Explanation of Five Elements Theory

From book "Saam Medical Meditation" by Dr. Evan

Mahoney. Included in these passages are the concepts of
acupuncture, and the Theory of the Five Elements Explained,
Meditation types, as well as my own personal story of healing
with meditations. For complete book including the pictures and
explanation of the 12 organ meditations please purchase a copy at
Smashwords.com, Apple itunes, or other online retailers.

Foreword

Welcome to both a new and old type of meditation and self-

healing. This meditation is based upon acupuncture points and
patterns of Saam, a legendary monk and doctor from Korea.
Using meditation as Saam did we will learn how to move from
sickness to health. We will evolve and grow through the twists and
turns of our psychic and traumatic illnesses to reach our potential
for full achievement and happiness. The path is laid out, the
knowledge is there, men and women have been doing this
throughout time. Master Saam did it, Qi Gong and Tai Qi are forms
of it, I have studied it, practiced it, and healed from it. We will
raise ourselves and grow to the fullness of our seed and fruit.

This manuscript was inspired by my personal healing recovery and

how I, like Saam meditated and experienced the mystery of
acupuncture. Through the healing power of acupuncture
combined with meditation I hope to teach others about the secret
and sublime sense that lies within us. This meditation can give us
the ability to control illness using the power of both sense and
mind.

The first thing you will feel is the presence of Qi, it will be like the
pulse of blood in your artery, when this moment comes it will be
the seed. Once youve reached the seed, guide and grow it by
your knowledge, instinct, and intuition.

The seed is conception, a word, a spark, lit on fire in the great

mind

This book is intended for all readers, to be shared between patient

and practitioner.

Chapter 1 Saam Medical Meditation

Saam (sa-ahm) was a high monk in Korea during the Chosun

dynasty, 15th century. He lived in a cave where through meditation
he came to experience and understand the mystery of
acupuncture. Little is known about him other than he successfully
treated many patients. Saam left few manuscripts of his
treatments and his acupuncture technique was nearly forgotten.
Revived in Korea in the 1980s by Dr. Hong Gyeong Kim, Saam is
now one of the most famous Korean acupuncture techniques used
today.

In order to learn about Saam Meditation we will have to learn a

little about Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) and its theories.
TOM is the use of acupuncture, herbs, plants, meditation, exercise,
foods and other devices to facilitate good health and healing.
TOM is rooted in the study and observation of natures patterns
observed in the human form. A TOM practitioner adjusts and
harmonizes these patterns using the tools mentioned above.

Saam Acupuncture - A popular Korean Acupuncture technique,

based on Five Element theory. Four needles are chosen and placed
on one side of the patient, (the left side for male, right side for
female).

Traditional Oriental medicine (TOM) the curricular

foundation of acupuncture and oriental medicine as taught in
universities today.

Meditation (for Saam Medical Meditation) conscious act of

self awareness. Recognition and active monitoring of internal
systems and patterns of movement.

Qi Primal, innate, universal, life force. In the textbook Chinese

Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Cheng Xinnong according to
ancient Chinese thought, Qi was the fundamental substance
constituting the universe. All phenomena were produced by the
changes and movement of Qi. Qi along with blood and body fluid
are the fundamental substances which maintain normal vital
activities of the human body. i[i]

Metaphorically Qi can be considered as an underground aquifer

beneath the surface. Invisible to the eye but providing for
abundance and lushness of life above. Achieving ones awareness
of Qi is the essential practice of Tai Qi, Qi Gong, and of this Saam
meditation. There are many forms of Qi. Each organ generates
its own unique Qi which constitutes its purpose.

Fatigue and low energy are associated with Spleen Qi

deficiency.
Somebody lacking in Heart Qi may experience palpitations.
Persistant cough may be associated with Lung Qi deficiency.
Headache due to stress may be a symptom of Liver Qi
stagnation, where the Qi gets stuck and stops moving.

Different foods and herbs have their own unique character of Qi

which gives them a unique property and usefulness.

For the purposes of this meditation it is sufficient to think and feel

Qi as a singular overall energy within the body. With enough
sensitivity one is capable of experiencing Qi from external sources
such as air, food, and herbs.

Meridians - Pathways and channels where the Qi of the internal

organs circulates. Precisely mapped and located, the meridians
contain the acupuncture points that are needled in an acupuncture
treatment. There are additional meridians not associated with the
internal organs called the extra meridians.

The meridians are different from the nerve structure of the

nervous system. Historically in TOM the nervous system was not
well regarded. The meridian system mimics the action of nervous
system in regards to keeping the connection of communication
open throughout the whole body organism. There is likely a
mutual relationship of nourishment and enhancement between the
meridian and nervous system.

5 Yin organs Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, Kidneys

5 Yang organs Gall bladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large

Intestine, Urinary bladder

Yin represents darkness, nighttime, cold, winter, stillness,

solid, material
Yang- represents light, daytime, heat, summer, activity,
ethereal, immaterial

The Five Elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood

We associate the five yin and yang organs to an element, season,

environmental condition, and color of nature.

There are two relationships amongst the five elements.

1. The Mother-Son (nourishing, rebelling) and

2. Grandmother-Grandson (controlling, insulting) relationships.
 The five yin organs are Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys.
The Yin organs are paired together with a corresponding Yang
organ. The five Yang organs are Gallbladder, Small Intestine,
Stomach, Large Intestine, and Urinary bladder. There are two
additional organs in TOM not included here. The Pericardium is a
Yin organ, the San Jiao is Yang organ.

Internal Organ Yin & Yang Element Season Pathogen

Liver & Gallbladder Wood Springtime Wind

Heart & Small Intestine Fire Summertime Heat

Spleen & Stomach Earth Late summer/ early Damp

fall (or two weeks
between the change
of each season)

Lung & Large Intestine Metal Autumn Dryness

Kidney & Urinary Bladder Water Winter Cold

It is important to familiarize yourself with the element, season,

and pathogen associated with each of the organs. The paired yin
and yang organs have a close and mutually enhancing relationship
to one another. There are special points within the meridian
system called Luo connecting points where the meridians of the
yin / yang organs directly connect to one another. Notice the
paired yin / yang organs share the same element and season.

A. Relationships amongst the Five Elements

1. Generating cycle

As winter gives way to spring, and spring gives rise to summer, so

too do the elements have a similar order. We call it the mother
son and grandmother grandson relationships. The mother
element generates and nourishes her son element.

The Kidney is associated with winter, the Liver with spring.

Therefore Kidneys are the mother of the Liver. The Kidneys
generate and nourish the Liver.

The Liver is associated with Spring, the Heart with Summer.

Therefore the Liver is the mother of the Heart.

This is the generating cycle of the five elements.

2. Controlling cycle

The grandmother controls the grandson. As water puts out fire,

water controls fire. Metal cuts wood, metal controls wood.

The Kidney element is water and the Heart element is fire. Kidney
(water)is the grandmother of heart (fire). Kidney controls Heart.

Fire melts metal. The lung element is metal. Heart (fire) is the
grandmother of Lung (metal). Heart controls lung.
When everything is in balance the mother son and grandmother
grandson elements are properly nourished and contained. No
element is excessive or deficient.

B. Disturbance in Five Element relationships

 When the five element relationship of generating and controlling
becomes unbalanced we observe some elements become
excessively strong and others become weak. The mother fails to
nourish the son, the grandmother cannot control the grandson.

If heart fire becomes weak or the spleen too strong, their mother
son relationship gets affected. Spleen symptoms such as
dampness, diarrhea, digestive difficulties, and weight gain may
occur, or the heart may palpitate. If heart fire weakens or lungs
become too strong, their grandmother-grandson relationship gets
affected. The lungs will insult the heart and we may develop a
cough or dryness because of this.
We use acupuncture and herbs to tonify an element that is
deficient and sedate an element in excess. Saam acupuncture is
popularly used in Korea and increasingly in the west because it is
able to effectively adjust these imbalances.

Wheres the Qi? Wheres the acupuncture point?

Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) was developed over
thousands of years. The acupuncture point system comprises
approximately 360 points on the body as taught by TOM today.
The points are precisely located in specific landmark areas of
bone, muscle, tendons, depressions, and grooves, or else
measured in precise inches (cun) along a line of the meridian. The
meridian systems are specific pathways where the qi of the five
element organs and other channels circulate through the body.

In TOM theory, the Qi of the meridians resides most strongly in

areas below the knees and elbows. The area below the elbows
and knees contains the five shu point areas, Xi cleft, and luo
connecting points. Each meridian has these special points. These
are the most commonly used points by the Saam acupuncturist,
but they are also complemented by corresponding points on the
chest, torso, back, neck, head, and upper part of the arms and
legs. In Saam meditation our focus will be on the areas below the
knees and the elbows.

Who developed this system, of very finely and precisely located

points and meridians? No one knows for sure how the acupuncture
point system was identified. Some say it was given to us by divine
beings, but what is certain is that the system developed piecemeal
over the course of centuries. Acupuncture needles fashioned from
stone and bone, have been found; indicative of early use in mans
history. From about 2000 years ago doctors categorized the
acupuncture meridian system and synthesized it with five element
theory and herbal applications.
There is evidence that people were practicing the movements and
exercises of Qi Gong and Tai Qi thousands of years ago. This
makes it almost certain that people were aware of the sensation of
Qi and were using meditation upon acupuncture points. It was
these people with probably less distracted minds and more
sensitivity to Qi who developed and mapped out the precise
locations of the acupuncture points and meridian systems.

