Five Elements Theories & Relationships; CREATION (Mother-Child & !

E"TR#CTION (Control C$%les

Fire

Wood

Earth

Water

Metal

The 5 Elements
We can also understand the Elements as the basic ingredients necessary for organic life. In nature, we see that a plant comes from a seed (wood) and is nourished by soil (earth), air and minerals (metal), sunshine (fire), and water. In people, all of the Elements make life possible too: humans need earth beneath us, warmth, minerals and air, water and a genetic blueprint for life to be possible. A balanced relationship of each Element as well as their presence are necessary for life. he practitioner of !lassical "i#e$Element acupuncture in#igorates and supports our self$healing ability by bringing balance, harmony and wholeness to the fi#e Elements.

FIRE
Fire is epitomized by Summer, the most expansive phase of Natures y li flo!, a time !hen potentials are realized, life matures and a tivities are at their pea"# Fire brin$s all thin$s to fruition % the heat and !armth of this Element re$ulate the transformative po!er ne essary for all physiolo$i al pro esses# Fire is expressed in emotional !armth, love, humor, spontaneity, ompassion, &oy, humanity, fello!ship, e'uality, passion and intima y# Fire illuminates a!areness, learnin$, reason, intuition and insi$ht, and at a deep level the Fire Element reveals our apa ity to feel !armly onne ted to all bein$s# Notes(

E)RT*
The Earth Element embodies the harvest, a time for en&oyin$ the fruits of our labors# +ltimately, the Earth is the foundation, enter and provider of all nourishment, physi ally, the Earth Element is responsible for the di$estion and distribution of food and drin"# This Element also maintains the pro essin$ and transfer of information and ideas !hi h feed our minds and spirits# The nature of this Element is motherly, supportin$, sustainin$, and embra in$ un onditionally# The Earth Element fosters our ability to appropriately are for oneself and others, en oura$in$ stability, se urity, understandin$, ontentment, satisfa tion, abundan e, unity and pea e#

Notes(

-ET).
The risp, ool air and de ayin$ leaves of autumn hara terize the -etal Element# -etal exemplifies 'uality, purity, pre ision, brillian e and ri hness# In nature, the -etal Element is differentiated in the air, stones, metals and tra e minerals !hi h enri h the soil# This Element re$ulates respiration and elimination, blessin$ us !ith the ability to breathe and dispose of !aste and toxins# /n a non%physi al level, these in lude pride, vanity, arro$an e and filthy ideas !hi h an ontaminate the mind, and spirit# The emotion asso iated !ith -etal is $rief ,!hi h is felt !hen !e lose somethin$ of value# Nevertheless, a timely lettin$ $o of the old is ne essary for ne! ener$y, inspiration, value and a sense of hi$her purpose to enter# -etal ommands honor, virtue, respe t and defines our sense of self%!orth, $rantin$ us the ability to a "no!led$e and appre iate our humility and divine, radiant nature# Notes(

0)TER
0ater is hara terized by the rest, ina tivity and ontra tion refle ted in !inter# The ability to endure this season depends on the stores and reserves that have been

arefully set aside from our previous harvest# The 0ater Element $overns the urinary system and all aspe ts of the distribution and stora$e of !ater, it supplies fluidity, leansin$ and re&uvenation# )sso iated !ith the ones ener$eti reserves, po!er and innate potential of our $eneti inheritan e, 0ater marshals our ambition, drive and !illpo!er# Survival is threatened by a shorta$e or overabundan e of !ater, releasin$ fear, anxiety, and pani # This response prote ts life, ho!ever !hen fear is ex essive or absent !e tally in dan$er# ) balan ed ultivation of ones resour es reassures and allays fear from over!helmin$ our !isdom and inner alm# Notes(

0//1
Sprin$ arrives !ith a burst of life, demonstratin$ birth, re%a!a"enin$, $ro!th, reativity, enthusiasm and up!ard, for!ard and for eful movement# The 0ood Element, li"e a plant, or$anizes the other four Elements into a livin$ bein$ % plannin$, oordinatin$, and dire tin$ the seamless operation of all physiolo$i al pro esses# 0ood promotes a vision of our $oals and hopes for the future# 0hen the ener$y of 0ood is blo "ed, an$er and frustration arise# ) eptan e, surrender, for$iveness and "indness allo! for flexible and sound de isions as !ell as !ell dire ted self%assertion# This advan es $ro!th beyond the obsta les !e onfront# Notes(

2lassi al 5 Element ) upun ture Theory

For over 3,444 years, 2lassi al Five%Element ) upun ture has been used to effe tively treat and prevent all types of physi al and emotional imbalan es# It is one of the safest and most omprehensive systems of medi ine in the !orld# This system fo uses on restorin$ and stren$thenin$ a flo! of life ener$y at a deep level, the y le of life, or five Elements# This medi ine not only po!erfully en oura$es healin$ for the body, mind and emotions % it also supports an elevation of ons iousness and a!a"enin$ of the spirit# This an ient system of healin$ has been tau$ht in the oral tradition from $eneration to $eneration and brou$ht to the 0est by master a upun turist, 5#R# 0orsley .

