The Five Elements and Our Pets

A look at how the Chinese constitutions effect our animals and how we should care for them.

Abstract

In ancient China the medical system developed in a Five Element system. Fire, Earth, Wood, Water and Metal. Within this system the Chinese medicinal masters discovered that each person or animal can be classified into an elemental constitution. The constitution describes not only the personality of the person or animals but is a very accurate indication of weaknesses found in their body with common ailments affecting the specific constitution. For example: A Fire dog is hyperactive, friendly, talkative, loves attention but they very often suffer from anxiety and cardiovascular diseases (a Maltese poodle with a mitral valve deficiency is often a Fire animal).

In this talk the author will explore each elemental constitution to help enable the vet nurse and AHT to identify not only their own, but also the patient’s Constitution. This will help the nurse to design a treatment plan for nursing care to best benefit the individual patient. Knowing your own and the animal’s constitution will also aid in identifying potential health risks and implement individual preventative care.

The five-element theory origin

History

The five-element theory was codified by the ancient Chinese during the Zhou Dynasties (1046BC to 221BC). By keenly observing their world and the natural elements the ancient Chinese were fascinated by the connections and cycles of the seasons. The cold icy winter melts into a windy spring. The green spring turns into a hot rainy summer which in turn dries into a yellow autumn. The observers concluded that that there are 5 elements that drives nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

The Five Elements were used to describe and understand all-natural phenomena in a simple to understand language. The Chinese healers described the body and all the diseases in the Five Element theory. The five elements elegantly describe the interaction of all the organ systems within the body.

The five-element theory was codified by the ancient Chinese during the Zhou Dynasties (1046BC to 221BC). By keenly observing their world and the natural elements the ancient Chinese were fascinated by the connections and cycles of the seasons. The cold icy winter melts into a windy spring. The green spring turns into a hot rainy summer which in turn dries into a yellow autumn. The observers concluded that that there are 5 elements that drives nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

The Five Elements were used to describe and understand all-natural phenomena in a simple to understand language. The Chinese healers described the body and all the diseases in the Five Element theory. The five elements elegantly describe the interaction of all the organ systems within the body.

Cycles

In nature everything is connected, and one element always influence another. In a constructive cycle is known as the CREATION CYCLE. In this cycle the one element promotes the next in a specific sequence. When the fire burn it created earth. The earth rises to make a mountain that contains the metal ores. The metal funnels the water. The water nourished the wood and makes it grow. And the wood is a fuel for the fire. The one element is the “mother” of the sequential “child”. If one of the elements are weak or missing the whole cycle breaks down.

In a CONTROL CYCLE the elements interact with one another to keeps balance within the cycle. In this cycle the “Grandparent” is the controlling element of the “Child”, if the Grandparent is too weak the child will be out of control. The Fire melts the metal. Metal axe chop the wood. The wood breaks the earth open to grow. The earth created a dam wall to stop the flow of water. Water dowses the fire. For example, if the Kidneys (excess water) are failing and not able to control blood pressure the result is congestive heart failure (fire), western doctors treat this condition by eliminating the excess water in the body to help the heart. In TCVM we say we need to sedate the water and tonify fire because we have Water overacting on Fire.

The Constructive and Control cycle of the five elements need to be in perfect balance to promote health and wellbeing in the patient.

The Five Elemental Constitutions

The Five Element theory is used to classify all people and animals into five constitutions. The patient’s dominant constitution is crucial in making the correct diagnoses and prescribe the ideal treatment. As a nurse you can help the patient by understanding its dominant constitution. When you understand the personality of the animal you are working with you will be able to approach handling in treatment in a specific way as to limit stress and fear within the practice. It will help you understand the individual needs are and how to tailor make a nursing strategy to best suite the individual needs. When you have a good understanding of the Five constitutions you will be able to anticipate health problems and side effects to treatments. For example, if an individual animal vomits after breakfast, but not after dinner, by referring to the chart you will see this dis-ease is associated with the earth element of the spleen/pancreas and stomach. I the animal vomits late at night the individual vomits late at night the disease will be associated with wood, Liver or Gallbladder. By being aware of these Elemental symptoms the practitioner can start doing more specific diagnostic tests.

Wood

The Wood constitution is seen as the General of the elements. It is the strong willed, sometimes aggressive dog. Wood types tend to be great athletes because they are determined to succeed once they set their minds to something. These individuals can adapt quickly to their environments because they are smart and quick to react to stimuli. They are quick to form ideas but change their mind quickly. They love a challenge and always strive to succeed. Wood types are often narrow minded and intolerant of different ideas. When a wood becomes unbalanced, aggression is often one of the first symptoms. Wood governs the liver and gall bladder, and these are often affected when the wood become unbalanced.

Wood dogs are the dominant one in the household and often assert dominance towards the rest of the pets. They can become aggressive when protecting their territory or food. He is very disciplined is easily trained if the activity is something they enjoy.  They often struggle with chronic foul-smelling external otitis and red itching eyes. These dogs are prone to suffer from puritis and seizures.

