Dr. Shana Buchanan, MBA,
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified in Veterinary Chiropractic, Certified in Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine, Veterinary Food Therapist
The five elements that we will be discussing are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each of these elements has a season, a climate, a direction, a color, a flavor, a sound, an emotion, growth, an orifice, a sense, a tissue, a function, a body action, a body odor, a weakness, and certain personality aspects that make up their characteristics. We will explore each element’s uniqueness in our pets. Pets and people can exhibit more then one type of constitution. Additionally, if there is a mixture of elements that make up the constitution of a pet, the element that is usually expresses is during its season.
The Fire element’s season is summer, the color is red, the climate is hot, the emotion is joy and fright, the tissue is vascular system, the function is circulation, the organ is the heart, and the weakness is walking. The Fire personality is easily excited, extroverted, tends to be the center of the party, loves to be loved, mischievous and is proficient in competition. The Fire’s physical characteristics include a strong body, small head, prominent blood vessels, runs fast but easily fatigued, and is excellent for short-distance racing. The Fire’s disease predispositions include strokes, separation anxiety, and restlessness. A small animal that has a Fire constitution is friendly, greets strangers warmly, is noisy and barks, is excitable and is difficult to keep still. A horse that has a Fire constitution is friendly, noisy and vociferous, loves to be touched or petted, is excitable, is difficult to keep still and is very sensitive.
The Earth’s season is late summer, the climate is damp, the color is yellow, the emotion is preoccupation and worry, the tissue is muscles, the function is digestion, the organs are stomach and spleen and the weakness is sitting. An Earth’s personal characteristics include honesty and kindness, is a good care taker, is laid back, is humble, is easily satisfied, is slow to response to a stimulus, is a good worker that is a little slow and is generous and modest. The Earth’s physical characteristics include a short and sturdy body, a prominent musculature, a big head, and thick lips. Disease predispositions include chronic gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and colic, edema and obesity. A small animal with an Earth constitution is friendly, is eager to please, is a slow walker, enjoys sleeping and relaxing, and is laid back. A horse with an Earth constitution is friendly, enjoys relaxing, is easy going and mellow, is eager to please and moves slow.
The Metal’s season is fall, the climate is dryness, the color is white, the emotion is weeping, the organs are the lung and large intestine, the tissue is the skin and hair coat, the function is respiration, the body action is coughing and wheezing, and the weakness is lying down. The Metal’s personal characteristic are a good organizer, a leader in a group, a rule follower and likes routines, is confident and consistent. The Metal’s physical characteristics include a broad forehead, a broad chest, and good hair coat. The disease predispositions are respiratory problems, including cough, asthma, and nasal congestion, diabetes, and constipation. A small animal with a Metal constitution is quiet and confident, disciplined, follows the owner’s commands, organized and knows what to do next or what is expected, and has a clean hair coat. A horse with a Metal constitution is quiet and organized, confident, disciplined, follows the rules, prepared for what happens next, and has a clean hair coat.
The Water’s season is winter, the climate is cold, the color is gray/black, the emotion is fear/terror, the organs are kidney and bladder, the tissue is the bones, the function is elimination, and the weakness is standing. The Water’s personal characteristics includes being introverted, terrified and fearful about everything, quiet, willing to live along, very consistent but slow when doing something, and a fear biter. The Water’s physical characteristics are a thin, middle sized body, cold intolerance, and have deep, big eyes and ears. The disease predispositions are edema, infertility, back pain, urinary infections, and depression. A small animal with a Water constitution hides behind the owner, is not confident, is a fear biter, and leaks urine because of fear. A horse with a Water constitution hides or runs away, kicks when afraid, is not confident, may present rear-end and threatens to kick when approached.
The Wood’s season is spring, the climate is wind, the color is green, the emotion is anger and irritation, the organs are liver and gall bladder, the tissues are tendons and ligaments, the function is purification, and the weakness is looking. The Wood’s personal characteristic includes a dominant behavior or attitude, quick and fast movements, skilled with running or moving, impatient, easily becomes angry, alert and responds quickly to stimuli and is good at adapting to changing conditions. The Wood’s physical characteristics have a thin body, big eyes, good but variable performance, runs quickly and has nimble movements. The disease predispositions include hypertension, stroke, allergy, depression, hysteria and neurosis. A small animal Wood constitution is confident, irritable/”crabby,” active, energetic, athletic, aggressive, angry, bites with little provocation and is impatient. A horse with a Wood constitution is confident, irritable/”crabby,” active, energetic, athletic, aggressive, angry, kicks, stomps or strikes, impatient and bites.
As you can see there are several breeds that come to mind when describing the various elements. For example, a typical horse with a Wood personality is a racehorse. A typical dog with an Earth personality is a Labrador Retriever. A Water dog is any small breed that is scared, particularly Chihuahuas
References
Xie, H & Preast, V. (2002). Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: Volume 1 Fundamental Principles. Florida
