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Wuxing (Five Phase) Theory
In Wuxing theory, all the Phases nurture or feed each other (->) via the Sheng Cycle (Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water -> Wood -> Fire) and restrain or control each other (X) via the Ko Cycle (Fire X Metal X Wood X Earth X Water X Fire). This mutual support and control normally ensures balance. However, when one Phase is out of balance the others also have problems.

Ben Shen
The Ben Shen are the Five Phases, or aspects, of the psyche, emotions or mental manifestations. Each of the Five Phases relates to a Zang (Yin organ), a Zang Shu Point a psychic mentality and a Mental Shu Point (1.5" lateral to the related Zang Shu Point), as follows:

    Shen-Spirit

    HT-Fire





     Hun-Courage                  Yi-Thought  

     LV-Wood                  SP-Earth

        



        

      Zhi-Will       Po-Instinct

     KI-Water       LU-Metal

• Shen wants to open up to Po
• Po wants to open up to Hun
• Hun wants to open up to Yi
• Yi wants to open up to Zhi
• Zhi wants to open up to Shen

The above relationships operate along the Ko route (see diagram above).

1. SHEN (Fire Phase, HT/PC)

Shen belongs mainly to the Fire Phase but Shen itself is divided in Five Phases: the Ben Shen. Negative emotions are Yang and positive emotions are Yin. They are both necessary to feed Shen.

Shen is the power and spirit of life. It has Yin and Yang aspects. Yuan (Original) Shen is Yin, the passive form, the divine form, the higher self. Shih Shen is Yang, the active form, the emotions and the blood of living.

Intuition is a part of Shen, the incarnation of the mental part of the body.

Shen relates to HT and PC. When HT Qi is pure, PC obeys Shen. When HT Qi is weak, PC obeys the needs of the body, resulting in a lust for excitement and stimulating activities.

Shen and the Fire Phase involve love-relationships. When Shen is in balance, love-relationships are also in balance.

Body growth is very fast in puberty. Shen growth cannot keep pace with rapid body growth. Thus, many problems arise with relationships and emotions in puberty, especially problems between parents and pubescent children.

                                    Shen        

 

 gloomy                                                 very excited, recklessness

 self-doubt                     Sorrow                  restlessness, cheerlessness

 discouragement                 Shock                                                                    

                                Extreme joy                                                                     

                                Self-confidence 

 despair                        Joy                     nervousness

 depression (empty)             Happiness               concern

 hopelessness                                           hysteria

To help in Shen problems:

• Strengthen Shen by learning to meditate, having the correct body attitude,walking and standing up straight.
• Use BL44-Shentang (Spirit Hall) or BL15-Xinshu (HT Shu).
• Use HT05-Tongli (Connecting Li, Luo-Passage point) to help with severe problems with relationships, hysteria, unhappiness, fear for other people.
• Use HT07-Shenmen (Spirit Gate, Shu-Stream/Yuan/Earth/Son-Sedation point) to relax people with insomnia and palpitations .
• Use HT09-Shaochong (Lesser Thoroughfare, Jing-Well/Wood/Mother-Tonification point) to tonify people with low spirits .

To help in Yi problems:

• To help Yi, talk to people who will listen.
• Stimulate Yi by writing, making music, singing, dancing, doing rhythmical activities.
• Use BL49-Yishe (Thought Home) or BL20-Pishu (SP Shu).
• Use SP03-Taibai (Supreme White, Shu-Stream/Yuan/Earth/Hour point) to strengthen memory.
• Use SP05-Shangqiu (Shang Hill, Jing-River/Metal/Son-Sedation point) to sedate Yi and reduce worry and obsession.
• Use SP02-Dadu (Great Metropolis, Ying-Spring/Fire/Mother-Tonification point) to stimulate. Yi and enhance intuition and verbal release of what is bothering one.

To help in Po problems:

• Learn low abdominal breathing; in meditation, this banishes stray thoughts and makes one open to Shen.
• Do exercises to improve breathing; Chinese people train their breathing in order to endure pain.
• Use BL42-Pohu (Soul Door) or BL13-Feishu (LU Shu)
• Use LU07-Lieque (Broken Sequence, Luo-Passage point) to stimulate extroversion
• Use LU05-Chize (Elbow Marsh, He-Sea/Water/Son-Sedation point) to sedate Po in people with for example sadness due to an excess situation.
• Use LU09-Taiyuan (Great Abyss, Shu-Stream/Yuan/Earth/Mother-Tonification point) to stimulate Po; this stimulates introversion or introspection; appearances become less important

To help in Zhi problems:

• Self-forgiveness and prayer increase faith and strengthen Zhi.
• Use BL52-Zhishi (Will Chamber) or BL23-Shenshu (KI Shu).
• Use KI04-Dazhong (Great Goblet, Luo-Passage point) to reduce unhappiness, phobia and fear; it brings out energy and opens up possibilities.
• Use KI01-Yongquan (Gushing Spring, Jing-Well/Wood/Son-Sedation point) to sedate Zhi and strengthen willpower.
• Use KI07-Fuliu (Recover Flow, Jing-River/Metal/Mother-Tonification point) to tonify Zhi in people with , for example shyness due to a deficiency situation.

4. HUN (Wood Phase, LV)

Hun is a Yang aspect; it comes mainly from the father. It arrives three days after birth; after death, it returns to the great all. Hun is stored in LV; it gives courage, the "will to live", the will discover the world. When Hun does not feed Shen, one can be afraid to make decisions, or can become suicidal. Hun always wishes to change everything. (Po wants to leave everything as it is).

A weak Hun may manifest as out-of-body experiences or sensations during sleep or wakefulness. Drugs (especially abuse of alcohol, hypnotics, sedatives and narcotics) can drive Hun from the body; one feels disassociated or floating; one's links to the earth and material things are weak and uncertain.

To help in Hun problems:

• Strengthen Hun by personal achievements, such as winning a sports-game or finishing an essay.
• Use BL47-Hunmen (Courage Gate) or BL18-Ganshu (LV Shu).
• Use GB25-Jingmen (Capital Gate, KI Mu-Alarm point) to help people who are unsatisfied but really do not know the reason.
• Use LV02-Xingjian (Moving Between, Ying-Spring/Fire/Son-Sedation point) to sedate Hun in people with depression, suicidal attempts or no interest in life.
• Use LV08-Ququan (He-Sea/Water/Mother-Tonification point) to tonify Hun in people with for example feeling of guilt, due to a deficiency situation.

Types of insomnia according to the Ben Shen

When Shen is out of balance one cannot sleep because of

• extreme joy (passing a very difficult exam etc)
• restlessness
• nervousness
• excitement (next day is one's birthday or wedding-day)

When Yi is out of balance one cannot sleep because of

• worrying about (for example) one's children
• nostalgia
• worrying in the mind (about learning something by heart)

When Po is out of balance one cannot sleep because of

• grief due to bereavement or termination of a deep relationship
• sadness over getting older
• thinking in envy or jealousy of someone else
• self-pity

When Zhi is out of balance one cannot sleep because

• one is afraid of the dark
• one is afraid of the unknown
• one is afraid of never waking up again
• one is afraid of having nightmares

When Hun is out of balance one cannot sleep because of

• anger, frustration, irritation (for example about one's work or manager)
• hostility
• feeling of guilt
• self-deprecation, poor self-image, self-disapproval (did something really stupid today)

In imbalances of the Ben Shen, as discussed above, one may use the Mental Shu or their Associated Zang (Organ) Shu Points (1.5" medial to the Mental Shu) as follows: