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Five Element Diagnosis
When all five elements are in balance each feeding into and being nourished by the others, health and harmony reign. If one is dominant, the energy is drained from the other elements.
What is meant by this? Wood element controls the earth by rooting the soil in its place and preventing erosion, while earth contains water by providing secure boundaries to prevent flooding. Water controls fire preventing it from blazing out of control, Fire controls Metal by keeping it flexible allowing it to be molded into different forms, Metal controls Wood by chomping down overgrowth to provide sufficient space for all forms of life to grow and thrive. Having said that most of feel a special affinity for one or two of the element types. Finding which we align with the most can help us work on balance in our lives.
The five elements may seem ethereal and impractical to apply to everyday life.
But in actuality this system influences personalities, physical vulnerabilities, emotional balance, and spiritual cravings.
Wood
Spring- Like a branch sprouting with new growth springs energy moves outward and upward. In spring we need to stay open and unrepressed to be a conduit for universal life-force energy for regeneration. Wood types are Leaders and Decision-makers.
Challenges- Wood types must guard against pushing forward excessively with many projects. An excess of wood will cause problems with anger issues, Migraines may be a problem, and a deficiency of wood energy will tend toward depression. Wood types have difficulties with what they need most which is smooth flow in their lives. Addictions may be a problem because at first substances seem to help them "go with the flow". Healthy patterns for wood types are relaxation techniques done daily such as meditation combined with gentle movement also done daily. Walking is the movement of wood, and the body type tends toward long lean musculature. In this person you may even be able to see their tendons even if they don't work out. Sour is the taste, a little helps cleanse the liver the temperamental organ of Wood. Oily food and excess sugar damages the liver.
Fire
Summer- Nature is in full-blown and most active this is the time to travel and throw yourself into creative projects. The energy moves up think of a bee-sting or summer heat stroke when the head just won't cool down. A fire person in balance is an expressive communicator who excludes love and joy with an open heart, which is the organ system associated. Fire types are needed to add spark in the initial stages of a project. However, out of balance a fire type often finds it challenging to follow through to the end. Since the energy of fire moves up disorders of the head may be common. This person blushes easily. Mental confusion, instability, or manic type behavior usually is attributed to a fire imbalance. The activity of Fire is dancing and can help them express their intensity in a healthy way. Without an outlet fire tops can blow their tops wasting precious energy which leaves them exhausted. In moderation bitter foods will squelch fire. Spicy foods aggravate an excess fire person. Ironically a person who has too much of an element in their nature may crave what is excess in them because it seems familiar.
Earth
The season is late summer or "Indian summer" that period of flux between seasons. Earth also is the element associated with the 15 days surrounding equinoxes and solstices. The purpose of Earth is to center or literally ground the other elements, an individual or group of people. The picture of this element is the earth mother embodied in a woman or a man. These people like to feed others and enjoy creating a stable home filled with creature comforts. Earth people like to spread out into space and find it easy to accumulate possessions. It is easy for them to gain weight and more difficult for them to take it off. Sweets may be their downfall or people needing earth energy will crave the sweet taste. Sometimes earth people have the tendency to be over nurturing not allowing others the space to grow and learn to meet their own needs. Earth also may get "stuck in the mud" or mentally stuck in a mildly or extreme obsessive pattern. The natural inclination of earth people is to sit. Earth people can calmly teach other element types who find it hard to sit still learn that it is okay to just be sometimes. But earth people who struggle with weight may also find it hard to exercise since their constitution likes to stay still. Since the season of harvest is an earth time so are some of the foods associated with this period such as, squash, pumpkins, potatoes, whole grains, carrots, turnips and other root vegetables. Foods cooked in earthenware containers or baked also imbue earth qualities. A little spice such as curry, cardamom, fennel, ginger or cinnamon helps move stuck energy in earth and will improve digestion.
Metal
Metals season is autumn a time to organize the essentials for winter. The metal person in balance is the discriminating organizer. Knowing what to throw out and importantly what to hold on to is their purpose. The Lungs and the large intestine are the organs associated holding and sorting good air and nutrients and getting rid of waste. He or she has no problem sorting out clothes for the good will and little problem pruning the bushes and trees. All visual artists have a little metal in them to help them decide which materials, colors and techniques they should choose to create the desired effect. If you have ever watched squirrel in the spring and the fall you'll notice a distinct difference in their behavior. They are active in both seasons but in the fall they are more methodical and less noisy than in the spring. A metal person is very focused on creating order and can seem aloof or cold like the feel of metal even if they are not. Out of balance they have a hard time deciding whether to hold onto or let go of possessions. They may lose their keys a lot or become too attached to things or people. The metal is responsible for the proper expression of grief. If there are problems with letting go an acupuncturist will focus on the lungs. The activity of the Metal is standing either with arms by the side or straight out on either side which strengthens the lungs. The flavor is pungent like onions or garlic. Too much mucus producing foods injury metal.
Water
The season of water is winter. The energy is said to move in and down. A time for reflection and resolution the Water type is a courageous visionary who is compassionately assertive. The kidneys the organ system associate are extremely important in Chinese Medicine. They house energy combined from heaven and earth called Jing translated as will. This quality of this energy when we are born, that of our parents and our maintenance of it determines the length and quality of our life according to Chinese thought.. The kidneys are prized and protected especially from cold, stress, poor diet, and excessive lifestyles. The Chinese have a piece of winter clothing worn, in addition, to what we wear called a kidney warmer. It is a warm wrap worn around the low back and groin. In balance this person is drawn to philosophy and deep thinking. Out of balance this person has problems with anxiety, fear and or will-power. Many acupuncturists recognize that our modern lifestyle does damage to the kidneys so even if you are not a water type most people in our society could stand to send a little love and attention to their kidneys or water energy. The salty flavor nourishes the kidneys in moderation, beans, nuts, seaweed, miso soup are said to be salty beneficial foods. Cold foods and beverages,and sitting on the ground without a blanket in the cold or damp both damage the kidneys. People who are gravely ill or have had a life of hard living have a particular look that is associated with water deficiency. Dried ,shriveled complexion with deep sunken eyes. Dark circles are associated with water element that needs tonification. Either from lifestyle adjustments or medicine.
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