In ancient China, people employed the Wuxing theory in Tai Chi to connect the internal organs of the human body with Wuxing, and through long-term practice and repeated demonstration, developed the relationship between the human body and Wuxing, used for clinical guidance.

In the relationship between Wuxing and the human body, liver is attributed to the Wood element, heart to the Fire element, spleen to the Earth element, lungs to the Metal element, and kidney to the Water element, because they have characteristics similar to their corresponding elements.

The relationship in which the five elements promote and restrict one another was also introduced into the science of human regimen, for the purpose of understanding and explaining the physiological relations between and pathologic changes in internal organs of the human body and thus gaining knowledge about coordination and balance within the body.

In addition, the Wuxing theory is connected to a certain degree with the therapeutic and tonic functions of foods. Foods with the functions or properties of growth, development and easement, such as hawthorn, dark plum, mango, Chinese date kernel, medlar, citron, bergamot, loquat, Chinese toon, plum, pawpaw, southernwood, tomato, purslane, cat meat, shrimp, mussel and vinegar, are attributed to the Wood element; Foods with the functions of warmth and gushing, such as lily, lotus seed, wheat, old rice, peach kernel, longan pulp, muskmelon, persimmon, lotus leaf, mung bean, chilli and wine, are attributed to the Fire element; Foods with the functions of purgation, decline and convergence, such as white turnip, white gourd, onion, ginkgo, almond, water bamboo, Chinese prickly ash, pear, peanut, sheep milk, bird's nest and pig lung, are attributed to the Metal element; Foods of cold property, moistening and downward motion, such as chestnut, black sesame, mulberry, seed of Job’ s tears, grape, leek, horsebean, walnut kernel, eel and jelly fish, are attributed to the Water element; Foods with the functions of nurturance, bearing and acceptance, such as haricot bean, soybean, Chinese date, sorghum, lotus rhizome knot, lotus seed, garlic, caraway, egg apple and soybean paste, are attributed to the Earth element.