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SECRETS TO Balanced, Healthy Living
Harnessing the Power of the 5 Elements Carolyn Joy White, PhD • Dr. Lisa Lewis, ND, LAc Kimberley Smith Lukhard, MS, RD, LDN • Penelope Elfin
CONTENTS Welcome to the Five Elements......................................................................... 3 Author Biographies........................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Power of the Five Elements............................................................. 6 Chapter 2: Chinese Medicine, Health, and Five Element Diagnosis................ 18 Chapter 3: The Five Elements and Nutritional Balance................................... 33 Chapter 4: The Flow of Your Life and the Five Elements................................. 46 Summary: The Next Step Forward.................................................................. 58
5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Dear Reader, You are about to embark on a journey of life as experienced through The Five Elements. The authors here will show you how to feel good as you approach your day, your health and your spiritual desires so you radiate with the flow of energy. They will demonstrate how you can balance The Five Elements for physical wellness and harmony, lifestyle and nutrition. The Five Elements model can take you deeper in a number areas of life and, overall, help you learn to live a life in harmony and balance, or, as ancient ones said it, “life in the flow.” Get prepared to get direction on what you can do to live a more balanced life—with The Five Elements and these authors. Absorb their words and take advantage of their wisdom—the balance you feel will make you glad you did! My best,
Donna Kozik 2-time award winning author www.AuthorFast.com
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Author Biographies Carolyn Joy White, PhD Carolyn Joy White, PhD, metaphysical educator and energy therapist, is a Certified Aura Video Station Consultant as well as a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy (DCH), a Certified Spiritual Counselor (CSC), and an International Hypnosis Federation Certified Instructor (CHI). She is a Reiki Master, a certified reflexologist, and author of Think It->Say It->Be It: Use Your Words to Change Your Life. To learn more, visit www.ChakraCoach.com.
Dr. Lisa Lewis, ND, LAc Dr. Lisa Lewis is a leading Naturopathic Physician, acupuncturist, healthy living expert, and author. She is the owner of the Lewis Healing Institute and co-owner of NatureDrs—Nutritional Supplement and Wellness Company. Dr. Lewis is a Bastyr University graduate providing insightful knowledge combined with simple, practical strategies to help people relieve stress, and live healthy, vibrant lives using Natural Medicine. Look for her new book, Stop Stressing Me Out: 7 Strategies to Overcome Overwhelm and Conquer Disease Naturally, at www.DrLisaLewis.com.
Kimberley Smith Lukhard, MS, RD, LDN Kim is a registered dietitian, counselor, and teacher. She is a faculty member in the department of nutrition at East Carolina University. She is the author of the forthcoming book Eat, Skate, Win: 7 Steps for Your Youth Hockey Star to Eat Like a Champion. Visit http://KimLukhard.com for your nutritional needs.
Penelope Elfin Penelope Elfin is an empowerment expert and facilitator of people’s soul journeys and author of the now published book Dig Deep and Fly High: Reclaim Your Zest and Vitality, Loving You from Inside Out. Penelope Elfin’s early poor health sparked her journey into inner self-discovery. She works with individuals and groups, and is passionate about supporting others on their own inner personal journey. For her contact details, check out her website, www.YourSpiritualMama. com, and receive your free e-book now: Step Up, Step Out: Your World is Waiting.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
—CHAPTER 1—
POWER OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS Carolyn Joy White, PhD Chinese Symbol for Joy
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Chapter 1: Power of the Five Elements introduces you to the universal energies of Nature. These energies are constantly ebbing and flowing, ever changing yet remaining true to their “nature.” You are about to embark on a voyage of discovery and learning—discovering the essence of the Five Elements and learning how your awareness of these energies promotes balanced, healthy living.
Chapter Author Biography Carolyn White, PhD, metaphysical educator and energy therapist, is the author of Think It_>Say It -> Be It: Use Your Words to Change Your Life. Carolyn’s passion for learning about our Human Energy System (HES) and the mind/body/spirit connection spans over four decades, during which time she sought out mentors who were both wise and pure of heart. As a result of this pursuit, Carolyn is a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy (DCH), a Certified Spiritual Counselor (CSC), and an International Hypnosis Federation Certified Instructor (CHI). She is also a Reiki Master, Reflexologist, and a Certified Aura Video Station Consultant. She has certification in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy, and color therapy. In 2007, Carolyn completed a doctoral program that awarded her a PhD in esoteric studies from American Pacific University. According to Carolyn, all energy therapies need to be practical and practiced. Her teaching focuses on employing the three H’s—head, hands, and heart—as the basic tools of energy medicine. Her personal journey after a serious motor vehicle accident in 2008 reaffirmed the healing power of energy medicine. She is a contributing co-editor for energy medicine at AllThingsHealing.com, where she shares her light, love, and laughter—the “best” energy medicine! Visit Carolyn at her website at www.ChakraCoach.com.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
It’s Elemental: 5 Keys to Health and Happiness Want to learn more about your energy? For your FREE Five Element questionnaire, email:
[email protected] ü Take this multiple choice survey to learn more about yourself and your Energy System. ü Discover Your Lead Element and how it can help you be happy and healthy. ü Learn simple, effective ways to access the Energy of Your Lead Element. ü Find out how you can clear and balance your energy through the Five Elements. ü Plus receive a link to my relaxation audio!
Receive Your FREE Five Element questionnaire and Discover It’s Elemental: 5 Keys to Health and Happiness E-mail
[email protected] with the subject line: “Five Elements - Give me more!”
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Chapter 1: Power of the Five Elements What do you want out of life? If you are like most people that I work with, you want to feel good. You want to feel good when you get up in the morning, feel good about getting a restful night’s sleep, and feel good about what you say and do on a daily basis. When you feel good, you approach every day radiating and glowing with energy. Feeling good arises from the state of wellness. What is wellness? Wellness is a healthy balance of your mind, body, and spirit. Wellness is about being a whole person, balanced in all aspects of your life. What compass, what guidelines, can assist you in finding a balanced life? Ancient wisdom—from the Hindus, Egyptians (Hermetic), Greeks, Chinese, and aboriginal cultures—realized that the cycle and rhythms of nature provided metaphors for living in harmony and balance. This ancient wisdom viewed that dis-ease resulted from an imbalance of physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and/or environmental factors. The “metaphors” for harmonious living were classified into five basic Elements of life. There is a universal, cross correspondence between the Elements and their qualities in each tradition. Each Element has an animating principle behind it, a color, a sound, and specific characteristics. The concept of the Elements is probably as ancient as humankind is. The American aboriginals, Chinese, Hindus, and the founding civilizations of Western culture all shared this idea. Perhaps the tradition of the Elements arose from what may be one of humanity’s most characteristic behavior patterns: the desire to classify things and seeks answers. Remarkably, each culture, from East to West, developed similar concepts regarding the elements. Essentially, the model of the Elements successfully served as a blueprint for wellness—that connectivity among body, mind, and spirit. This idea promoted a holistic view of your human experience. Over the centuries, the lineage of the Five Elements was either lost or perverted. When aboriginal cultures were conquered, many of their ancient traditions were lost. The ancient Western wisdom schools from Egyptian (Hermetic) lineage were distilled by political and religious subjugations. The Hindus and the Chinese maintained and developed a system of wellness based on the Five Elements, with the Chinese further refining their techniques to integrate this knowledge into a comprehensive “wellness” system, which evolved into Traditional Chinese Medicine. Medicine: “The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.” “Prevention of disease” = what is used to maintain wellness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a model for your wellness in the five principles of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal— “Wu Xing.” Westerners often translate “Wu Xing” as the Five Elements, although the word “xing” connotes “changing states of being,” “permutations,” or “metamorphoses of being.” Think of these Five Elements as the “Five Changes.”
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS “The only thing constant in life is Change.” –François de la Rochefoucauld TCM arose from centuries of observing nature. Practitioners watched the natural cycles of the universe, ever changing with consistency. TCM determined that the constants of nature’s cycles are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Each one was perceived as a different quality of interdependent energy in a state of constant interaction and flux with one another. This constant interaction is comparable to the swing of a pendulum. Each side of the “swing” has a yin and yang “side.” Every organism in the universe has a “yin” and “yang” aspect. Yin is the feminine side, and signifies contraction and the “dark side of the hill.” It is the feminine energy of intuition, receptivity, quiet, nurturing, and integration. Earth and Water are yin energies. Yang energy is the masculine and expanding force of the universe. It is the active, expansive, and “light side of the hill,” the principle of manifesting. To maintain the flow and balance of energies, you must seek to keep the “pendulum” moving. You need to maintain a balance of your mind, body, and spirit between your expansive energy (yang) and your quiet inner processes (yin). If you spend your days contemplating at home only thinking and planning (yin), you remain insular and never act on your dreams. If you act and react in the outer world (yang) and do not listen to your inner wisdom (yin), you become susceptible to the ideas and whims of others. If you expand your business too fast without examining its inner workings, it will probably contract or fail. Living a balanced life between contraction and expansion assists you in creating harmony and wellness. Understanding the nature of the “five changes” helps you to maintain the “swing” of the pendulum and become aware of the flow of these energies in your life. If you recognize and understand the interaction of these energy patterns, you can maintain a life of balance and of wellness. In TCM the Five Elements follow the universal energy patterns of yin and yang. Water is considered to be energy gathering and sinking; Wood is energy expanding; Fire is energy rising; Earth is energy stabilizing; Metal is energy solidifying. The Western philosophical traditions, as previously mentioned, share the concept of the Five Elements. These Five Elements are Water, Air, Fire, Earth, and Ether. The first four Elements represent the essence of the material world while Ether is the source of “All That Is.” Many similarities exist between the TCM Elements and their Western counterparts. These correspondences and differences will emerge as you learn about each Element. As you read about each Element, reflect on the essence of each. Is there something about the Element that resonates with your inner being? Do you feel a connection with the principles? Do you see the wisdom of each Element? Can you relate each Element to your life?
