The 5 elements in Chinese Medicine are very important in making diagnosis and at the center of natural healing treatment. The following are some of the main correspondences of the 5 elements.
| 5 Elements | Wood | Fire | Earth | Metal | Water |
| Season | Spring | Summer | Late Indian Summer | Autumn | Winter |
| Direction | East | South | Southwest | West | North |
| Climate | Windy | Hot | Damp | Dry | Cold |
| Stage of Development | Birth | Growth | Transformation | Reaping | Storage |
| Sense Organs | Eyes | Tongue | Mouth/Lips | Nose | Ears |
| Secretion | Bile/Tears | Blood/Sweat | Lymph/Saliva | Mucus | Semen/Spinal fluid |
| Sense/Function | Sight | Speech | Touch | Smell | Hearing |
| Sound of voice | Shouting | Laughing | Singing | Crying | Groaning |
| Tastes | Sour | Bitter | Sweet | Pungent | Salty |
| Tissues | Sinews | Vessels | Muscles | Skin | Bone |
| Shape | Upright | Triangular | Horizontal | Dome-shaped | Wavy/Irregular |
| Colors | Green | Red | Yellow/Beige | White/Silver | Black/Blue |
| Yin Organs | Liver | Heart | Spleen | Lung | Kidney |
| Yang Organs | Gall Bladder | Small Int. | Stomach | Large Int. | Urinary Bladder |
| Time of Day | 11pm-3am | 11am-3pm 7pm-11pm |
7am-11am | 3am-7am | 3pm-7pm |
| Negative Emotion | Anger Over-thinking |
Hysteria Anxiety | Worry Over-thinking |
Sadness Grief | Fear, Paralyzed will |
| Pos. Emotion | Assertiveness | Joy | Concern | Empathy | Courage |
| Mental | Decision Planning | Sorting Command | Absorbing Transport |
Elimination | Will Control |
| Spirit | Kindness | Honor/Respect | Fairness | Cleansing Righteousness |
Gentleness |
| Life Aspiration | Wealth | Recognition & Fame | Relationship Education |
Children | Career |
| Activity | Walking | Watching | Sitting | Lying Down | Standing |
| Animals | Fish | Birds | Human | Mammals | Shell-covered |
| Domestic Animals | Sheep | Fowl | Ox | Dog | Pig |
| Grains | Wheat | Beans | Rice | Hemp | Millet |