Five Element Acupuncture

The theory of Five Element Acupuncture is rooted back to ancient times and was adapted by Professor J.R. Worsley. It is an effective and extraordinary system of medicine that diagnoses and treats the cause of disease. The fundamental elements of creation – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water create life's natural order and when these five elements manifest within us, in a balanced and harmonious state, we experience health, well-being and the joy of life.

Professor Worsley realized that each person has one root cause of disease, which is called the Causative Factor (CF). When the CF is diagnosed and treated the cause of disease will resolve, allowing the body to come into better balance and heal itself.

The Five Elements

Below are the 5 Elements, they make up who we are and how we are in the world. They create the seasons and the 12 main meridians of energy inside us. See which Element you relate to best!

Wood Element – Liver & Gallbladder

Wood is the element of Spring and is associated with the emotion of anger. Wood can manifest as having strong skills for planning, decision making, and taking action. It represents one’s vision of the future and the ability to see it. When out of balance it can lead to procrastination or a loss of hope.

The Wood element offers:

• Flexibility in life
• Ability to make plans effectively & follow through
• Healthy boundaries
• Vision of future
• Decision making
• Balance between anger and forgiveness

Fire Element – Heart & Small Intestine / Pericardium & Triple Warmer

Fire is the element of Summer and is associated with the emotion of joy.  Fire is expressed through the ability to love and reach out to others. It manifests in healthy relationships with people, joy of laughter and heart connections. When out of balance one can carry a sadness or lack of joy deep in themselves.

The Fire element offers:

• Communication
• Circulation
• Healthy relationships
• Trusting love and change
• Living in the moment
• Giving up control
• Warmth and joy
• Balance between loneliness and openness to love/relationships

Earth Element – Spleen & Stomach

Earth is the element of Late Summer and is associated with the emotion of sympathy. It is the ability to care for oneself as well as other people. Like a mother nourishing a child. Food and understanding are important. When out of balance a person can feel a sense of emptiness or neediness in their own life.
The Earth element offers:

• Sympathy and understanding
• Keeping ones needs a priority
• Stability
• Nourishment
• Flexible thinking
• Trusting there will be enough
• Nurture and caring for self and others while continuing to have boundaries
• Balance between worry and gratification

Metal – Lung & Large Intestine

Metal is the element of Autumn and is associated with the emotion of grief. It shows us the ability to see what is pure and spiritual and to eliminate what is unnecessary. It can show up as someone setting the highest standards for themselves and/or others. Respect is extremely important. When out of balance one can sometimes live in a sense of what could have been.

The Metal element offers:

• Stillness and serenity
• Self-worth and respect
• Ability to take only what is necessary in life
• Letting go of what is not longer needed
• Still seeing the beauty & transformation in both taking and letting go
• Balance between regret and acceptance

Water – Kidney & Bladder

Water is the element of Winter and is associated with the emotion of fear. It shows up as persistence and determination and the will to excel in situations that others find too scary. When feeling out of balance one may hide a deep sense of being frozen or feel washed away by their own fear.

The Water element offers:

• Willpower and adaptability
• Inner reserve
• Transforming fear into healthy motivation
• Trusting and embracing the unknown
• Embracing death and finding rebirth from it
• Balance between fear and courage