, if a person is subject to continual stress, it becomes more difficult to activate the parasympathetic reaction. If the stress situation continues unabated, the body weakens and becomes more susceptible to a variety of diseases.

Long-term adrenal stimulation with no discharge of energy will deplete essential minerals and vitamins from the system, for example vitamins B and C, which are vital for the functioning of the immune system.¹ This will result in lowered resistance and increased susceptibility to diseases directly related to the immune system such as AIDS (in persons who are HIV-positive) and ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis). Long-term adrena accumulation can also affect blood pressure and cause a build-up of fatty substances on blood vessel walls, as well as damaging the functioning of the digestive system.

When an organism faces continual or repeated stress, the response system enters the chronic phase during which resistance declines below normal and eventually becomes exhausted. Several diseases result directly from this stage, but the most important effect is a decrease in the body’s ability to fight infection and cancer.²

Everyone is confronted daily with potentially stressful situations. Our vulnerability to stress can be influenced by life events which cause undue emotional strain. Emotional distress is one resistance-lowering factor. Another important factor, according to some health professionals, is the impact of major life changes. A majority of illnesses are preceded by a constellation of significant events in our lives and future health or disease can be forecast by evaluating these events. The greater the number of life changes, the more serious the oncoming illness.³

Enormous changes have been inflicted on and instigated by man in the last four decades in Western society. The rapid technological and social change exerts extreme pressure on humanity. To quote from Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock:

‘There are discoverable limits to the amount of change that the human organism can absorb, by endlessly accelerating these limits, we may submit masses of men to demands they simply cannot tolerate.’ ⁴

Life changes are a determining factor in stress-related illnesses, but the extent to which the events lead to ill health will depend to a large degree on a person’s capacity to cope with stress. The way an individual perceives a situation dramatically affects the stress response experienced. It is not so much the actual ability to cope with a situation that matters as the individual’s perception of his ability to cope.

It is believed that up to 80% of modern diseases have stress-related backgrounds. These include hypertension, high blood pressure, coronary thrombosis, heart attack, migraine, hay fever and allergies, asthma, peptic ulcers, constipation, colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual difficulties, nervous dyspepsia, flatulence and indigestion, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), diabetes mellitus, skin disorders, tuberculosis and depression.

We may not be able to alter the stress situations in life, but we can alter how we cope. Natural healing techniques, relaxation techniques, meditation, diet and exercise can all help control or decrease the stress response and thereby lessen one’s susceptibility to stress related diseases.

Chi and stress

As we have seen, stress has many angles. However, taking into account that the meridians and all our cellular systems are fuelled with Chi, it is evident that stress can be related to the lack of Chi, or the manner in which the Chi ‘performs.’ For example, when we eat too many sugar-loaded foodstuffs we put stress on our pancreas that has to work harder than expected. The result might be congestions along the spleen/pancreas meridian, so creating pain in the knees, a painful menstrual cycle with pre-menstrual stress, or swollen sore lateral breasts. At other times, the quality of our food might stress our liver functions and instead of receiving Chi from the metabolized food, the liver might need more Chi in the digesting processes, leading to a Chi deficit. This imbalance may trigger of an outburst of anger or depression that many may label as stress-related – and therefore be blamed on an external rather than an internal factor.

Applying Knowledge of the Five Elements

‘The highest wisdom has but one science, the science of the whole, the science explaining the whole of creation and man’s place in it.’

LEO TOLSTOY

‘A theory is the more impressive the greater is the simplicity of its premises, the more different are the kinds of things it relates, and more extended is its range of applicability.’

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Nowhere in reflexology do these statements hold more relevance than in the connection that exists between the meridians, the Five Elements and the feet. Ancient Chinese philosophy established the five basic elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood found in the universe, and consequently also in man. The importance was realized of a nourishing and controlling cycle between the elements in order to maintain harmony (see page xxx).

Each of these elements relates to a pair of meridians. There are 12 meridians found in the body. Each of them is named according to the organ or system it represents and they are arranged in pairs, which are interdependent. The pairs in their interdependence represent yin and yang (see here).

