Elements Overview

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The 5 elements used in 5 element acupuncture and herbal medicine are water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.

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Water is the energy of winter, and it empowers you with the wisdom to use your resources wisely. Your water element is the source of your will to manifest your destiny, and it is the seed of your potential. It gives you the capacity to sink into the depths of silence, as well as the cleverness needed to adapt and survive. 5 element acupuncturist decatur ga

Wood is the energy of spring, and it imparts the vision, perspective, and long range planning needed to achieve your goals. Your wood element gives you the growth, creativity, and flexibility required for forward movement and true healing. 5 element acupuncturist decatur ga

Fire is the energy of summer, and it helps you to fully blossom into maturity. Your fire element provides the warmth and safety needed to give and receive love, and it helps you feel connected with the people around you. The fire element’s joyful nature help you to celebrate life to the fullest. 5 element acupuncturist decatur ga

Earth is the energy of late summer, and it houses your ability to have an intention. Your earth element nurtures, mothers, and supports others for the sake of world service. Your earth element’s empathetic nature allows you to feel the pain and suffering of others with compassion. 5 element acupuncturist decatur ga

Metal is the energy of autumn, and it helps you relinquish attachments to the material world. Your metal element receives the purity of heavenly qi as you breathe, and helps you let go of the impurities you no longer need. Your metal element defines how you assess the value of others and of yourself. 5 element acupuncturist decatur ga

5 Element Acupuncture Correspondences

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In the subtle energetic realms that interpenetrate the physical world, each element is constantly expressing its own frequency in service to the Tao (the One, God, Spirit, etc.). Each element is singing its own song. As the songs blend together and move into denser realms, creation is born.

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The 5 elements in 5 element acupuncture physically manifest in ways that are characteristic of their intrinsic natures. The aspects of earthly life associated with each element are known as correspondences. For instance, some of the water element correspondences include: winter, blue, cold and north.

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Can you feel how they all have the same root and are energetically associated? These are four of the "songs" of the water element. Naturally, each song can have an almost infinite number of variations.

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Constitutional Factor (CF) used in 5 Element Acupuncture

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Five element masters observed that we each have a strong affinity with one of the 5 elements from birth. We resonate with one element primarily, continuously living in its energetic world. The element you resonate with most is called your constitutional factor (c.f.).

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Your c.f. is the source of your greatest virtues. The strengths of that element are the root of your most prominent natural gifts. Similarly, the ways in which that element becomes imbalanced are the ways in which you become imbalanced, as well.

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Your c.f. is the path through your greatest challenges, and its virtues lead you to true healing and the realization of your destiny. When you receive treatment on the meridians associated with your c.f., your acupuncturist supports you in transforming the deepest roots of any physical, emotional, mental or spiritual illness.

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The Laws of the 5 Elements

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The 5 elements in 5 element acupuncture manifest in known ways because they follow natural laws. These natural laws determine how the 5 elements interact and their relationships. Here are a two of the most important laws the 5 elements follow.

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The 5 Element Acupuncturist Uses the Law of Mother and Child

As we see all around us, every healthy mother nourishes and cares for her child. The same is true within the 5 elements. While the elements mutually arise in the subtle realms in a non-linear fashion, they also have specific nurturing relationships with each other.

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The Creative cycle is where we see the 5 element law of Mother-Child in action. Each element is considered the "mother" of another element, and each element is the "child" of another element. It looks like this:

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Water is the mother of Wood in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of healthy water feeding wood manifests when a person's empowerment (knowing oneself as powerful) fuels a healthy drive to initiate and follow through with tasks that serve a larger vision.

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Wood is the mother of Fire in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of healthy wood feeding fire manifests when forgiveness creates love and a greater feeling of connection with people.

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Fire is the mother of Earth in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of healthy fire feeding earth manifests when one's self-mastery naturally feeds one's giving to the poor.

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Earth is the mother of Metal in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of healthy earth feeding metal manifests when one's inner congruency (what you believe and feel is the basis for what you say and do) naturally creates inner and outer purity.

