5 Elements

It’s hard to deny that we are a part of nature, the ecosystem, although a few of us have lost our way. Maybe that is why so many people are becoming drawn towards the revival of holistic healthcare such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM.

Its use of the Elements, Qi, Herbs, Bodywork, Nutrition, + Tai Chi feels “right” to us. Skeptics + believers alike. While it can be intimidating, TCM can be utilized for most physical + emotional ailments.

The practitioner treats every patient differently depending on the patient’s goals, emotional state, past traumas, time of the year, diet, + other factors. This is a complicated medicine so here is a brief overview of the 5 Elements to get us started. Series #1 Vol. #1

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, + Water.

This varies slightly from Ayurvedic Medicine: Water, Earth, Fire, Space, + Air.

These Elements are used to animate the body, its processes, and its imbalances. Each Element is associated with specific properties, organs, emotions, colors, tastes, and symptoms. Understanding these associations can help to restore balance and treat a variety of ailments.

Can you see yourself in any of these? We are a composite of all of these elements in varying percentages.

1: Wood

-Organs it Governs: Liver + Gallbladder

-Personality:  Fearless + Grounded

-Emotional Imbalance: Anger + Indecisive

-Most Common Ailments: Migraines + HBP + Menstrual Issues

2: Fire

-Organs it Governs: Heart + Pericardium + Small Intestines + Triple Burner (More of this later)

-Personality: High energy + Fast Paced

-Emotional Imbalance: Anxiety + Mania + Palpitations

-Most Common Ailments: Heart issues +

3: Earth

-Organs it Governs: Spleen + Stomach

-Personality: Mother Earth + Caring + Momma Bear

-Emotional Imabalance: Worry + Rumination

-Most Common Ailments: Digestive Issues + Ulcers + Acif Relfux

4: Metal

-Organs it Governs: Lung + Large Intestines

-Personality: Organized + Precise

-Emotional Imbalance: Sadness + Can’t Let go

-Most Common Ailments: Allergies + Asthma + Constipation

5: Water

-Organs it Governs: Kidneys + Bladder -Personality: Poets + Philosophers

-Emotional Imbalance: Fear + Depression

-Most Common Ailments: Low Back Pain + UTIs + Adrenal Fatigue

Famous Elemental Examples for a little bit of Levity! 

Dr. Kelly Eloise DAc