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Water Water flows from above and sinks into the earth; hence, it is energy gathering and descending, or receding. As yin energy, it is soft, flowing, and yielding; yet Water can overcome Fire, Wood, Earth, and rock (Metal). Water is cleansing. Life on Earth evolved from Water. Without Water, life does not exist. Out of control Water, in the form of a flood, devastates and transforms the landscape. Water destroys as well as creates. What lessons can you learn from Water? Water symbolizes the flow of life. In Western philosophy, the principle of Water represents your emotions. Think of emotion as “E”-motion—i.e., energy (E) in motion. What is “energy”? By definition, it is “the capacity for work or vigorous activity; vigor; power; a source of usable power, such as petroleum or coal (or the Universe!).” Energy is intangible. You know that it “exists” as you observe the “work” it does as measured by the resulting phenomena. You see the word “energy” frequently talked about in the context of self-help, self-awareness, and spiritual teachings. TCM references “Chi” or “Qi” as the life force energy that sustains the essence of every living creature. Qi is said to be everywhere in the Universe; Qi is omnipresent. What, then, is this “energy” and how can you harness it? Have you ever attended a team-sporting event in a stadium—perhaps a football, baseball, or soccer game? Maybe you have gone to a hockey or basketball game in a large auditorium. The venue is almost at capacity, with the majority of the seats occupied by loyal hometown fans. You notice that the local fans are waving flags, banners, and towels. They are cheering and clapping, and you hear lots of noise. Your nose tells you that these fans are consuming the limited stadium menu of popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels, beer, etc. You are experiencing “something”—a palpable “energy” almost like electricity in the air. All of these Elements combine to create an energy form called “home field advantage.” Sport statistics bear witness to the home field (or home ice/home court) advantage. Teams generally have a higher winning percentage when they play at home with the support of their fans. If a team doesn’t have a loyal and supportive fan base (i.e., the team can’t attract people to fill the seats), their home winning percentage decreases. There are not enough bodies to create that powerful home field advantage energy form. Winter is Water’s season, when it appears that all nature is dormant. When Water sinks into the earth, it seems to disappear, gathering in underground aquifers. Like Water, your emotions remain unseen, with a lot going on below the surface, until they emerge. To maintain health and balance, Water needs to stay in motion. Water must flow and be channeled such that it sustains life. Are you afraid to express your emotions? What happens when Water freezes? It ceases to move. When Water does not flow, it loses its creative and growth energy. Fear of expression stops the movement. What happens when Water stagnates? Like a swamp, all types of overgrowth accumulate. Do you hold in your emotions? What happens when Water backs up behind a dam and it breaks? An instant, uncontrollable amount of Water gushes forth, randomly wreaking havoc on all in its path.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Water is the great purifier. It has the ability to collect and filter impurities; hence, TCM associates the kidneys and bladder with Water. These organs, if functioning in harmony with the rest of the body, remove toxins and waste. As Water follows its nature of gathering, consider what emotions you are gathering. Are you clearing toxic emotions, such as fear, every day? Spiritual mentors suggest that there are only two basic emotions: fear and love. What is fear? Fear is really a future projection, often with an irrational emotional charge. You are projecting that something unpleasant might happen to you and you do not know what or when. It can be “False Evidence Appearing Real.” In other words, when you experience fear, you are living in the future and ignoring the present. Hate, anger, worry, arrogance, and sadness—other toxic emotions—are the offspring of fear. Hate and anger arise when you perceive potential harm coming from another person. Worry comes from the fear of a worst-case scenario. Arrogance often hides fear. Sadness is the fear that you cannot cope with a loss. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate Thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you....” –Matthew 5:43–44 Love is the way to sustain your Water Energy-in-Motion. Love channels a clear path for Water and keeps it moving and flowing. Love is the great antidote to toxic emotions. When you first arise, look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I love you!” Live with the attitude of love. True love knows no judgment. True love creates wisdom.
Wood Wood is the Element of the liver and gall bladder. In TCM, the liver is the “master controller,” as it regulates the flow of Qi through the body. The liver holds the ethereal soul, that eternal aspect of our spirit, which leaves the body with the spirit at the time of physical passing. This soul, or “Han” in Chinese, returns to the Primordial Void, or the source of all. As the liver is the Yin organ, the gall bladder signifies the Yang energy, as its energy is more regulating and planning, both logical, left-brain activities. There is no direct equivalency to “Wood” in the system of Western Elements. The Hermetic tradition suggests that Western philosophy probably combined what TCM considered as the essence of Wood with Fire, as both represent expansive energies. In the classic Tarot deck, the symbolism of the “wand”— wooden staffs with tree leaves—that is associated with the Fire Element evidences this link between Fire and Wood. Spirit is also a key interpretation of the “wands” cards of the Tarot. The “wands” of the Tarot deck evolved into the suit of “clubs,” an object traditionally created from wood. Wood is the energy of early spring, that time when the trees are budding and new life is emerging from the ground. This is the time of birth, a time of expansion. Energy and enthusiasm symbolize Wood. Think of a tree, sending out its roots and shooting its branches toward the heavens. Do you reach out, like the tree, with the positive emotions of generosity and kindness? Like the growing tree, these emotions are examples of energy expanding and reaching out to touch others.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS A natural, precise form is inherent in the growth pattern of the tree. There is a natural rhythm, a “schedule,” which the tree must follow if it is to be true to its nature. The tree grows according to its nature yet it needs to be flexible, to yield and bend in high winds. While growing, a tree needs space to expand. If you want to cultivate relationships or material aspects such as a career, you have to provide the space and the time in your life for these to flourish. Do you trim back what you don’t need? Like a tree, pruning promotes optimum growth. Get rid of the dead Wood! The growth and expansion of the Wood Element can also feed anger, the antithesis of kindness. Anger arises as a natural response to a situation that is not desirable for you or those close to you. It could also be how you react to injustice toward others. If you do not channel your anger into a constructive path of action, this volatile energy can adversely affect your health. Excessive anger, jealousy, rage, frustration, or stress causes the stagnation of Qi, which creates an acidic blood condition. (Remember: The liver is the body’s regulator of Qi.) When you experience anger, do you become so inflexible that you snap like the branch of an ailing tree? If something isn’t working in your life, does your rage keep growing until it is out of control? In order to stop the growth of anger, cultivate the positive energy of Wood—kindness. Anger can be turned around and healed by forgiving all parties, including you. When you forgive yourself for participating in the conflict that perpetrated the anger, you release the toxic energy that harms your body, mind, and spirit. When you forgive your adversaries, you send a powerful message that can transform an enemy into an admirer. “Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.” –Sidney and Suzanne Simon Forgiveness is the ultimate act of kindness.
Fire The height of summer expresses the Fire energy. It is the time of radiant sunshine and growth. Both Western philosophy and TCM share a similar view of Fire in that it symbolizes the rising and expansion of energy. In Western tropical astrology, the height of the summer constitutes the sign of Leo, the Lion. The Lion represents qualities of strength and pride. If pride is not balanced with an appreciation of one’s connection to the universe and All That Is, then pride evolves into arrogance. Leo also represents the qualities of the Sun. The Sun, as the center of the solar system, radiates life-giving light and energy. If the sun did not shine, there would be no life on Earth. Yet, if you approached the Sun in a ship, the ship would perish and you with it. Fire provides warmth and energy to cook food, providing sustenance. A fire contained in a campfire makes available a place to get warm and enjoy the taste of cooked food. A fire that is out of control can burn and destroy all in its path.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS In TCM, Fire is the Element of the heart and small intestine. TCM refers to the heart as the “chief,” as it regulates the flow of all your internal organs via the blood flow. Spiritually, the heart is the seat of your soul, the direct link to the Creator. The small intestine separates the pure from the waste of what you consume. Psychologically, it discerns what is worthwhile from what is extraneous in your life. Fire represents your physical expressiveness, aggressiveness, and yang (masculine) energy. Fire stimulates an existing condition and prepares it for transformation. It is the Sun—the light of life. Fire is latent in all things created yet it can be the source of destruction and disintegration. Fire is the essence behind the human will. If it is weak, there will be a lack of will and a poor sense of direction. In the material world, the expansive qualities of Fire provide spiritedness, joy, passion, and a sense of purpose. Suppressed Fire can manifest as covert hostility, a lack of motivation, and an inability to take action. Excessive Fire may promote ulcers, fevers, and some types of infections. Some of the positive expressions of Fire are activity, enthusiasm, eagerness, courage, daring, resolution, productivity, and visual inspiration. On the negative side are gluttony, arrogance, jealousy, irritability, intemperance, and a predisposition to destruction. Do you use your Fire energy to expand joy and purpose in this life? Do you think that you are more important than others are, using your Fire energy to destroy others, in order to make yourself look good? A precursor to heart disease is an angry, hostile heart. Remember: Your “stuff” forms the basis of disease. A heart surgeon that studied with Taoist Energy practitioner Mantak Chia reported that patients who succumbed to heart disease had hearts that looked like they were cooked. In TCM, the pericardium, which surrounds the heart, absorbs heat and releases this heat through the meridians. This evidence of a cooked heart muscle led Mantak Chia to conclude that, in cases of a heart attack, the heart and pericardium were “overheated” by angry, destructive thoughts and emotions. This excessive heat, or Fire, leads to heart disease. How do you “cool down” the excessive heat of Fire? Practice joy and love. Focus on your passion and find your purpose in your life. Be discerning of how you “spend” your energy. Like the positive energy of the Sun, radiate warmth and compassion. Use your energy to grow in a positive way. Be kind and love, love, love! Love others, love your life, and love what you do!