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Metal is the mother of Water in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of healthy metal feeding water manifests when a person lets go of something truly dear, and that letting go creates space for inner soul-searching and wisdom.

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These relationships are evident everywhere we look.

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Without Water, Wood is dry, brittle and inflexible.
i.e., without wisdom people become inflexible and limited in vision.

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Without Wood, Fire cannot burn.
i.e., without forgiveness how can there be love?

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Without Fire, Earth is wet, cold and barren.
i.e., without intimacy there is poor quality nurturing and mothering.

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Without Earth, Metal would not be able to form.
i.e., if we aren't engaged t in life we cannot become inspired.

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Without Metal, Water would be without its important trace minerals.
i.e., without receptivity how can there be wisdom?

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The 5 Element Acupuncture Law of Grandparent and Grandchild

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In cultures where extended families live within a single home, grandparents and grandchildren relate differently than is often seen today. In these cultures grandparents provide boundaries and structure for children still too young to be in school, while the parents are working to provide for the family.

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In this same way, the elements provide checks and balances for each other. The Control cycle is where we see the Law of Grandparent and Grandchild in action. Each element is considered the "grandparent" of another element, and each element is the "grandchild" of another element. It looks like this:

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Water controls Fire in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of water controlling fire in a healthy way manifests when water's power of concentration helps focus a scattered mind.

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Wood controls Earth in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of wood controlling earth in a healthy way manifests when wood's virtue of forward-moving action breaks through obsessive, non-productive thoughts.

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Fire controls Metal in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of fire controlling metal in a healthy way manifests when fire's virtue of doing the right thing at exactly the right time (propriety) enables a person to let go of something they are holding on to.

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Earth controls Water in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of earth controlling water in a healthy way manifests when earth's virtues of groundedness, centeredness and practicality alleviate panic and fear.

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Metal controls Wood in the 5 element acupuncture model.
An example of metal controlling wood in a healthy way manifests when metal's virtue of healthy letting go enables a person to forgive one who has hurt him or her.

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These relationships are evident everywhere we look.

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Without Water, Fire runs rampant.
i.e., without wisdom, intimacy can become given away inappropriately, resulting in excess vulnerability.

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Without Wood, Earth is destabilized (think of how tree roots help prevent mudslides).
i.e., without forward movement, nurturing and empathy can turn into worry.

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Without Fire, Metal is cold and unmalleable.
i.e., without love, righteousness can grow out of proportion into fanaticism.

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Without Earth, Water would flow without boundaries.
i.e., without a sense of service to the community, ambition and greed can run amuck.

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Without Metal, Wood would be untamable.
i.e., without the ability to let go, anger and arguments can continue for long past their usefulness.

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The 5 Element Acupuncturist View of the Human Spirit

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Chinese medicine considers the spirit the defining characteristic of the human being. It is what enables us to bridge heaven and earth, embodying the highest virtues of each, and integrating them within.

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A 5 element acupuncturist focuses on treating the spirit, because it is considered the highest form of medicine. Why? Because your spirit is the vital connection between you and the One (the underlying universal law whose nature is unity). Through deepening your relationship with the One, you become more present and able to authentically respond to each moment. Our bodies, hearts and minds naturally heal with this type of treatment.

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Many people find that their entire lives change when they receive spirit level treatment. They are able to open to their destinies in a new way, and they find happiness and personal fulfillment.

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A Little History

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The first written document which mentions the five elements in a medical context is the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (Nei Jing). This foundational work was written in 100 B.C. and is studied by acupuncture students of all traditions. Five Element theory is also evident within the I Ching (Book of Changes), which was written as early as 1100 B.C.

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In the 1970's, J.R. Worsley brought 5 element acupuncture to the United States. He described 5 element acupuncture as the classical method of acupuncture handed down by oral tradition from antiquity. To learn more about him and the development of five element acupuncture, read In the Footsteps of the Yellow Emperor by Peter Eckman.