An Introduction to the Five Elements

Five Elements is a theory used by some acupuncturists, including me, to treat patients at a uniquely root level. It is an effective treatment for emotional as well as physical difficulties that may be present as a result of Qi imbalance. So what does it all mean?

Five Element theory, simply put, works on the basis that an individual has a natural propensity for weakness in a particular element. In other words, if you’re a bit below par, where does it normally hit you? It might be you suffer with your digestion, or migraines, or lower back ache. This will be in line with your element, or your ‘constitutional factor’.

Each element consists of the Qi of two paired organs and are named, somewhat lyrically, as follows:

Fire (Heart and Small Intestine)

Earth (Spleen and Stomach)

Metal (Lung and Large Intestine)

Water (Kidney and Bladder)

Wood (Liver and Gall Bladder)

Typical problems that might occur as a result of element imbalance include:

Fire – palpitations (meaning ‘awareness of one’s heartbeat’), fatigue, lack of joy/low mood

Earth – bloating, abnormal appetite (either excessive or non-existent), feeling of bodily weakness, loose bowels

Metal – shortness of breath, cough, tendency to catch colds, feelings of grief

Water – sore weak back and/or knees, anxiety, problems with urination, infertility

Wood – dizziness, inflamed tendons, headaches, irregular menstrual cycle

It’s also possible to deduce a person’s element simply by observing them. This is a massive subject, and more of this to follow! But here are some basic things to look out for:

Fire – a laughing voice, a red face, particularly at the corner of the eyes, a need to be with other people, a scorched smell similar to that of ironing

Earth – a sing-song voice, yellow may be visible at the skin at the corners of the eyes, giving and receiving sympathy - sometimes too much or too little, a smell described as ‘fragrant’, which may be cloying

Metal – a quiet voice that ‘weeps’, white around the eyes, an inability to process grief, a ‘rotten’ smell (sorry, Metals)

Water – a voice with a groaning quality, blue at the corner of the eyes, a tendency towards fear and, consequently, a drive to control, a ‘putrid’ smell (sorry, Waters)

Wood – a voice with a shout or a regular emphasis, green around the eyes, a tendency towards anger or irritability, a strong sense of justice, a ‘rancid’ smell (sorry, Woods)

All of these can help a practitioner identify an individual’s element and treat them appropriately.

More blogs on the individual elements and their qualities to follow, including how to answer the inevitable ‘What element am I?’ question! Watch this space ...