The unbalanced wood

• Aggression
• Irritability and anger (may bite, strike, kick)
• Stressed by a change in condition
• Hoof, ligament and tendon problems
• Liver and gall bladder problems
• Eye problems
• Seizures
• Allergies
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Neurosis

Prevention and Therapy

The Wood constitution is seen as the General of the elements. It is the strong willed, sometimes aggressive dog. Wood types tend to be great athletes because they are determined to succeed once they set their minds to something. These individuals can adapt quickly to their environments because they are smart and quick to react to stimuli. They are quick to form ideas but change their mind quickly. They love a challenge and always strive to succeed. Wood types are often narrow minded and intolerant of different ideas. When a wood becomes unbalanced, aggression is often one of the first symptoms. Wood governs the liver and gall bladder, and these are often affected when the wood become unbalanced.

Wood dogs are the dominant one in the household and often assert dominance towards the rest of the pets. They can become aggressive when protecting their territory or food. He is very disciplined is easily trained if the activity is something they enjoy.  They often struggle with chronic foul-smelling external otitis and red itching eyes. These dogs are prone to suffer from puritis and seizures.

Fire

The fire animal is the happy, attention seeking animal. They are friendly and enjoy being the centre of attention. In ancient China the Fire constitution is the Emperor that are skilled at influencing and inspire everyone. They fit well into a busy happy household and tend to get along with all the members of the family. The fire dogs are loud and are often experienced as excessively noisy. Fire people love drama and often overreactive to situations. They can easily find joy and are not very concerned about material things. They often loose interest fast and may be seen as AHD. Fire people and animal loves company and often becomes depressed when alone. Fi When the fire animal is unbalanced, they get snappy and will easily kick or bite. They tend to suffer from cardiovascular diseases.

The unbalanced wood

• Hyperactive
• Highly strung
• Insanity
• Anxiety
• Cardiovascular disease
• Ulcers on tongue
• Stroke
• Sudden death

Prevention and Therapy

The Fire animals are often very happy to come int the vet clinic and be examined, but as soon as they feel pain or fear they will snap very quickly. As the fire animal can easily be distracted the staff should use tactics of distraction and attention to ease the hospital procedures. When the animal is admitted to hospital the nursing staff should keep in mind, they are very social and will do better when given enough attention and love. During prolonged hospital stays it is important to have the family visit often.
Fire is a yang element and it often causes an excess heat in the body by consuming Yin. Heart tonics are essential to keep the cardiovascular healthy. Fire people and animals should not be living in hot environments.
Diet therapies include: Pork heart, fish, brown rice, wheat and vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, celery and mushrooms. Salt should be avoided in the diet.

Fire animals loves to be touched and stroked and they respond very well to acupressure and Tui-Na. SP6, HT7, CV12, BL15.

Earth

Our earth constitution is the Mother. Think of a vegetable garden; calm, grounded and nurturing. She keeps everyone happy and healthy without complaining. She loved to be needed and is always ready to help in any way. This animal is the dream patient. They are extremely easy to work with. Earth are very kind and patient, they will tolerate severe pain and discomfort without complaining. They are the nurturers, the mothers.
When an earth animal is unbalanced or endures severe physical and emotional stress, they will develop g.i.t problems like vomiting or diarrhoea. These animals are ideal to use in training situations or to work with people.

The unbalanced wood

• Excessively worry
• Obesity
• Muscle Atrophy
• Weakness of limbs
• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain/colic
• Constipation
• Gum or lip problems
• Oedema
• Chronic Haemorrhage
• Rectal or uterine prolapse

Prevention and Therapy

When treating an earthy animal, it is important to remember that they do not react to pain as quickly as the other types, for this reason extra care should be taken to minimise pain and discomfort because even though they do not react they still feel the pain. When dosing medicine and herbs be careful not to give to use drugs that will cause digestive upsets. If these drugs cannot be avoided care should be taken to limit the g.i.t side effects. For example, earthy type animals should be placed on pro-biotics for longer periods when antibiotics are given. Also, in animals with musculoskeletal injury the muscle tonus should be carefully monitored as muscle atrophy are quick to develop in earth animals. Physiotherapy to strengthen muscled should be used early on in disease and recovery.

Food easily upset the unbalanced earth animal. Keep nutrition easy and avoid food high in carbohydrates. Spicy herbs will benefit the earth animal. Recommended food includes offal, lamb, chicken, ginger and sweet potato.

Earth animals loves acupressure and Tui-na. They will lie down to be treated for hours. Useful points include PC6, ST36, CV, SP6, Jian Ya.

Metal

The Metal is the knight in armour. He is smart and hardworking, with good foresight and sagacity. He is able to critically and calmly assess a situation and work towards the best possible outcome. They are smart and brave. They like rules and routine and is happy to please the owners. Metals are often the natural leaders in the group. When a Metal becomes unbalanced the immune system is often affected with skin conditions and Large Intestinal upsets. Metal animals are great in high stress competition or work environments, they work hard to please in a methodical and predictable manner. They make excellent dressage horses or security dogs.

