Wood controls earth

January 24, 2004

I'm going to do this very slowly, so it doesn't get missed. (yes, I know

I'm supposed to be responding about how to build healthy kidneys, but this

seems to be more important in this moment. We're discussing kidneys in the

Wholy_viber list, if you want to check that out.)

Wood is liver and gallbladder.

Earth is stomach, pancreas, and spleen.

Energy enters the body through many gates in the body. Some say that the

gate for the spleen is more important (immune system), but most Chinese

recognize that chi enters the body through breath (lungs) and we call that

metal.

Metal is the mother of Water (kidneys)

Water is the mother of Wood (liver).

We can say that healthy metal produces a healthy water, and that healthy

water produces a health wood.

What do we say about a toxic or dominant wood pattern? Since wood controls

earth, it's impossible to have healthy earth (pancreas, stomach, spleen)

function when you have a toxic wood. The blockage in wood controls all the

energy that normally controls earth. Earth is asphyxiated, and the organs

atrophy energetically, and over time their functions are depleted.

The TCM approach would be to cut wood with metal. This would be to clear

the wood toxicities with colon and lung based therapies, and supply MORE

energy to the lungs and colon to clear the liver, this would produce better

digestion (stomach).

Let's take one small example of using magnesium to restore proper bowel

movements. It would also benefit the stomach by giving it the necessary

minerals that the stomach needs to produce HCl for digestion. Magnesium

supplmentation alone can be a suitable " metal " based therapy. In fact, all

mineral supplementation is going to fall into the category of metals in the

body. And this is not to be ignored, when creating a healthy water.

We remember that metal is the mother of water. Healthy kidneys DEPEND on a

healthy colon and lung function. And healthy liver function depends on a

healthy kidney function.

Creating a healthy water (kidney function) in the correct season, sets the

stage for a healthy wood (spring season). Your healthy wood season and

liver cleansing in the months to come will restore the earth functions

needed for adequate digestion, assimiliation, etc.

In the wood season, we will again cut wood with metal through bowel

cleansing, liver cleansing, etc..... to create healthy wood. Wood comes in

the spring.....

As we observe the water season, it's appropriate to cook our foods to

reduce the stress on the entire energetic system that needs to " rest "

itself. In fact, the kidneys only do their work when we're at REST. When

the body sits or lays down, the kidneys then get to work. This is why

after a lot of work, if you sit down to rest for a few minutes you need to

get up and empty your bladder. The kidneys seize the moment to get their

job done.

Healthy kidneys REQUIRE rest, period. There are no supplements for

rest. There is no cure other than simply sitting or meditating.

I felt it was necessary to explain why rest is needed to create healthy

wood, which controls earth. We're in the winter season and learning how to

care for kidneys. Let's not miss this once a year opportunity to create

massive stores of energy for the challenges ahead of this year. Any wise

mother will tell you that having kids fully rested each day, is the key to

a smoothly operating day. We forget these simple truths when we grow up,

unfortunately.

Take a nap.

Warmly,

Moe

January 24, 2004