Earth Earth is stabilizing and grounding energy. This is the Element of the stomach, spleen, and pancreas, all involved with digestion. The Earth Element represents the time of the harvest, the reaping of what has been sown in the early fall. Earth is the fundamental Element and the mother of all creation. In Western philosophy, the basic two Elements of Fire and Water form Earth, neutralized by the Air principle. When the interaction of the first three Elements is limited in space, the results are gravity, density, weight, and time. Essentially, weight is the appearance of the attractive power of the Earth, which is gravity. The polarity of Earth’s fluids—the balance of yin and yang—is electromagnetic energy. Earth exemplifies the most grossly material Element.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS As Earth is the solidification of previous Elements, it rules the physical plane and, as such, is responsible for support and strength. Earth, whose color is yellow-brown, has the effect of holding together the body. As an expression of consciousness, it signifies the union of the other Elements in your ego and the attendant instincts of self-preservation and propagation of your Earthly spirit. The Earth Element imparts reliability and dependability, while suppressing the qualities of Earth manifests insecurity. Excessive earth promotes rigidity and a dogmatic outlook. This Element helps you to slow down, to be patient, and to be “grounded.” Some of Earth’s positive qualities are endurance, respectability, resolution, infallibility, resistance, thoroughness, concentration, objectivity, responsibility, and self-assuredness. On the negative side, Earth can manifest in worry, insipidity, unscrupulousness, misanthropy, tardiness, laziness, unreliability, and laconism. The energetic nature of Earth—stability and grounding—is often missing in contemporary life. The Western lifestyle lends itself to stress and chaos. You compromise your Earth energy by excessive worrying, anxiety, shame, guilt, and self-pity. Worry and anxiety—the fear of what may happen—erode your peace of mind. When you worry, you are living in the future. When you live in the future, you are not grounded in the “here and now.” Anxiety frets about what is to be. What if I fail? Anxiety projects the fear of failure into your future. This wisdom of TCM associates the Earth Element with the organs of digestion. What you feed your body is just as important as what you feed your mind and spirit. Sometimes, it’s not what you eat—it’s what eats you! Happy, joyous, and positive thoughts about the future are far better “mind food” for creating a happy, healthy outcome. It’s okay to have future dreams and projections of what you would like in your life. The best way to realize these dreams is to be grounded in the “here and now” and project only positive, joyful intentions.
Metal Metal is another one of the “Five Changes” that has no direct equivalence in Western philosophy. The symbolism of the classic Tarot suggests that Metal is an aspect of Earth as “metal” coins represent the Earth Element. In Hermetic tradition, the alchemist sought to create “gold,” the most precious metal of all, out of lead stone (Earth.) This was the ultimate attainment of wisdom and enlightenment. In TCM, Metal is energy solidifying. It is the time after the harvest—the late fall of the year. After the harvest, you reflect on what has been. It is the time to rest and reevaluate. How did the harvest turn out? Was it bountiful and joyous? Did you have any regrets about what seeds you earlier planted? Do you lament on what was? Do you have the courage to learn and release the past? When something ends—a project, a relationship, a business, or even the loss of a partner or loved one— a feeling of sadness may occur. It is natural to experience grief. The suppression or retention of sadness and grief negatively affects the lungs and large intestines, organs associated with Metal.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS The lungs circulate air, bringing Qi into the body. Inspiration and expiration are the natural functions of the lungs. If you don’t follow this cycle, your body ceases to function. The large intestine excretes the body’s waste. What no longer serves you is processed and eliminated via the large intestine. What happens if you don’t have at least one bowel movement per day? Grief is a natural response to a loss. Excessive grief and sadness, unless released, lead to despondency and depression. Whereas TCM views depression as a primary imbalance of the Metal Element, Western psychiatric medicine diagnoses depression as a disease. Prescription anti-depressant drugs only serve to mask the core issues behind depression. If you listen to your body’s wisdom; it will tell you when the emotions of grief and sadness no longer serve you. You need to process and eliminate these feelings in order to be physically and mentally healthy. Metal is all about courage—the courage to go beyond mourning a loss and accepting that life is all about cycles. It takes courage to overcome the inertia resulting from the depths of sorrow. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, to go beyond what has been. Breathing exercises are a great way to connect with the life flow of Qi. Here is a “Playercise” from my book, Think It -> Say It -> Be It: Use Your Words to Change your Life.
Four Square Breath Breathing is one of the few automatic bodily functions that you can control with your conscious mind. To a point, you can decide how long to inhale, to hold your breath, and when to exhale. Paying attention to your breathing helps you connect to the present time. The Four Square Breath Playercise aligns, balances, and centers your energy. This breath additionally relaxes you. It’s easier to learn new things when you are relaxed. You can use this breath at anytime, anywhere, especially before your other Playercises. The Four Square Breath is based on an ancient principle of balance between the four Elements: Water, Air, Fire, and Earth. Basically, you inhale through your nose to a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four, exhale for a count of four through your mouth, making a soft “HA” sound, and hold your breath for a count of four. The sequence of the breath looks like this:
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS The “Inhalation” breath represents the energy of Water as it is flowing in to your body. The “Hold” of your breath after inhalation represents the Element of Air. As you hold this breath, the Air energy brings the energy to your head. The “Exhale” breath represents the Element of Fire. As you exhale through your mouth with a soft HA sound, think of a martial artist exhaling the force of their energy as they slam their hand through a board and break it. This is “power”! The “Hold” of your breath after exhalation represents the Element of Earth. Earth energy is very grounding. The first time you do the Four Square Breath Playercise, repeat the “square” pattern for four cycles. Each time you do this Playercise increase the numbers of “square” repetitions. A word about breathing for centering: The greatest benefit from breathing patterns occurs when you take a deep abdominal, or belly, breath. Singers and wind instrument musicians refer to this as a diaphragmatic breath, as the diaphragm expands down and outward on the inhalation and pushes up on the exhalation. Since the lungs completely fill with air, the belly expands outward. When the breath is exhaled, the belly pushes inward and up. Little babies naturally breathe in this manner as well as most people when they are lying down. To check for if you are doing this belly breath, look at yourself in a mirror, paying attention to your shoulders. Take a deep breath. If your shoulders move up, you are filling your lungs only in the upper chest area. Take your hand and place it on your abdomen. If your hand moves outward with your inhalation and in with your exhalation, you are doing the belly breath! When you breathe this deep belly breath, you are bringing more oxygen into your body. Oxygen allows your cells to radiate a steady, gentle heat. This in turn enables the body to process food and rid itself of waste products faster. Your brain is more efficient and your heart and blood stream are healthier. The breath supports the words that you speak as they flow from your thoughts to the outside world. Maintaining a regular practice of the Four Square Breath (and other centering breathing patterns) keeps you balanced and the additional oxygen is beneficial to your health.
Resources Find Your Friggin’ Joy by Belinda Farrell (Balboa Press, 2012) Emotional Wisdom: Daioy Tools for Transforming Anger, Depression, and Fear by Mantak Chia and Dena Saxer (New World Library, 2009) Think It -> Say It -> Be It: Use Your Words to Change Your Life by Carolyn White, PhD (Balboa Press, 2013) Your Hidden Symmetry: How Your Birth Date Reveals the Plan for Your Life by Jean Haner (Hay House, 2013)
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—CHAPTER 2—
CHINESE MEDICINE, HEALTH, AND THE FIVE ELEMENT DIAGNOSIS Dr. Lisa Lewis, ND, LAc Chinese Symbol for Health
5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Chapter 2: Chinese Medicine, Health, and Five Element Diagnosis will provide you with a peek into one branch of Chinese medicine, the Five Element Model, and how it’s used in disease diagnosis and treatment. Five Elements focus on the harmony between your body and the outside environment and are an important part of the diagnostic process. The purpose of this chapter is to help you learn more about Five Element Diagnosis for achieving health and balance, based mostly on the relationship between the Elements and smell, color, taste, and sound. You will also learn how this information can be applied to clinical practice and help you understand the disease process. Finally, you will be given brief treatment explanations using acupuncture and herbal medicine with the understanding that nutrition and other natural therapies can also be used to correct imbalances in order to achieve health and vitality.