While the Five Elements describe the interrelationship of man and nature, modern man believes he can control the natural processes of change – with a detriment to himself and the planet Earth. As we know, man has distorted our food chains and interfered with the importance of nature. Throughout the Western world, the consequences of man trying to control rather than flow with natural changes continue to have devastating results. Family units are increasingly fragmented; countries go to war to attempt to wrest control; mankind is killing the life force of the sea, and the animal kingdom; and mankind itself is showing strong signs of reduced fertility.

When a person is suffering from the symptoms of malnutrition or toxicity, they will go to a medical doctor where they are told that they suffer from a condition that is causing them their pain and suffering. The condition will have a name such as hypoglycaemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica, or whatever the current ‘fashionable’ disease is at that time. They are then given a prescription for sleeping pills, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medication. Subsequently, they will go through test after test: CAT scans, MRI scans, X-rays, bone scans, urine exams, etc. Neurologists, rheumatologists, orthopaedists, endocrinologists and even chiropractors may examine them. No one will have the same opinion and nothing will be sure to help.⁵

Taking a fresh look at the concept of the Five Elements might help us to understand our life paths and take stronger individual responsibilities for transformation, which not only harmonizes our body systems, but brings about an alteration benefiting our children and their future generations.

A New Look at Five Element Theory

In the past decade, reflexology has carved a respected niche for itself in the realm of holistic healing techniques. People of all ages and from all walks of life have discovered the positive effects to be derived from foot manipulation. The increasing demand for reflexology is proof of its escalating popularity and the pace at which reflexology has been, and is, expanding throughout the Western world is proof of its efficacy. In South Africa, the profession has gained statutory recognition and is now a registered modality within the health professions. The main objective of reflexology is to help people attain and maintain a better state of health and well-being. It does not promise to be a magic panacea for all ills, but there is no longer any doubt that reflexology has an important role to play in the future of health care worldwide.

The remarkable results attained through reflexology stem from the amazing therapeutic potential present in the feet. Some schools of thought recommend stimulating hand reflexes, as well as foot reflexes. Reflexes of body parts are mapped out on the hands in a fashion similar to those on the feet. Massaging the hands may elicit some positive effect, but nothing as powerful as the effect of foot massage. The reason for this is that the six larger meridians – those that actually penetrate major organs, the stomach, spleen/pancreas, liver, gall bladder, kidney and bladder meridians – all begin or end in the toes. The external pathways of the meridians represented in the hands – the heart, small intestine, triple burner, circulation, large intestine and lungs, although associated with specific organs (apart from the triple burner and circulation), do not actually penetrate any major organs.

Hands, like feet, may be afflicted by deformities, but this is due largely to arthritic complaints. Often the same fingers on both hands will be afflicted – for example, the index fingers. All problems on the hands, such as warts, eczema and nail disorders should be assessed as an imbalance along a meridian. As the external pathways of the six hand meridians do not penetrate any major organs – only sensory organs in the facial area – the imbalances, which manifest on the hands, should be weighed up as the result of congestions relating to the major organs and their meridians.

When the concept of the Five Elements is introduced, the scenario becomes even more interesting. The six meridians in the hands are related to two elements – fire and metal. The fire element is represented in the heart, small intestine, circulation and triple burner meridians; and the metal element in the large intestine and lung meridians. The six meridians in the feet represent the wood element in the liver and gall bladder meridians; the water element in the kidney and bladder meridians; and the earth element in the stomach and spleen/pancreas meridians.

When we correlate the elements with body functions and nutrition, the importance of correct nourishment becomes more evident. The earth is central to our physical existence. We derive all physical nourishment from Mother Earth. Internally, the stomach and spleen/pancreas are the equivalent of the Earth. To more fully understand this theory, see figure

Fig. 1 A new look at the five element theory

1. You will notice that I have placed the earth element in the centre to relate to the yin/yang symbol of perfect balance. The stomach and its meridian control digestion, and the spleen and pancreas and their combined meridian control the distribution of Chi energy released from food when it is digested. If the stomach does not hold and digest food, the spleen/pancreas cannot transform it and transport its essence (see here). They are interdependent meridians, and work together more closely than any of the other meridians.

