5 Elements

The 5 Element Story

Acupuncture – as do many ancients medical systems, take into account the five elements in the system - they are fire, earth, metal, water and wood. These five elements are used to relate to the movements and the changes that the Qi energy makes in the body’s mind and spirit. The five elements are also used to represent the specific aspects or the phases of the movements of energy in the physical body and the natural world as well as in our mind and in our spirit.

One thing that you should always remember is that every living things is energy and everyone is affected by the world that we live in and connected to the world that we live in. Take the weather for example - in the coolness that accompanies the winter months, we have to dress appropriately. During the winter months, it gets darker earlier and stays darker longer. In the winter months, we also tend to stay inside more often.

So, just how does this affect our energy? During each season, our energy is affected in a different way. As the environment around us changes, we are known to respond to the ever changing effects that it has on our body, our mind and our spirit as well as our health, moods and diet. It is when we respond to these changes in a way that relates to nature that we are able to stay healthy.

There are five elements that are recognized by the Chinese which are:

• earth
• fire 
• water
• wood
• metal

These five elements are the elements of change and they correspond with the energy that each season has. Just like the different seasons, our body has to transition from one season to the next in a corresponding manner.

If you go from winter straight to summer, it is going to create an imbalance. One thing that you have to keep in mind about balance is that it is really not all about being level or still. Balance in turn is about the constant movement of energy that takes place in a specific pattern which keeps you healthy and strong. It is when energy stops or movement stops that there is a disease or stagnation.

The following table shows the interaction, cycles and characteristics of the 5 Elements

Wellness is not able to maintain its flow if one is actually stuck or stagnant or even indignant. One thing that you will learn about the nature of balance in relationship to acupuncture and the five element story is that it is all about continual change as well as transformation. The elements are able to explain in detail the complete cycle and just how relationships and the different patterns of the energy are able to unfold.

If you want to find these elements, all you have to do is look outdoors. If you want to find these elements, you have to look at the world that you live in and take a walk. Keep in mind that there are actually very specific qualities that the elements correspond to. Every one of the elements is known to correspond with a season, time, direction, meridian, emotion, sound or color.