Chapter Author Biography Dr. Lisa Lewis, ND, LAc. is a leading Board-certified, licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and natural medicine and healthy living expert. She is a Bastyr University graduate providing insightful knowledge combined with simple, practical strategies to help people relieve stress, and live healthy, vibrant lives using natural medicine. Dr. Lewis is the owner of the Lewis Healing Institute and co-owner of NatureDrs—Nutritional Supplement and Wellness Company. She has authored and co-authored several books/e-books, including 3 Days to Detox: A Step-by-Step Guide for Busy People to Naturally Lose Weight and Feel Great. Join the NatureDrs Detox Challenge at www.DrLisaLewis.com. Her new book is Stop Stressing Me Out: 7 Strategies to Overcome Overwhelm and Conquer Disease Naturally (www.StopStressingMeOut.com). Looking for more hands-on transformational work? Her six-week Stop Stressing, Start Healing Boot Camp will walk you through your own personal healing journal and health breakthrough using the principles in her book (www.StopStressingStartHealing.com). Learn more about Dr. Lewis, natural medicine, and how she is “Making Healing Simple and Natural.” Visit her blog at www.DrLisaLewis.com/blog and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @DrLisa_Lewis.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Five Elements for Renewal: A Total Health Makeover with Ancient Wisdom Get Your Free “Healthy from Inside Out” Quiz! “More Information and More Insight: 3 Ways to Gets Balanced and Healthy Even Faster” Take this Free Chinese Medicine and Five Element Quiz and you will: 1. See which of your organs are the most out of balance! 2. Determine the best way for you to achieve balance! 3. Discover a wellness program that helps you simply achieve your health and wellness goals! This quiz is for you if: üü Your fatigue, sluggishness, aches, and pains are getting worse every day. üü Your weight has been creeping up year after year and you don’t know what to do about it. üü You want off of the endless cycle of medication. üü You’re healthy and looking for an easy way to maintain your health and vibrancy. This quiz will provide the help you need.
CLICK HERE to get Healthy from the Inside Out! www.DrLisaLewis.com/AcupunctureQuiz
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Chapter 2: Chinese Medicine, Health, and Five Element Diagnosis “Vitality and energy are considered the foundations of life; in order to keep them flourishing they must be protected and the life-giving force must rule.” –Huang Di, Nei Jing Chinese medicine is a complex and sophisticated approach to healing. It has been developed over a period of at least 5,000 years and is based on ancient Chinese medical texts, clinical observation, as well as modern empirical research. Principles of Chinese medicine are based on the fundamental concept that the physical, spiritual, and emotional body are connected in their function, and that a network of energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”) flows through all aspects of the body. Chinese medicine is, thus, holistic in its nature and focuses on the individual, instead of the disease. Energy called Qi flows through the body in channels called “meridians.” Most of these channels are named for a physical organ (lung, liver, stomach, etc.) to which they are correlated, though some are named for more abstract concepts or systems in the body. The energy or Qi in each of these channels is associated with specific tissues, areas, and functions of the body, as well as with certain emotions, colors, tastes, smells, etc. Because of its holistic nature, Chinese medicine focuses on your entire bodily pattern and the presence or absence of harmony between systems and energies in your body. When a person is ill, the symptoms experienced are only one part of a complete bodily imbalance. Chinese medicine also focuses on the harmony between your body and the outside environment. So, concepts such as deficiency and excess, seeking to balance heat and cold, dry and damp, yin and yang within the body are considered in the quest for balance and harmony.
Five Element Model One branch of Chinese medicine is the Five Element Model. Just as concepts of yin and yang or deficiency and excess are of creating harmony between your body and the outside environment, Five Element Theory is an important part of the diagnostic process. The purpose of this chapter is dedicated to helping you learn more about Five Element Diagnosis for achieving health and balance.
Nature and the Five Elements For many ancient cultures, Nature and its importance were well understood and respected. People lived according to the Elements. Man was acutely aware and dependent on the cycle of seasons. They survived according to the laws of the Universe, and revered the flow and changes of the world around them. They watched, heeded, learned, and engulfed themselves in the Elements. Unlike today, as technology moves man farther away from Nature, ancient cultures embraced Nature. They understood that just as “Nature all around them” followed its natural process of change, also “Na-
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS ture inside them” followed the same patterns. Intuitively human beings go through seasonal cycles inside themselves, and the Elements are re-created within them. All Elements are present and necessary for basic life. For example, spring is a time for “new beginnings” as life emerges and bursts into world. And these “new beginnings” are not just happening outside of your body; they’re happening inside the body. It’s not only the external winter that fosters regeneration, rest and reflection in the outside world, it also happens in your body, mind, and spirit. You are a reflection of the seasons. You are the Elements. Nature is “without” and “within” you, every moment, all the time. And this is a direct replica of this natural unending cycle of life, from season to season. Everything you do—thinking, feeling, acting, etc.—is done in union with Nature. Chinese medicine developed from that relationship of human beings to Nature in body, mind, and spirit. Five Element diagnoses and the system of examination, diagnosis, and treatment are based on these natural processes. The concepts of health follow the law of balance with Energy and Nature. Energy is considered the force called Life. The Chinese call it Chi (Qi) energy and compare it to the streams, brooks, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans of the Earth. The Life Force flows in you through interconnected pathways called Meridians, similar to electricity. It flows in a current, and even though we can’t see it, we can see and feel the effects of it. Chi can also be likened to blood flow. You know it’s inside you; although you usually don’t see it, the effect of life pulsing through you is evident. All life has Chi, and it moves through every aspect of life. Without Chi energy, Life Force, there is no life.
Five Elements Concepts There are many concepts to grasp within Five Element Theory, some of which are discussed in other chapters, and much is beyond the scope of this e-book. This section will focus on the physiology and diagnostic aspects of Five Elements. You will learn how Five Element Theory can help you understand disease processes. You will also learn how to recognize when you’re out of balance. Hopefully this information will prompt you to take the next steps toward using natural medicine for treatment and/or disease prevention in your life. The basis for Chinese medicine is that the existence of humanity and all of Nature is dependent upon Chi. It’s by Chi alone that you live and breathe. Since Chi is the basis of life, if it goes awry, it becomes the basis of disease. Health and illness are defined by this life energy. So when
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS you hear your traditional acupuncturist mention “balancing,” it’s a way of expressing that your chi is no longer in harmony with your body and needs to be corrected. The Five Elements are detailed descriptions of the Chi energy as it goes through cyclic transformations. It isn’t just philosophical or agricultural, but it’s also a distinct part of Chinese medical thought. Since health is the harmonious balance of cyclic interaction of these Elements, health is maintained only when the Energy flowing through each of the Elements is clear and balanced. The Five Elements give a framework that’s closely connected with daily life and the cause of illness is partly diagnosed through a Five Element examination. It’s a convenient way to organize clinical reality. The Five Elements are often used to describe clinical processes and relationships, and to help formulate proper treatments. It’s an explanatory theory and is not meant as a binding doctrine.
The Elements Explained You represent a smaller reflection of this large universe, a microcosm, and so the description of the energy that activates the cosmos, the macrocosm, is the same description for you. This energy is described as the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—and they have been discussed in the previous chapter of this eBook. So, now let’s look at how the Elements are used to diagnose conditions. Each organ is assigned to one of these Elements: Five Elements Element
Yin Organs
Yang Organs
Wood
Liver
Gall Bladder
Fire
Heart
Small Intestine
Earth
Spleen
Stomach
Metal
Lungs
Large Intestine
Water
Kidneys
Bladder
Colors, sounds, smells, emotions, tastes, time of day, seasons, climates, numbers, planets, moons phases, etc., all provide a part of the picture of how the Elements work inside you. See The Five Element Chart below, which describes the Element qualities. The pathways of energy within your body correspond to an Element. As you continue to read, you will learn all the pertinent Elemental qualities in Nature and medicine in more detail. Simply remember that the Elements are never completely separate from one another. The Five Element Model is holistic medicine where all Elements must work together for complete balance and harmony.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Five Element Chart Nature Seasons
WOOD Spring
FIRE Summer
EARTH Late summer
METAL Autumn
WATER Winter
Climate / Environment
Wind
Heat
Dampness
Dryness
Cold
Direction
East
South
Center
West
North
Movement
Expansion, outward
Upward
Neutral/stable
Contraction, inward
Downward
Stages of Development
Birth
Growth
Transformation
Harvest
Storage
Medicine
WOOD
FIRE
EARTH
METAL
WATER
Yin Organs
Liver
Heart and pericardium
Spleen
Lungs
Kidneys
Yang Organs
Gallbladder
Small intestine & triple heater
Stomach
Large Intestine
Urinary Bladder
Colors Sounds Odor
Green Shouting Rancid
Red Laughing Scorched
Yellow Singing Fragrant
White Crying Rotten
Blue/black Groaning Putrid
Emotions
Anger
Joy
Worry/ pensiveness
Grief/ Sadness
Fear
Tastes Tissues Sense Organs
Sour Tendons Eyes
Bitter Vessels Tongue
Sweet Muscles Mouth
Pungent Skin Nose
Salty Bone Ears
By reviewing the chart, it should be clear that the system of Chinese medicine, and specifically traditional acupuncture, is based on a system that brings life together for everyone, not just those who are healthy or ill. To understand them it’s necessary to at least be familiar with the concept of body, mind, and spirit, which was mentioned earlier in this chapter. This holistic concept of body, mind, and spirit is the belief in the unity and integrity of the whole person. Although there are several different aspects of the self to consider, these aspects can never be isolated from one another, or isolated in the way they affect your life experiences. For example, digestion cannot be separated from your emotions, or your emotions separate from the kidney, or the kidney separate from diabetes. Five Elements make these connections and it’s important to stretch your mind beyond what seems to be disconnected, to begin to see the connections and flow of the whole person that you are.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Five Elements Diagnosis The Five Elements Model is extensively used in diagnosis. It’s based mostly on the relationship between Elements and smell, color, taste, and sound, as the most important aspects. This section will discuss the Five Element diagnostic aspects of: • • • •
Colors Sounds Smells Emotions
• • • •
Tastes Tissues Sense orifices Climates
The Five Element Chart below lists all Five Elements and their diagnostics. Each aspect will be discussed in general terms, and specific examples will be provided to help you understand how they can be used in diagnosing diseases, conditions, and imbalances.
