Maarifat e Tib Course / Umoor e tabiya / Kulliyat / Principles of Eastern Medicine

The Four Elements

ELEMENTS /ARKAN /ANASIR:

In the Unani system of medicine, the Four Elements—fire, air, earth, and water—are the foundational components of all matter. Each substance’s elemental composition determines its nature, properties, and actions. These elements correspond to the four states of matter:

According To Quran Majeed:

هُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ

It is He who created you from dust

                                        SURAH GHAFIR AYAT 67 (40:67 QURAN)

 ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

Then He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him the soul (created by Allah for that person), and He gave you hearing (ears), sight (eyes) and hearts. Little is the thanks you give!

                                       SURAH AS-SAJDAH AYAT 9 (32:9 QURAN)

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ

He created man from sounding clay like unto pottery,

                                SURAH AR-RAHMAN AYAT 14 (55:14 QURAN)

 وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ بَشَرٗا فَجَعَلَهُۥ نَسَبٗا وَصِهۡرٗاۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِيرٗا

And it is He who has created from water a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].

                                             SURAH FURQAN AYAT 54 (25:54 QURAN)

Fire:   Represents the igneous, incandescent, or metamorphic state.

Air:   Represents the gaseous state.

Water:  Represents the liquid state.

Earth:  Represents the solid state.

Cosmology of the Four Elements:

The classical Greek conception of the universe is also based on these four elements:

Earth:  At the center, symbolizing the planet we live on, with cold and dry qualities.

Water:  Surrounding the earth, seen in lakes, rivers, and oceans, with cold and wet qualities.

Air:   Enveloping earth and water, representing the atmosphere, with hot and wet qualities.

Fire:   Illuminating the celestial bodies, symbolizing life force, with hot and dry qualities.

Elements in the Human Body:

The human body is composed of these elements in varying proportions, reflecting the macrocosm of nature. The distribution in the body is as follows:

Fire:  Digestive enzymes, secretions, metabolic heat, heart, liver, stomach, muscles, spirit, and intelligence.

Air:  Lungs, chest, cavities, blood, bones, connective tissues, and points of exchange.

Water:  Vital fluids, kidneys, bladder, mucosa, lymphatic system, brain, and spinal cord.

Earth:  Bones, joints, connective tissues, nerves, bone marrow, teeth, gums, hair, and nails.

Light and Heavy Elements:

Light Elements:  Fire and Air, both energetic with hot as their primary quality.

Heavy Elements:  Water and Earth, both dense with cold as their primary quality.

Fluidic and Discrete Elements:

Fluidic Elements:  Air and Water, both with wet as their secondary quality, adapting to their containers.

Discrete Elements:  Fire and Earth, both with dry as their secondary quality, separating and solidifying substances.

Modern Elements in the Human Body:

The human body is primarily composed of six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus, making up 99% of its mass. Another five elements—potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium—constitute 0.85%. Trace elements such as fluorine are also necessary for good health. 

Essential Elements and Their Functions:

Boron (B):  Aids in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus retention; vital for brain function.

Calcium (Ca):  Crucial for bones, teeth, nerve impulses, muscle contractions, and blood clotting.

Carbon (C):  Found in all organic molecules.

Chlorine (Cl):  Important for membrane function and water absorption.

Chromium (Cr):  Regulates insulin and aids in protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism.

Cobalt (Co):  Integral to vitamin B12 and red blood cell production.

Copper (Cu):   Involved in hemoglobin synthesis and enzymatic functions.

Germanium (Ge):  Enhances oxygen absorption and immune function.

Hydrogen (H):  A component of water and other compounds.

Iodine (I):  Essential for thyroid hormones and mineral metabolism.

Iron (Fe):  Necessary for oxygen transport and energy production.

Magnesium (Mg):  Vital for enzyme activation, bone health, and brain function.

Manganese (Mn):  Cofactor for enzymes and involved in fatty acid synthesis.

Nitrogen (N):  Found in proteins and nucleic acids.

Oxygen (O):  Essential for respiration and found in water and other compounds.

Phosphorus (P):  Found in every cell nucleus, crucial for bone health and cellular energy.

Potassium (K):  Important for membrane function and muscle contractions.

Selenium (Se):  A powerful antioxidant supporting the immune system and cell integrity.

Sodium (Na):  Necessary for nerve impulses and muscle function.

Sulfur (S):  Found in amino acids and essential for detoxification and muscle health.

Zinc (Zn):  Involved in enzyme function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and immune support.

Trace Elements:

Certain trace elements, though present in small quantities, play crucial roles. Some elements like cadmium and mercury are toxic in higher amounts, while others like arsenic are essential in ultratrace quantities. Elements such as fluorine and bromine are used opportunistically by mammals, with potential benefits and risks varying based on the amount present.