The unbalanced wood

• Excessive sadness or grief
• Nasal congestion and discharge
• Upper airway infections
• Cough, heaves, COPD
• Constipation

Prevention and Therapy

Metal animals loves rules and routine. A veterinary visit or hospital stay can easily upset them even though they will be able to cope well with the added stress and not show any signs of being out of sorts, the period of stress often manifests as a skin condition or respiratory disease son after. When hospitalising a metal animal for a prolonged period of time the nurse and veterinarian should monitor the respiratory system carefully for signs of pneumonia. In a chronic stressful environment these animals tend to develop asthma of skin allergies. When a metal loses a companion, they may show a prolonged period of grief if not supported emotionally. This often manifests in respiratory or skin cancers.

Recommended food includes eggs, duck, barley, tofu and rice.

Tui-na to strengthen the lungs are of great benefit to these animals, e=it can be taught to the owner to do regularly at home. Although they do not love being touched or massage, they will allow it if they are approached in a predictable manner. Acupressure on LU1, BL3 CV22 and Ding Chuang are of great benefit to these animals.

Water

The water constitution is seen as the philosopher or observer. They have a keen sense of detail and analyses. They like to stand back and analyse a situation before engaging They think deeply before acting and are not known for risk taking. They prefer to run and hide from danger and are the fear biters or kickers. When the Water animal becomes unbalanced, they often develop diseases in the Kidney organ system. This includes renal failure, cystitis, urinary calculi, incontinence, and bone diseases. Stallions or breeding dogs should never be a Water constitution as they are prone to infertility.

Because water animals tend to be extra careful, they often have a log lifespan.

The unbalanced wood

• Total withdrawal
• Fear
• Kidney or bladder problems
• Arthritis
• Disc disease
• Premature aging
• Infertility
• Back pain

Prevention and Therapy

The water animals should always be approached in a calm and delicate way. They will bite or kicked when feeling cornered or when expecting pain. In a clinic or hospital setting extra care should be taken when working with these animals to avoid injury or worse an escapee. Time should be taken to win over the confidence of the animal and if it is not possible, a muzzle should be used even if the Water animal seems calm. Water animals react in two ways to fear: Fight or freeze. This is always followed by flight. Often these animals are easier to handle with the help of the owner, but care should still be taken as they will fear bite their owner as well. Short periods of stress and fear will result in cystitis or acute renal failure. Chronic stress and fear cause incontinence, chronic renal failure or urinary calculi.
When selecting drugs or herbs care should be taken not to use medication with severe urinary or renal side effects.

Recommended foods include kidney, eggs, duck, mussels, sweet potato and black beans.
Usually these animals are too scared to allow a stranger to touch or massage them. If a calm and peaceful approach is taken, they will allow light striking along the Bladder meridian. Acupressure at An Shen and PC9 and KID1 will have a sedative effect and will help the animal to be less fearful.

How do I apply this to practice?

In life there is a delegate balance between these Elemental Constitutions. It interplays in our homes between the people and between the animals. When a person picks an animal as a pet or partner in a sporting discipline special care should be taken to select an animal with a constitution that compliments the owner and fits the purpose.

For example, when you need a horse for dressage a Fire constitution might be to lively and unpredictable, a Wood or Metal horse is better suitable for this discipline. Fire horses do make excellent racehorses.  An Earthy dog will be to placid for extreme competition like agility, a Water dog will lack in confidence.

The owner and animal interactions are of equal importance. A Water person might find a Wood of Fire animal to overbearing. Since Metal can channel Water, a Metal horse will work well with a Water person. Metal animals are predictable and follow the rules, this makes the Water person feel more secure as it lowers the risk of something unpredictable happen.

A Wood person might be too controlling for a Water or Fire pet which will cause conflict in the household. An Earth dog is excellent in a household with children or other pets as they are easy going and interact will with all the other constitutions. They may be too laid back for a Fire person who needs some excitement and energy around them.  Always take into account the different interactions within the constructive and destructive cycles.

As a nurse, if you are able to pin the correct constitutions on your patients you will be able to approach your patient in a way that will make the animal feel at ease and more cooperative.

Earth constitutions are generally drawn to nursing and caretaking professions. They tend to be loving and caring with generous amounts of patience (i.e. the Mother). This is excellent for patient care but might be frustrating for the Wood or Metal boss. The lack of attention to detail and timeous completion of task might make the Metal person feel the work is not done in an efficient way. In a clinic the different constitutions need to be balanced and interplay in the most constructive way. By understanding the different constitutions that are working with you, you will be able to understand way some people act the way they do and how to approach your colleagues in a more efficient way.

This article is just a short overview on hoe Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and the Five elements can be an invaluable tool in the care for our patients. For more info on how you can learn more please visit www.tcvm.com .