Colors Color observation is the most important of all the Five Element diagnosis aspects. The color of the face is the color that used most often in diagnosis. The observation and prevalence of one of the Five Element colors indicates is an imbalance in that particular Element. See the Five Elements Chart above, which lists all the Five Elements aspects. Five Element Colors Wood
Green
Fire
Red
Earth
Yellow
Metal
White
Water
Black or Blue
Sometimes the complexion can show multiple interactions between two or more Elements. The face color doesn’t always agree with the clinical findings, but it’s useful nonetheless. Also, the face has its own system of diagnosis, which is past the scope of this e-book. Just know that the face color elements cannot be used in isolation for diagnosis.
Sounds The sound and tone of your voice can also be used in diagnosis. If someone tends to shout a lot in anger, it indicates an imbalance in the Wood element or liver. If someone laughs a lot without reason, it indicates an imbalance in Fire/heart. A singing tone of voice indicates an imbalance in the Earth Element or spleen. Crying is related to Metal and it often is associated with grief, which is a lung imbalance. A groaning or husky tone of voice indicates an imbalance in Water/kidney.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Five Element Sounds Wood
Shouting
Fire
Laughing
Earth
Singing
Metal
Weeping
Water
Groaning
Smells: Smells are useful in diagnosis when using the Five Element Model. A rancid smell indicates an imbalance in Wood/liver. A burned smell indicates an imbalance in Fire/heart. A fragrant, sweetish smell is often associated with Earth/spleen. A rotten smell is often indicative of a Metal/lung imbalance. A putrid smell is indicates a Water/kidney or bladder imbalance. Similar to color, smell can be interpreted in other ways than those indicated by the Five Element Model. Also, smells don’t always correspond to this rather ridged system. Five Element Smells Wood
Rancid
Fire
Scorched
Earth
Fragrant
Metal
Rotten
Water
Putrid
Emotions The relationship between emotions and the Five Elements is really important for diagnosis. A person who is prone to outburst of anger indicates an imbalance in the Wood Element. This emotion can also be more subdued and less apparent when the anger is repressed. It’s always best for the practitioner to ask clear questions and get complete answers when determining a person’s true emotional state. Joy is the emotion related to the Fire Element and the heart. Obviously a state of joy is not a harmful emotion. What is meant by “joy” here, however, is a state of excessive or constant excitement. An example of the negative effect of excess joy is heart pain that can be triggered not only by bad news, but also by sudden good news.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Pensiveness or over-concentration is the emotion related to Earth. Admittedly this is not an “emotion” in the way most people understand it, but it’s nonetheless the mental activity related to the spleen. Worry is also another emotion that can cause Earth/spleen imbalance. Grief and sorrow are the emotions related to Metal and the lungs. Lung Qi is very much affected by grief and or sadness. People tend to catch colds during times of grief. Fear is related to Water and, again this emotion directly influences the kidneys and bladder. Anxiety is also related to Water/kidneys. Five Element Emotions Wood
Anger
Fire
Joy
Earth
Worry/pensiveness
Metal
Sorrow/sadness
Water
Fear/anxiety
Tastes The tastes related to the Five Elements are a relatively minor aspect of Chinese diagnosis. They are as follows: Five Element Tastes Wood
Sour
Fire
Bitter
Earth
Sweet
Metal
Pungent
Water
Salty
A sour taste often accompanies Wood/liver disharmonies and a bitter taste is part of the Fire/heart pattern. A sweet taste often indicates Earth/spleen challenges and a pungent taste sometimes accompanies Metal/Lung disharmony. A salty taste occasionally is associated with Water/kidney imbalance. Each of the flavors has an effect on your energy, so the combination of the five flavors insures balance. An excess of any one of the flavors can have an injurious effect, and yet, each Element can be strengthened if the right flavor is prescribed for it. Flavors are an important way to balance diet and choose foods that you should eat daily. For example, when people who crave sweets are asked, “What is your favorite taste?”, they would say, without hesitation, “Oh, I have a sweet tooth!” Now, there are some obvious commonsense relation-
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS ships here. The Chinese medicine spleen represents the pancreas in Western medicine. The function of the pancreas is associated with diseases like diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and obesity, all of which have to do with sugar imbalance in the body.
Tissues Diseased or unhealthy tissues can be used in diagnosis as a way to show disharmony of the relevant Elements. For example, if the tendons are stiff and tight, this indicates a liver and gallbladder or Wood disharmony. A problem with blood vessels points to a heart or Fire imbalance. A weakness or atrophy of the muscles indicates spleen or Earth issues. The skin is related to Metal and the lungs, and a lung weakness is often manifested with spontaneous sweating (the pores being open). Five Element Tissues Wood
Sinews/tendons/ ligaments
Fire
Blood vessels
Earth
Muscles
Metal
Skin
Water
Bones
The bones are related to the kidneys or the Water Element. Degenerative diseases of the bone, which are usually related to aging, can be associated with kidney energy or essence declining. Kidney essence decline is part of the normal aging process.
Sense Orifices Problems with the five senses can also reflect disharmonies in the relevant Elements. For example, blurred vision often reflects liver weakness; a problem with the tongue (such as ulcers) can be related to the heart and Fire. Problems with the mouth and lips (such as dryness) are often due to spleen disharmony or stomach imbalance, which is the Earth Element. A problem with dry nostrils or frequent sneezing reflects lung disharmony and chronic tinnitus can be due to kidney imbalance. Again, this model of relationships is only partly applicable. For example, there are many eye disorders not related to Wood. Some tongue pathologies can be due to stomach or kidneys. The lips also manifest the state of blood and mouth problems can also be due to kidney imbalance. And by way, there are many ear problems that are not due to Kidney imbalance.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Five Element Sense Orifices Wood
Eyes
Fire
Tongue
Earth
Mouth and lips
Metal
Nose
Water
Ears
Climates Your sensitivity to a particular climate often reflects a disharmony in the relevant Element/organ. So, a sensitivity to wind often reflects disharmony in Wood/liver. If you have a heart disharmony, you may often feel much worse in the heat, which is the Fire Element. Dampness affects the spleen, which is Earth. Dryness injures the lungs/Metal, and cold weakens the kidneys. Five Element Climates Wood
Wind
Fire
Heat
Earth
Dampness
Metal
Dryness
Water
Cold
However, this model has limitations, too. For example, heat can aggravate any heat condition of any organ, not just the Heart. Dampness can aggravate a damp condition of the spleen, as well as the kidneys, gallbladder, and bladder. Dryness injures the body fluids of the lungs primarily, and the stomach and kidneys secondarily. Cold affect virtually any organ (in particular the stomach, spleen, intestines, lungs, uterus, and bladder) and not just the kidneys. Additionally, your climate preference in the traditional Five Element Diagnosis is based on the association of climate with energy or Chi. So, preference and aversion to climate are both significant. It’s just as important to know what climates you dislike as well as those you fully enjoy. As mentioned several times before, in Chinese medicine diagnosis it is not always possible to make a direct correlation between two imbalances or Elements on a one-to-one basis. What counts is the importance of each imbalance as it relates to the whole pattern. The Five Elements help to create a picture of you that greatly improves the ability to make a complete and thorough diagnosis.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Putting it All Together So, as you see the Five Elements system has important application in human physiology/medicine. According to this model, each Element shows many connections between the universe and your body that are somehow expressions of each particular Element. Now, how can this information be applied to clinical practice and help you understand the disease process? Let’s take the Element Wood as an example, whose organ is the liver. I begin with Wood because Chinese medicine and Five Element analysis view spring as the beginning of the seasonal cycle.
