According to the ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and philosophy, there are five elements that comprise the trappings of the entire universe, including what makes up our solar system, the planet Earth, and human beings themselves. These elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood, and are used to describe and classify the interconnection and relationships between phenomena of the natural world, even those occurring in the organ systems of the human body. The five elements are said to be held in a careful balance within all of nature. As creatures sprung from the natural world, when the elements are at equilibrium in our minds, bodies and spirits, it is then that we are functioning at our highest and best.

 

When the elements are jostled out of equilibrium, be it from environmental effects, stress, grief, emotional or physical trauma, among many other causative factors, it can manifest in a myriad of ways, including a host of common symptoms such as chronic pain, sleep issues, poor digestion, painful periods, depression, anxiety, and countless others. The beauty of this medicine is that it aims to treat every human being as a whole- a complete set of parts that depend on each piece functioning at its highest in order to achieve the seamlessly self-regulating system we are designed to be.

 

Each element lends something unique to a harmonious mind, body and spirit. According to ancient traditional Chinese medical wisdom, in practice for over 3,000 years, every element corresponds to an energy type, an organ system in the body, a color, a sound, a season of the year, and almost everything else you can imagine can be classified into one of these five master categories.  

 

It is when the elements within are deficient or in excess that the body reacts and responds, and it is this imbalance that your Five Element acupuncturist works to assess and treat. They will check diagnosis points such as pulses or the appearance of the tongue, as well as carefully consider details you may not typically classify as diagnostic, such as mannerisms, coloring, and even the sound of your voice. The term Qi (pronounced “chee”) in Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to the vital energy which flows throughout the body, much in the same way blood flows. A trained practitioner can identify where blockages are in the healing channels of the body along which Qi circulates, known in acupuncture as meridians. By stimulating the flow of Qi with needles as thin as a human hair, a practitioner can stimulate,  redirect and correct the flow, restoring and facilitating healing in the body. 

 

Here is a simple breakdown of what balance and imbalance of the Five Elements may look or feel like:

 

Fire in balance: excited, happy, inspired, healthy expression,  

Fire out of balance: lack of joy or compassion, inflammation, heart disease, blood pressure issues

 

Earth in balance: grounded, at peace, stable, safe

Earth out of balance: anxiety, changing direction often, feeling unstable, unsafe, or unsupported 

 

Metal in balance: healthy boundaries, malleable, self-disciplined, organized, hearty immune system

Metal out of balance: difficulty with self expression and spontaneity, rigidity, skin problems, unprocessed grief 

 

Water in balance: flexible, mental clarity, optimum reproductive health, introspective, calm

Water out of balance: fear, irrational emotions, sexual weakness, infertility, urination issues

 

Wood in balance: Yielding, confident, courageous, ambitious, resourceful

Wood out of balance: confrontational, reckless, feeling “stuck” or frustrated, joint pain