Today acupuncture is practiced and studied worldwide. Every

month clinical studies are released validating acupuncture as a
useful and effective medical technique. The world health
organization recognizes over 40 syndromes for which acupuncture
is useful, including things like pain, stress, anxiety,
gastrointestinal, internal, and external disease. Acupuncture has
been found to improve athletic performance, age related
disorders, and general wellness.

Chapter II Meditation

Meditation is the key facilitator to accessing ones Qi. To gain an

awareness and physical sensation of Qi it is essential to meditate.
Meditation has many documented health benefits including
reduction of stress and improvement in sleep. People meditate for
both spiritual and health purposes. Through meditation people
can gain incredible control of their mind and self.

There are hundreds of types of meditations and techniques. A

common and good way for beginners is Transcendental Meditation
where the meditatator brings their mental concentration to the
third eye (on forehead between eyebrows, frontal lobe of the
brain), while also keeping an awareness of their breathing.
Another called Kundalini, is where they focus on areas along the
spine and move through the chakras (energy centers along the
spine, midline of the torso, neck, face and head).

Medical Qi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Qi) are activities that
engage gentle body movement and meditation together. They
help facilitate an awareness and growth of ones Qi. Particularly
helpful for the elderly, these exercises have been shown to
promote physical balance, strength, and mobility of the joints. Tai
Qi while a peaceful practice also serves as the root for martial
practices like karate.

Transcendental meditation is usually ones introduction into

meditation. As a learner this technique is useful in training the
mind to recognize and slow the flow of thoughts that swarm our
active brains. Containing and subsiding these active and busy
thoughts is the key element to meditation. Transcendental
meditation calls for continuous attention to be brought to the
third eye and to ones breathing. A beginner will usually waver
from their mental focus after a few seconds by a busy and
distracting thought. It is the meditators practice to become aware
of these thought distractions, discard them, and to return their
attention to the third eye and breathing. The third eye
meditation provides strong stimulation to the pre frontal cortex of
the brain. This area pertains to acupuncture points Yintang and
Du point 24. To help achieve attention and focus, some beginning
practitioners will count, repeating one through ten, others may
focus on a Koan (which is like a riddle but with no specific
answer). What is the sound of one hand clapping? is an
example of a Koan.

Kundalini Meditation is where one focuses their attention along

the spine. From the base of the sacrum ascending up the spine,
like steps on a ladder this meditation takes us through the chakra
centers of the torso, neck, and head. Described as sleeping,
dormant, potential force in the human organism Kundalinis
components are nadis (energy channels), chakras (psychic
centers), prana (subtle energy) and bindu (drops of essence,)
suggesting a physical material essence ii[ii] This is a more
advanced type of meditation, where one has already reached a
specificity to the feeling of the components described above.

Like Kundalinis prana (or subtle energy), TOM has its equivalent in
Qi, which is derived from aspects of nutrition, air, blood, and
essence and circulates and resides within the meridian channels.
TOM also recognizes essence as being similar to bindu of
Kundalini.

In TOM we are only given a limited amount of essence for our

lifetime, half of essence is from pre-natal (derived from our
parents), and half is supplemented by post natal (derived from
food and nourishment, and the effectiveness of our digestive
processes). In TOM essence is stored by the Kidneys which
dominate lifelong processes of physical growth, sexual maturation,
and decline of aging.

Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Transcendental, and Kundalini are all good

meditations to practice before using Saam Meditation. These
types of meditation will help one to gain an awareness of Qi.
Once awareness of Qi is reached and you have gained a specific
experience of its feeling, growth, and movement, you can begin to
switch to Saam Medical Meditation.
Once you have reached specificity of Qi, it is important not to
linger too long on Transcendental or Kundalini. Focusing on one
single location will help to grow your Qi, but eventually as it gets
stronger it will stagnate and exasperate problems. At that point
we should not keep our meditation to a single location. The power
of Saam is to spread the movement of Qi over the entire body.
The hands and feet are critical areas of focus for our meditation.

With advanced knowledge a patient can use meditation in the

same way as acupuncture. Achieving a specificity and awareness
to the presence of Qi is the beginning. Observing nature as
depicted in the five elements and identifying these processes
within ourselves will give us the power to control and change the
course of our evolution. Meditation upon the Saam patterns will
help us orderly direct our Qi according to our needs.

****

This concludes the opening chapters of "Saam Medical Meditation"

by Dr. Evan Mahoney. For the complete transcript including the
pictures of the meditational patterns please purchase the book
available at smashwords.com, apple itunes, or other online
retailers.

Riddle: What lives for centuries, but dies before it is born?

Answer: Books.

Please read "Nongae of Love and Courage", "Saam Medical

Meditation", "Saam Medical Meditation Part II" to be born
into a more complete understanding of Saam Meditation.

Thank you,
Dr. Evan Mahoney