An Analysis of Wood Season: The season related to Wood is spring. In practice, it’s very common for a liver imbalance to be aggravated in the springtime. This is probably because the liver energy flows upward and is very active in springtime. Direction: An East wind easily affects the liver. In practice, some patients suffering from chronic pains, like arthritis, headaches, or neck ache, sometimes will remark that their pain is worse whenever an East wind blows. Color: The face color related to liver imbalances will often be greenish. This is not skin color, but a subdued hue coming from the face. Color can also be considered in terms of preferences. Whether you surround yourself with green and wear green clothing to the exclusion of others, or if you detest green, either of these circumstances can point to wood imbalance. Taste: A small amount of sour taste in the diet is beneficial to the liver and an excess is detrimental. It’s frequently found that if you love vinegary foods, you may have a Wood imbalance or you may be trying to correct it. Note: This is an example of your “natural sense” of what you need, even though you might never have been able to verbalize why you have a craving for a particular taste. This is the mind, body, spirit connection; you know it as “intuition.” Climate: Wind very clearly affects those who suffer from liver imbalance, often causing headaches and stiffness in the neck. Sense Organ: The liver moistens and nourishes the eyes. So, floaters and eye problems point to liver imbalance. Tissue: The liver also moistens and nourishes your tendons and ligaments. So, if you have tendon or ligament weakness or frequent injury, this usually indicates a Wood imbalance. Emotion: Anger is the emotion that is connected to Wood and the liver. Someone whose liver energy stagnates may be prone to fits of anger.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Sound: Related to the example above, a person who suffers from a liver disharmony will be prone to shouting (in anger). The aspects of all the other Elements apply in the same way. However, it’s important to realize that the Five Elements Model is only one of the models in use and is not a “standalone” system. It’s one aspect of a greater system of diagnostic factors.
What Treatment to Expect If you understand the Five Elements, it’s easier for you to know what organs may be out of balance and take the necessary steps to put them back into balance. Although treatment wasn’t discussed in detail above, I’ll discuss it briefly to provide you with a few possibilities. But I recommend that you search for a natural medicine or Chinese medicine practitioner for your treatment advice. It can really make a difference in your health and your life. Chinese medicine includes diet and lifestyle counseling, herbal therapies, physical medicine (similar to massage and physical therapy), acupuncture, and therapeutic exercise. Acupuncture is one the most familiar branches of the Chinese medicine system. In addition to acupuncture needles, various other methods used to stimulate acupuncture points include electricity, heat, massage, and suction created by special cups. When using the Five Element Model for diagnosis I begin by asking many questions about your general constitution, body function, as well as details about your current organ symptoms. I also look at the tone and health of your skin, hair, teeth, and nails. I also use pulse and tongue diagnosis. I feel the pulse in three positions on each wrist as a way to feel the energy of each meridian represented in the pulse. I also look closely at the tongue, as its color and quality reflect many things about the balance of energy in your body. After collecting information by questions and observation, a treatment will be chosen that is specific for you, as the patient, at that time. I use acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and dietary and lifestyle counseling most often with my patients. If you receive herbal therapy, I will put together a specific combination of herbs for your current condition and constitution. The herbs will either be in whole herb form, like a bulk tea that you boil and prepare, or the herbs will be “granules” or liquid form that simply needs to be added to water. If you receive an acupuncture treatment, I will choose acupuncture points to reflect the imbalances that I find during the assessment and diagnosis. I will clean/swab each acupuncture point to be treated and then insert the needles. Acupuncture uses very thin stainless steel needles to stimulate specific points along your meridians. This stimulation can be directed to unblock energy that is “stuck” or to bring energy into areas that are lacking energy, ultimately assisting your body in moving back into balance. Using the Five Elements Model and Chinese medicine practices bring a great deal of help and healing to my patients. Since I also practice naturopathic medicine, the diet, detox and cleansing, the mental/ emotional aspects of dis-ease are a primary focus of every treatment plan. The ability to practice both
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS naturopathic and Chinese medicine opens up a wider realm of diagnostic and treatment options than would be offered by either medicine alone. That’s why I’m honored to specialize in both. For more detailed information about acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and naturopathic medicine, log on to www.StopStressingMeOut.com or www.DrLisaLewis.com.
Resources The Foundation of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists, 2nd Edition by Giovanni Maciocia Handbook of Oriental Medicine, 3rd Edition by HB Kim, LAc. Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements by Dianne Connelly, PhD The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted Kaptchuk
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
—CHAPTER 3—
THE FIVE ELEMENTS AND NUTRITIONAL BALANCE Kimberley Smith Lukhard, MS, RD, LDN
Chinese Symbol for Balance
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
This chapter will focus on each of the Five Elements, the organs that are governed by the Element, and how you can use nutrition to strengthen your body. You will find four recipes and one meal suggestion in this chapter.
Chapter Author Biography Kim Lukhard’s love affair with food began when she was in fourth grade. Her desire for extra spending money fueled her first business: making and selling popcorn balls door to door in her neighborhood in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her use of food changed in junior high when she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia, after a six-hour blood test. From that day forward she began to make the connection between what she ate and how she felt, not only physically, but emotionally. She earned her BA in psychology from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and her MS in nutrition science from East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. She completed her dietetic internship at the Brody School of Medicine. Kim has taught nutrition classes at ECU for 15 years. She loves awakening students to the power of food. Her classes teach students how they can use food to change their lives. Kim is the creator of Hockey Mom RD, a youth sports nutrition company. She is the author of the forthcoming book Eat, Skate, Win: 7 Steps for Your Youth Hockey Star to Eat Like a Champion. Her two sons were her inspiration for the book. Visit her site at KimLukhard.com.
Unleash the Champion in Your Youth Hockey Star Learn the secrets to help your child be a champion on the ice and in the classroom. During your phone “chalk talk” sessions you will learn how to apply two action steps to unleash the champion in your youth hockey player. Do you want your child to: • • • • •
Avoid their midmorning energy crash in school? Have more energy in the afternoon? Have lasting energy on the ice? Build more muscle as they grow? Learn how food can be just as important as sharp skates and their hockey stick?
If you answered YES to any or all of these, e-mail Kim at
[email protected] to schedule a FREE 30-minute phone chalk talk today.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” –Hippocrates Have you ever heard the statement “Eat a well-balanced diet for good health?” Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been using the Theory of Five Elements for thousands of years to heal and help balance the body. These healers believe that when all of the Five Elements—Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal—are in balance, people benefit by having good health, because their Qi, or life force, is flowing and they experience health and harmony in their body. There are two cycles in TCM: the Creation Cycle and the Control Cycle. Both cycles involve all five elements. The Creation Cycle shows how the elements support each other and the organs governed by each element. For example, Water feeds Wood so that plants can grow. In the Control Cycle Water keeps Fire in check. Let’s look at this further. The Water Element governs the kidneys and the bladder, and the Fire element governs the heart and small intestine. If the kidneys are not healthy and are causing a person to retain too much fluid, this can impact the health of the heart. What both of these cycles illustrate is that health is not stagnant, and that the health of one organ in your body can impact the health of another. This chapter focuses on the Creation Cycle. You will learn how the Five Elements relate to modern nutrition and which foods to choose to help you achieve balance in your diet every day.
Water Water is the nourishing Element; it’s the winter Element, and it governs the kidneys and the bladder. In the Generating Cycle Water nourishes Wood to enable plants to grow. Life springs forth when Water is involved. Just think for a moment. You began your life in water, in the protective environment of your mother’s womb. Water has many jobs in your body and performs all of these jobs without your knowledge. Water helps to: • Carry nutrients throughout your body. • Dissolve the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and glucose in the food you eat, so those nutrients can be carried throughout your body. • Rid your body of waste by cleansing your tissues and blood. • Make chemical reactions in your body. The water molecule is always being made or broken apart. • Lubricate your joints. • Act as a shock absorber inside your eyes, spinal cord, and joints. • Regulate your body’s temperature.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS This Element is truly the Element of life. Your body is 60 percent water; all of the cells in your body need to be well hydrated daily. If you don’t drink enough water each day your body will experience a variety of problems. You could experience headaches, urinary tract infections, mental confusion, loss of appetite, and dark-colored urine. Your blood volume will go down, and this will impair your body’s ability to deliver nutrients to your cells and eliminate waste. And to top it off your skin will begin to show signs of wrinkling much faster than if you were well hydrated. There may be days you may feel so spacey you forget the password to your work e-mail account. When you finally feel thirsty and the need to drink hits you, your body is already mildly dehydrated, which means your body is lacking 2 cups of water. One simple method to prevent this from happening is to carry a water bottle with you as an external reminder to drink. For example, when you get ready to leave your house for the day, take a 20-ounce bottle of water with you. Then you can refill the bottle throughout the day. This is an easy way to keep track of the amount of water you are drinking. If you want to make sure you are well hydrated check the color of your urine; it should be pale yellow. When your urine is a dark yellow, this is your cue to increase your water intake. The general rule of thumb for water intake is eight 8-ounce glasses a day, or 2 quarts (2 L). If you work out on a regular basis you will need to increase your fluid intake. If you don’t like the taste or to drink water you can prevent dehydration by eating fruits and vegetables. You can also make your own flavored water by adding chunks of your favorite fruit and allow the water to stand for an hour to “steep” the flavors of the fruit into the water.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Water Element foods help to balance the kidneys and the bladder. When the Water Element is out of balance you may experience some of these physical symptoms: low backaches, weak legs, dry mouth, fever, a thin, fast radial pulse (on your wrist), and a red tongue (distinctly). You could also experience some of the following emotional symptoms: agitation, irritation, nervousness, insecurity, and fear. To help with these symptoms consume foods rich in the Water Element. The following foods are rich in the Water Element: • Tofu • Black beans, kidney beans • Blackberries, blueberries, huckleberries, mulberries • Watermelon and other melons
• • • •
String beans Mung beans and mung bean sprouts Potato Sardines, clams, eggs, pork and cheese.