Earth is special among the elements, because it is the source of them, the centre from which they arise – as is the planet Earth to our physical existence. Each of the elements is in constant relationship with the earth element, coming to life and dying within her realm. It has been written that the earth is womb and tomb, the beginning and the end in the never-ending cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Within earth we find water – the rivers, seas, springs; metal in the forms of minerals, gems and fuel (coal); and wood in the plant life. Relating this to meridians – the stomach meridian (earth) penetrates the liver (wood), the kidneys (water) and the lungs and large intestine (metal).

If you refer back to figure 1 you will observe that the wood element is placed on one side of the earth element, and the water element on the other. To balance the earth element (stomach and spleen/pancreas), we must obtain the correct nutrition from the plant kingdom – the wood element. Plants, which have absorbed nutrients from the earth and flourished in sunlight, are saturated with vital Chi energy. This energy is easy to distribute by our meridians into our body organs and cellular systems. In addition to this, we must also have the correct quantity and quality of liquid – the water element – for the digestion and absorption of the food.

The earth element – our stomach and spleen/pancreas – may be related to a compost heap in the garden. If we add plastic, glass or concrete to the compost, these will not metabolize and so be recycled once more as nourishment for the earth. Rather, they add to the pollution of the earth and become non bio-degradable objects. For many, these processes are obvious, but surprisingly few take notice that the food types (wood element), as well as liquids (water element) that we consume daily contain many non bio-degradable chemicals that congest our cells, tissues and organs, as well as our meridians. The additives in many modern foods and liquids combine to form a lethal cocktail. Man and earth are not intended to metabolize inorganic foodstuffs. If we continue at this rate we will soon be positively non-biodegradable. Some additives found in commercially produced food-stuffs include:

 Piperonal – used in place of vanilla – is a chemical used to treat lice.

 Diethyl glucol – a cheap chemical used as an emulsifier instead of eggs – is used in antifreeze and paint removers.

 Butyraldehyde – used in nut-flavoured foods – is one of the ingredients in rubber cement.

 Amyl acetate – used for banana flavour – is also an oil-paint solvent.

 Ethyl acetate – used for pineapple flavour – is also used as a cleaner for leather and textiles.

 Aldehyde C17 – flavours cherry ice-cream – is an inflammable liquid used in aniline dyes, plastic and rubber.

In chapter 4 you will learn that amongst others the stomach and spleen/pancreas preside over the fatty connective tissues of the body. It is probable that the non-biodegradable chemicals, which the body does not metabolise nor eliminate, are stored in these fatty connective tissues. It is no coincidence that modern society is having an epidemic with both weight problems and diabetes and does not seem to find the correct life-style or understanding in dealing with these global issues.

Apart from adding foods to our stomach (earth element) we also add liquids (water element); however, it is known that too much added water to compost heaps creates an unpleasant rotting effect that invites parasites, rather than a good ecosystem of earthworms. We do not always appreciate that we add plenty of liquids to our digestive system in the form of natural foods. These natural fluids contain many of the minerals that keep the sodium and potassium salt balance of the tissue fluid in our cellular system intact. (See the section on the cell below.) Nonetheless, if we eat mainly processed foods our cells will dehydrate and the cellular system will become imbalanced, the effect being felt in the form of congestions and signs of thirst.

During the first phase of the digestive process – oxygen and carbon dioxide are released (gases: metal element). These processes happen in all cells, but the lungs and large intestine (metal element) are the organs where the main exchanges occur, hence in figure 1 the lungs (metal element) are shown above and the large intestine (metal element) below the stomach, as an image of the body. The second phase in the digestive process is the creation of energy, which in the compost heap can be related to heat (fire element) and in the body to our Chi or zest for life (fire element).