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Five Element Acupuncture is an ancient form of acupuncture that works by treating a person at the levels of body, mind, heart and spirit. By doing this it helps a person move back into harmony with themselves, their emotions and their life as a whole.
This harmony is achieved by looking at the person as a whole being as well as understanding their symptoms. A Five Element practitioner places great importance on having a thorough understanding of the person, their environment, their history and the Five Elements working in their life.
The Five Elements are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each of these help create who we are and how we function in the world. Have a look through the Five Elements and see which one corresponds closest with who you are!
When acupuncture is used to treat only the immediate symptoms, it is called formula acupuncture. This type of acupuncture can give ready relief for a time but it may not be treating the cause of the person's discomfort. A Five Element acupuncturist is carefully trained in understanding natural laws and using these to diagnosing techniques, we can assist the body, mind and spirit to move back into full health.
The practitioner will look for disharmony in the energy of the body through various ways. They will look for blocks between the acupuncture meridians flow like rivers around the body. They will look for which of the Five Elements is weakest and how that affects the person as a whole. They will look for how they can support the person's spirit through choice of acupuncture points and help them move back into a better relationship with themselves and the world around them.
The 5 Elements Explained
- Wood Element
- Fire Element
- Earth Element
- Metal Element
- Water Element
Acupuncture - The Wood Element
The wood element, the element of youth, of all beginnings and of hope, the spring of the year and the spring in our step. It helps us look to the future, decide what we are going to do and where we are going to go.
In the body, it controls the organs of our liver and gall bladder and the functions of our ligaments and tendons.
Its emotion is a kind of forcefulness which we call anger, in both its positive and negative sense.
Common Physical Issues of the Wood Element out of Balance:
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Hypertension
- Vertigo
- PMS
- Muscle spasms, tremors
Common Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Issues of the Wood Element out of Balance:
- Anger, depression and frustration
- Reckless and aggressive
- Intolerant and impatient
- Meek and indecisive
Wood Element in Balance:
- Seeks challenges
- Confident and assertive
- Ability to construct and execute a plan
- Leadership qualities
- Good organization skills
Acupuncture - The Fire Element
The element of young maturity and high summer, of delight in the warmth of the sun.
It teaches us how to relate to others and it revels in those relationships. In the body, it controls the organs of the heart and small intestine, and the functions of our blood circulation and body temperature.
Its emotion is joy, and it seeks to light up the joy of others with its smile.
Common Physical Issues of the Fire Element out of Balance:
- Restlessness, insomnia
- Dull thinking, absent minded
- Palpitations
- Arteriosclerosis, sluggish circulation
- Spasms of the intestines
Common Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Issues of the Fire Element out of Balance:
- Inappropriate humour
- Reckless and aggressive
- Excessive laughter or lack of joy
- Control issues
- Difficulty with intimacy/relationship
Fire Element in Balance:
- Charismatic
- Agile mind, good conversationalist
- Intuitive
- Successful people person
- Delights in intimacy
Acupuncture - The Earth Element
The element of maturity and of late summer, bearing the fruit of what summer has yielded. It represents our mother, both the mother who bore us and mother earth which feeds us.
In the body, it controls the organs of the spleen and stomach, and rules the flesh.
Its emotion is sympathy, giving it an understanding of what others feel.
Common Physical Issues of the Earth Element out of Balance:
- Diabetes
- Obesity, tendency for cellulite
- Candidiasis
- Digestive problems
- Craves sweets
- Bruises easily varicose veins
Common Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Issues of the Earth Element out of Balance:
- Excessive worry
- Tendency to smother, or reject sympathy completely
- Whines, clinging
- May overextend and/or meddle
Earth Element in Balance:
- Able to balance your own and others needs
- Is considerate and sympathetic
- Seeks harmony
Acupuncture - The Metal Element
The element of late maturity, of the autumn of our days and the autumn of the year. It helps us assess what we have achieved and assigns to things their true value. Where the Wood element looks forward, Metal looks back. It represents our father, the father who gave us life and also whatever spiritual presence we believe in out there beyond us.
In the body, it controls the organs of the lung and large intestine, ruling over what we take in and what we let go.
Its emotion is grief for all that we have lost and all that we have not achieved.
Common Physical Issues of the Metal Element out of Balance:
- Vulnerability of the lungs and large intestine
- Colds, flus, bronchitis, sinus problems, and asthma
- Skin problems: acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin.
Common Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Issues of the Metal Element out of Balance:
- Excess or lack of grief
- Self-righteous, autocratic
- Difficulty letting go of things
- Feeling lonely / building walls around themselves
Metal Element in Balance:
- Hard workers who enjoy structure and authority
- Very self-disciplined, a self-motivator
- Honorable and well respected.
Acupuncture - The Water Element
The element of old age, the winter of our years, bearing always buried within it the seed of new life. It helps us survive, and drives us on when we feel we may be going under.
In the body, it controls the organs of the kidney and the bladder.
Its emotion is fear for all the dangers lurking around us.
Common Physical Issues of the Water Element out of Balance:
- Edema
- Bladder infections, incontinence, or retention of urine
- Lower back pain, kidney stones
- Decreased libido
- Bone loss, dental problems
- Vulnerability of kidneys, adrenals, and bladder
Common Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Issues of the Water Element out of Balance:
- Fearful or totally fearless (adrenaline junkie)
- Timid and forgetful
- Feeling of isolation
Water Element in Balance:
- Alert and aware of risk
- Self-sufficient and introspective
- Ingenious, clever
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