Do not consume excessive amounts of eggs, pork, and cheese, as this can drain your kidneys. In addition, it is best to avoid warming foods: coffee, alcohol, tobacco, lamb, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and other hot spices.
Water (Winter) Recipe Hearty Black Beans Serves 4 INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 c. black beans, soaked
Place beans in water. Bring to boil. Cover.
3½ c. water
Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour.
1 clove garlic, minced
Sauté onion, garlic, coriander, and cumin.
1 tsp. ground coriander
Add to beans.
1½ tsp. oil
Continue cooking until beans are done.
½ tsp. sea salt
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Wood Wood feeds the fire in the Creation Cycle. Wood is the Element of Spring and governs the liver and gall bladder. Spring follows Winter in the seasons and during the spring time it’s good to choose foods that are lighter than and not as heavy as the foods chosen in Winter. This will help the liver and gallbladder. Wood is the fuel to help the fire burn and keep burning; without wood a fire has no fuel. Carbohydrates are your body’s Wood. Carbohydrates are the “go-to” energy source to fuel your body. Your brain can only use carbohydrates for energy/fuel under normal circumstances. Breads, starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, lima beans, fruit, and milk all contain carbohydrates. You need a minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates a day, or 520 calories, for your brain to function at its peak capacity. These foods are protein sparing, which means your body will use the carbohydrates for fuel and will not burn your muscle for fuel, which can happen if you are not consuming enough carbohydrates. When you eat carbohydrates (let’s say a banana) before a workout, your body will use the energy from the banana to help fuel your workout, allowing your muscles to perform during your workout without becoming fatigued too soon. For example, if you go for your morning bike ride or run, the carbohydrates in the banana help you ride or run faster, thereby increasing your muscle’s strength and endurance. If, however, you had not eaten before your workout, your muscles would tire much quicker, compromising the strength gains you wanted to achieve. As you choose your foods make sure you include lots of fruits and vegetables in their natural state (i.e., apples in place of apple pie), and whole grains and whole-wheat breads and pasta products. Carbohydrate-rich foods are the foods that also provide your body with fiber, insoluble and soluble. Think of an apple. The apple skin provides your body with insoluble fiber, which helps your digestive tract, and the pulp provides soluble fiber, which aids in the reduction of cholesterol. Foods rich in fiber also help your blood sugar to remain more stable. The following vegetables contain 3g fiber per ½ cup cooked serving or 1 cup raw: • Brussels sprouts • Carrots • All colors of bell peppers Legumes are an excellent source of fiber. All of the following contain about 7g of fiber per ½ cup: • Black beans • Pinto beans • Lentils
• Split peas • Garbanzo beans (the base for hummus)
The following fruits contain 3 grams of fiber per serving: • Apricots, 4 whole, 8 halves dried • Blackberries, ¾ cup • Raspberries, ¾ cup
• Strawberries, 1¼ cup • Tangerines, 2 small
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Let’s look at the two organs that are governed by the Wood Element: the liver and gallbladder. It is important to note that the liver is the organ that helps stabilize your blood sugar between meals. The liver helps regulate blood sugar by using some of its stored glycogen (your body’s storage form of glucose). When you have gone several hours without eating, your pancreas secretes a hormone, glucagon. Glucagon in turn signals your liver to release stored glycogen in the form of glucose, thus helping your blood sugar to go back up into the normal range. The gallbladder is the organ that stores the bile, made by the liver. Bile is essential for fat digestion and absorption in your body. When the liver is out of balance, usually due to excessive consumption of rich, greasy foods, the gallbladder can become less efficient at secreting bile due to the stones that accumulate in it and block the passage of bile from the gallbladder into the small intestine to aid in fat absorption. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Wood Element foods help to balance the liver and gallbladder. When the Wood Element is out of balance you may experience some of these physical symptoms: chronic indigestion, allergies, fatigue, stress, and neck and back tension. You could also experience some of the following emotional symptoms: anger, depression, moodiness, poor judgment, and emotional repression. To help with these symptoms consume foods rich in the Wood Element. The following foods are rich in the Wood Element: • • • •
Sour food Chicken liver Most wild game Wheat
• • • •
Boy choy Chard Broccoli Spinach
• • • •
Sprouts Asparagus Celery Citrus fruits
Wood (Spring) Soup Recipe Chinese Noodle Soup Serves 4–6 INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 c. noodles, cooked and drained
Heat broth.
4 c. vegetable broth
Add carrots, onion, and salt.
1 carrot, cut into flowers (or slices)
Simmer 10 minutes, until carrots are almost tender.
1 green onion, chopped (optional)
Add greens and cook until bright-colored.
2 c. spring greens, finely cut ½ c. sprouts Sea salt to taste
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Fire Fire creates earth from its ash. It is the Summer Element, and it governs the heart and small intestine. Your body has its own fire: your metabolism. The body’s metabolism doesn’t create ash, but it does create energy for your body to use. When you were a child you probably didn’t give your metabolism much thought. Youth is a time of growth, and most individuals eat food without worrying about the number on the scale. However, as you grew and matured you may have thought, “How can I increase my metabolism?” That is a question I hear frequently. It is not uncommon for individuals to gain weight as they age, or “grow in wisdom.” But this doesn’t have to happen. You can think of your metabolism as your body’s fire. Your metabolism burns the food you eat to give you energy. Many factors influence your metabolism; some you can control and others you can’t. You can’t control your gender, your age, or your height, but you can control how much you exercise. Exercise helps to build muscle. The more muscle you have on your body the higher your metabolism. Your “fire” will keep burning hot even while you’re asleep. Want to keep your fire burning while you’re sleeping? Eat! The worst thing you can do for your metabolism is not eat. When you do not eat enough calories to meet your body’s needs, you cause your “fire” to burn fuel slower. Why? Because your body acts like you are starving it, so the safety mechanism is to burn fuel slower. Unfortunately for your metabolism, your muscles can be used for sugar by your brain. This is part of the built-in safety mechanism that should only be turned on under dire circumstances. This is called protein wasting. Many individuals are creating this scenario every day because they think, “If I eat less I will lose weight.” Just as you keep the fire in your fireplace going by placing wood on the fire, you must eat to keep your metabolism high. When you consume less than 1,000 calories a day your body begins to slow down the rate at which your food is burned, because your body fears you are starving and it needs to conserve energy. Eating will allow your metabolism to keep burning food and you will lose weight at a healthy rate (1–2 pounds per week), without your body slowing down its metabolism. Summer is the hottest time of the year, so make sure you pick cooling fruits and vegetables like: • Apples • Watermelons • Lemons and limes
• Cucumbers • Salads
On hot days it is best to eat light and avoid heavy foods like meats, eggs, and too many nuts, seeds, and grains. Likewise, iced teas, drinks, and ice cream tend to stop digestion by contracting the stomach. So as much as we gravitate toward these foods in the hot summer it is best to avoid them. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Fire Element foods help to balance the heart (not only the physical heart but the concept of “heart” )and small intestine. A quote by Dr. Dean Ornish, MD, heart specialist at
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS the University of California at San Francisco, sums it up: “I think the mind is where heart disease begins for many people.” When the Fire Element is out of balance you may experience some of these physical symptoms: poor circulation, loss of memory, aversion to heat, severe chest pains, hardening of the arteries, and depression. To help with these symptoms consume foods rich in the Fire Element. Fire Element foods are about increasing the heat in the body and can be used to balance out the temperature of a dish. For example, raw foods are cold or cool in TCM, so ginger, cayenne, and other spices that create heat are added to the recipes to warm them up. Hot foods should be eaten sparingly in TCM. Foods rich in the Fire Element include the following: • • • •
Lamb Venison Lettuce, arugula, dandelion, watercress Tomatoes, kumquats, apricots, plums
• Raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb • Peppers, hot chilies, cayenne pepper • Coffee, tea, dark chocolate
Fire (Summer) Recipes Oatmeal Yogurt INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1 c. rolled oats or whole oats coarsely ground
Blend oats at high speed. Slowly pour in water and soy sauce or miso. Blend until creamy.
1 c. water
Set in warm place and cover. Do not seal.
½ tsp. unpasteurized soy sauce or miso
Let ferment 6–10 hours to desired sourness, then refrigerate.
Fire (Summer) Soup Recipe: Chilled Cucumber Soup Serves 4–6 INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
4 c. cucumber, chopped
Puree all ingredients in the blender.
2 c. water or broth
Serve chilled.
