What is Five element acupuncture?

What is Five Element Acupuncture? What I can do to help the treatment work to its fullest potential? Are there ways I can help bring my Elements into balance even if I can’t come in for treatment right now?

You may be wondering what this Five Element thing is all about. The Five Element system of understanding health and well-being started long ago in ancient China. It is one of the foundational theories behind acupuncture and Asian medicine. Since I specialize in Five Element Acupuncture, I will tell you a little about it and how it views health.

This is different paradigm than many other forms of medicine. It even differs from other methods of acupuncture. The most common form of acupuncture practiced in the world today, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), uses the same points and channels, but works from a different theory. Five Element is one of the most ancient forms of medicine still being practiced in the world today. TCM, although based on some of the same ancient sources is a more modern way of treating, developed in the 1940s and combining acupuncture and herbal theories with a more western understanding of symptoms.

The Five Element system is based on the view that we have five different main energy systems within us, each connected to a pair of internal organs. Our health relies on the good balance and flow of energy to all of the organs and throughout our entire being. Since it is a completely interdependent  system, when one system is struggling, the others will not get what they need from it. The main idea with Five Element healing is to find the root cause of the symptom or problem and address that. When we find and support the Element that is at the root of the imbalance, a wonderful type of healing occurs that effects not only physical symptoms but also the mind, emotions and even the spirit - one’s sense of engagement with life. 

There is much to say about Five Element theory and the development of this medicine. However, you don’t need to know or understand the theory for the medicine to work for you. In fact, it’s best not to be “in your head” with it, but simply to see what you experience and learn from that. I’ll provide a basic introduction to give you an orientation.

Let’s look briefly at each of the Elements. They are most easily understood like the seasons of the year.

The Water Element is related to Winter. The organs associated with it are the Kidney and Bladder. The Water Element manages all the fluids in our bodies, which we vitally need for life. On a mental/emotional level the Water Element allows us to go deep, to be still and sleep. Just as in Winter we must conserve our resources, Water deals with storing and managing our energy reserves. The emotion connected to the Water Element is fear, which we may face as we head into the unknown of a long winter (on any level).

The Wood Element is connected with Spring. Spring is when we see a burst of growth, and the Wood Element within us is responsible for growth and healing, planning and getting things done! The Liver and the Gallbladder are the organ systems associated with Wood, and in addition to their physical roles of processing the purifying the blood and digesting fats, they are also seen within the Five Elements to be responsible for our ability to hold a vision or plan and to make the decisions needed to get something accomplished. Anger is the emotion associated with Wood because it takes a certain power to get things moving. And if progress is blocked, we are likely to become frustrated or angry. Wood gives us the wonderful gift of holding true to our potential.

After Spring we get Summer and the Fire Element. Now things expand and open up. The Fire Element houses our ability to be in relationship to others and with the world. 

Here is where we open to others and find love and the emotion associated with the Fire Element, Joy. The organs are the Heart and the Small Intestine and this Element is also responsible for blood circulation, temperature regulation, sexuality and prioritizing our attention.

The fifth season that we acknowledge is Late Summer. This is the time of harvest. The light is more golden and the heat is less intense. This is the time of the Earth Element.

The Earth houses our Stomach and Spleen and has a lot to do with digestion and taking in nourishment. Our care and concern for others is housed here, giving this Element its associated emotion - Sympathy. Both giving and caring, as well as needing and receiving fall into the area covered by this element.

Next we come to Autumn and the Element here is Metal. Autumn is a season of letting go. The Large Intestine is part of the Metal Element and is a clear example of letting go of what we no longer need. Metal also relates to the Lungs, however, which are responsible for inspiration and being able to take in the fresh clear air of Autumn. Metal allows us to let go of what no longer serves us and return to our essential self.

Based on the Five Elements I’ve put together a program to introduce my basic suggestions for health living. You can use this as an adjunct to getting treatments or as a healing process by itself. The program will take you through each of the Elements and provide understanding as well as lifestyle, diet and other ways that you can support that Element. A guided meditation or exercise will be offered for each step of the path.