2lassi al 5 Element ) upun ture Theory

62y le of 72RE)TI/N8 or Referred to as -other 2hild9

Notes;

2lassi al 5 Element ) upun ture Theory

62y le of 71ESTR+2TI/N8 or Referred to 72/NTR/.89

Notes;

2lassi al 5 Element ) upun ture Theory

Ge"erati"# C$%le

Co"trolli"# C$%le

SEASONS

CLIMATE
HEAT HUMIDITY DRYNESS COLD WIND

FORTIFIES
ARTERIES MUSCLES S IN!HAIR BONES LIGAMENTS

TASTE
BITTER SWEET PUNGENT SALTY SOUR

EMOTIONS
JOY SYMPATHY GRIEF FEAR ANGER

SOUNDS
LAUGHING SINGING WEEPING GROANING SHOUTING

ODOURS
SCORCHED FRAGRANT ROTTEN PUTRID RANCID

FIRE EARTH METAL WATER WOOD

SUMMER
LATE SUMMER

AUTUMN WINTER SPRING

2lassi al 5 Element ) upun ture Theory

-eridians(
he ancient !hinese created a map of the pathways by which our life energy flows throughout our system. hese pathways run on the torso, limbs, and head, on the surface as well as deeper in our bodies. hese pathways carry nourishing life energy (called Qi) to e#ery cell of our bodies. %ike our blood circulation, the circulation of &i energy can become blocked, restricted, or depleted, which leads to disease. In health, the flow &i energy is balanced, smooth, and strong.

The Liver Meridian

'ur internal organ systems, such as the %i#er, (tomach, and so on, are responsible for maintaining and sustaining life. )ecause of their highly #alued roles, the ancient !hinese called these systems the Officials. he 'fficials ha#e distinct functions, but they work together, coordinated as a team. Each 'fficial is connected to its own energy pathway. "or e*ample, the %i#er 'fficial is connected to the %i#er meridian. he meridian system is interconnected to allow &i to flow to all parts of the body, mind, and spirit, and also to enable the 'fficials to work together and support each other.

"or more information about:

+eart, (mall Intestine, ,ericardium, and hree +eater see "ire. (pleen and (tomach see Earth. %ungs and %arge Intestine see -etal. .idneys and )ladder see Water. %i#er and /allbladder see Wood.

) upun ture :oints

Acupuncture points are located along the course of the meridians. he practitioner uses #ery thin needles as well as moxa, a dried herb which is burned, to contact and affect the #ital &i energy of acupuncture points. he points can be used to not only free the flow of #ital &i energy in the meridians0 they also bring balance, strength and #itality to the 'fficials. Acupuncture points strengthen our spirit as well by freeing trapped life energy that is caught in unconscious patterns of dysfunction.

2onditions Treated by ) upun ture(

The 0orld *ealth /r$anization re o$nizes the ability of a upun ture and traditional /riental medi ine to treat over ;< ommon disorders in ludin$( /astrointestinal and Internal 1isorders, such as food allergies, peptic ulcer, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, nausea, #omiting, anore*ia, hypoglycemia, colitis, hemorrhoids, diabetes, and gastritis. 2ro$genital 1isorders 3 /ynecological 1isorders, such as stress incontinence, urinary tract infections, and se*ual dysfunction. irregular, hea#y, or painful menstruation, infertility, impotence, pel#ic inflammatory disease (,I1), #aginitis, morning sickness, induction of labor and premenstrual syndrome (,-(). 4espiratory 1isorders, such as emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, allergic rhinitis, hayfe#er, colds and flues, and bronchitis. 1isorders of the )ones, -uscles, 5oints and 6er#ous (ystem, such as arthritis, headaches, neuralgia, stroke, )ell7s ,alsy, cerebral palsy, polio, tempromandibular dysfunction ( -5), insomnia, di88iness, sciatica, and low back, neck and shoulder pain, sprains, postoperati#e pain. !irculatory 1isorders, such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis, ad#erse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy and anemia. 1ermatological 1isorders, such as ec8ema, acne, and herpes. Emotional and ,sychological 1isorders, including stress, insomnia, depression, and an*iety. Addictions, such as alcohol, nicotine and drugs. Eye, Ear, 6ose and hroat 1isorders, such as tinnitus, earaches, menier7s, deafness, poor eyesight, sinusitis, sorethroat. 9Note( Acupuncture is often effecti#e therapy for other chronic and painful debilitating disorders which ha#e no clear e*planation or origin.

=i >on$
&igong (pronounced chee gong, aka !hi .ung) means energy cultivation. It is a traditional !hinese practice of building, restoring, and circulating #ital life energy . &igong is belie#ed to ha#e originated o#er :,;;; years ago and, in !hina, millions of people practice daily in public parks in the morning hours. &igong reduces stress, cures and pre#ents disease, increases #itality, relie#es pain, and enhances mental clarity, wellbeing, and athletic performance. &igong also helps us to open to the li#ing energy of nature, earth, and the cosmos. In this way, it can act as a non$religious spiritual practice. &igong mo#ements are gentle and fluid and are practiced with inner awareness. &igong forms gently e*ercise and rela* the body, calm the mind, and allow for healing and transformation. here are countless styles of &igong $ some forms are new, while others are ancient and ha#e been passed down from generation to generation. &igong is often a foundation of the martial arts, where one<s power comes from one<s inner resource of &i. ai !hi ( ai=i), which originated in the >?th century, is both a type of &igong and a martial art. &igong is an important aspect of !hinese medicine because it easy to do by oneself or in a group. It is a #ery #aluable ad=unct to acupuncture and other healing modalities.