1 c. oatmeal yogurt (see recipe above) 1 clove garlic (optional) Several fresh mint leaves ½ teaspoon sea salt, ¼ teaspoon dill weed.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Earth Earth is created from Fire. Earth is the Late Summer Element, and it governs the spleen-pancreas and stomach. The Late Summer season is the last month in Summer. The Earth Element is in the center of the seasons: Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. The Earth Element is about the digestion and absorption of foods. During this time of year, prepare easy foods using only a few seasonings, and choose foods that have a mild taste. When preparing your meals try to include some of the following foods because in TCM these foods are considered to be harmonizing and represent the center, due to the shape, color, and taste: • • • • •
Millet Corn Carrots Cabbage Garbanzo beans, soybeans
• • • • •
Squash, potatoes, okra String beans, yams, sweet rice Peas, chestnuts Apricots, apples, grapes, peaches Cantaloupe
When your Earth Element is balanced you will feel strong, have a good appetite and digestion, and tend to have patience and lots of creative energy. However if your Earth Element is not balanced you may experience chronic tiredness and excessive worry, and feel “stuck,” which interferes with creativity. You may suffer from anemia, digestive problems, nausea, abdominal bloating, a poor appetite, and loose stools if your Earth Element is out of balance. To balance your Earth Element, choose from the following foods, which are rich in the Earth Element: • • • • • • • •
Millet Sweet corn All squash Shiitake mushrooms Beets Onions Parsnips, rutabaga, collards Chard, artichoke, sweet peas, string beans
• Sweet apples, figs, cantaloupe, oranges, honeydew • Raisins, sweet grapes, dates, papaya, tangerine • Salmon, tuna, swordfish • Almonds, pecans, walnuts, sesame and sunflower seeds • Agave, maple syrup, rice syrup, barley malt, molasses
Remember: Take time to chew your food so your body can easily digest it. Meals should be small and frequent to help balance the Earth Element. A lunch or dinner rich in Earth Element foods might look like this: Entrée: Grilled salmon Side dish: Sautéed onions, squash, and zucchini Dessert: Chopped apples, drizzled with agave and topped with crushed almonds and pecans
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Metal Metal is the element that comes from the Earth in the Creation Cycle. Metal is the Element of Autumn, and it governs the lungs and the large intestine. Metals make up many of the minerals that the human body depends on to function. There are major minerals and trace minerals, all which come from the earth. The major minerals include calcium, sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur. You need to consume foods rich in calcium, magnesium and phosphorous for bone health. Sodium, potassium, and chloride are the body’s electrolytes, and sulfur is part of the protein molecule. The trace minerals include iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, fluoride, chromium, and molybdenum. These minerals are needed in smaller amounts than the major minerals (thus the label “trace”). Each of the trace minerals has a unique role. For example, iron is a very important metal. Without iron our body would not be able to transport oxygen throughout our blood. Zinc is an important mineral for taste, healing, and growth. Iodine is important for proper thyroid function. Selenium is an antioxidant. Copper helps with collagen production and iron transport. Chromium helps with blood sugar control. Manganese helps with the formation of bone and cartilage, and molybdenum is important in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. According to the Five Element Theory, Autumn is a time of harvest, a time to prepare for Winter. Autumn is a drier time of year, and you may experience symptoms of dryness such as dry skin, nose, throat, and lips, and itchiness. To counter the dry season of Autumn, choose from the following list of foods, which will add moisture: • • • • • • •
Soybean products Spinach Barley Millet Pear Apple Almond
• • • • • • •
Peanut Honey (cooked) Milk and dairy Eggs Clam, crab, oyster, mussel Herring Pork
Using a small amount of salt when cooking helps to add moisture. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Metal Element foods help to balance the lungs and the large intestine. When the Metal Element is out of balance you may experience problems with your lungs related to phlegm. You could have symptoms of wheezing, asthma, shortness of breath, and a cough. To balance your Metal element and decrease these symptoms, you should consume the following foods, which will not promote mucus: • • • •
Fennel Garlic Radish Daikon radish
• Mushroom • Fresh ginger • Turnip
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS A general rule to follow if you are trying to decrease phlegm is to eat small amounts of fruits, legumes, and grains and almonds. In addition you want to avoid the following: all dairy foods, mammal meats, peanuts tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce, soy milk, and other soy products, amasake, and all sweeteners except stevia leaf. The Metal Element is the weakest in many people. To strengthen this Element it is important to eat the following foods: • • • • • • •
Plums Grapefruit Pickles Cauliflower Raw onion Garlic Chives
Radish Turnip Tofu Cinnamon, mint, tarragon, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, cloves • Cilantro • • • •
In addition to adding these foods, an active lifestyle is very important.
Metal (Fall) Soup Shepherd’s Barley Soup Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
¼ onion, chopped
Sauté onion, carrots, and parsnips in oil.
4 carrots, grated
Add water, barley, and ginger. Simmer 1½ hours.
2 parsnips, diced
Add salt or miso, and simmer 15 minutes
1 T. oil
Garnish with parsley.
2 qt. water 1 c. barley 1/3 tsp. ginger, grated 1 tsp. sea salt or miso Parsley
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Putting it All Together Throughout this chapter I have briefly introduced and discussed the Five Elements and how modern nutrition is connected. It is easy to say “eat a well-balanced diet” and you will have energy and health, but how do you do that? Think of your plate as a clock. Set up your plate by placing your starchy vegetables from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m., your protein from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and your crunchy vegetables from 6:00 p.m. to 12 noon. Practice this and you will eat a balanced diet without counting calories. When you are freed from worrying about calories it’s much easier to relax and enjoy your food.
Resources Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford Vitamins and Minerals Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide by Dr. Steve Blake Nutrition: Science and Applications, 3rd Ed. by Lori A. Smolin and Mary B. Grosvenor (Wiley, 2013) Website: http://Macrobiotic.About.com/od/menuplanning/a/FiveElements.htm
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
—CHAPTER 4—
THE FLOW OF YOUR LIFE AND THE FIVE ELEMENTS Penelope Elfin
Chinese Symbol for Harmony
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
The world over the last 50 years ago has changed rapidly, and not always for the best. Currently the earth and humanity as you know them are going through a dynamic shift—a shift that is so profound, that humanity possibly is not in the right conscious mind to appreciate the depth and significance of what is happening. It has been recognized by both ancient and modern sources that we are at the end of a 25,920-year cycle upon Mother Earth, and are at a point in time where we can no longer deny this shift, a shift to higher consciousness. The question to ask is: “How can we embrace this change easily and gracefully so each individual can take advantage of this mammoth moment in history, and what is needed to achieve this?” In this chapter I outline various methods that you can use that will enhance your life through this shift, and create more harmony and flow. By taking small steps to change your lifestyle, following the ancient system of the Five Elements, you can maintain a sense of calm and balance in your health, your relationships, your career and your inner peace of mind. So start adopting the Five Element way and see the changes start to flow!
Chapter Author Biography Penelope Elfin is an empowerment expert and facilitator of people’s soul journeys and the published author of Dig Deep and Fly High: Reclaim Your Zest and Vitality, Loving You from Inside Out…. For the past 25 years, Penelope Elfin’s experience has been gained in the human potential field and alternative health arena. She is a Specialized Kinesiologist and Master NLP practitioner, and has studied many other modalities including health, homeopathy, nutrition, brain function, and various forms of spiritual philosophies. She has worked with individuals and groups exploring the field of awareness and personal development. Previous to that, she worked in the corporate arena in the fashion and cosmetics industries, in both the retail and wholesale sectors. For 15 years she ran her own commercial interior design business. In her early 20s Penelope’s personal poor health sparked a journey into inner self-discovery, and today she enjoys premium health, a sense of freedom, inner peace, and love. Her greatest passion is to support you on your own inner personal journey, so we as a collective can enjoy freedom and peace of mind, and live in a loving, harmonious world. Check in with Penelope on her website at www.YourSpiritualMama.com and request your free e-book, Step Up, Step Out: Your World Is Waiting.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Start Your “Inner Journey to Health and Harmony” Congratulations for taking the leap to explore your life on another level. It takes tremendous courage to want to change your life for the better, to face the truth of who you are. Allowing yourself to release what doesn’t work or is no longer useful to you in your life, and to adopt new guidelines and strategies is a gigantic step. I am thrilled to accompany you on this journey, the benefits and rewards of which are many.
Receive my free e-book, Step Up, Step Out: Your World Is Waiting. The benefits are: üü üü üü üü üü
Understanding the importance of following your inner path, Supporting you to navigate how to take your next steps, Getting clear on what is not necessary in your life, Receiving support from an experienced traveler, and Starting to become your own guide.
Go to my website www.YourSpiritualMama.com and receive your free e-book now.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
“Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.” –Lao Tzu Tung
Currently the earth and humanity as you know them are going through a dynamic shift—a shift that is so profound that humanity possibly is not in the right conscious mind to appreciate the depth and significance of what is happening. It has been recognized by both ancient and modern sources that the world is at the end of a 25,920-year cycle upon Mother Earth, and is at a point in time where no longer can this shift be denied, a shift to higher consciousness. The question to ask is: “How can we embrace this change easily and gracefully so each individual can take advantage of this mammoth moment in history, and what is needed to achieve this?” One way in which this could manifest easily, would be for each person to be responsible for their own energy, balance, well-being, and flow of life. Changes made at the micro level by balancing all aspects of life (for instance, in relationships, life direction, health, creativity, and an inner fulfillment gained by following your soul’s journey) would create harmony and equilibrium on a greater scale. The world as it is now would gradually transform from what you see today to a more sustainable, cooperative world where people support and care for each other’s well-being. As a collective whole the energy of the planet would hum at a higher frequency. To support this inquiry I follow the Chinese system of the Five Elements, a system that can simply show you where you are in and out of balance, and can be used as a guide to show how your energies flow in general. I liken it to a river, and how you are navigating that. Are you swimming against the current upstream or going with the flow downstream? This system has been around for over 5,000 years, and is used extensively by the Chinese and applied in many areas such as health, astrology, agriculture, business, and the space you occupy, known as the application of Feng Shui. In China, often a business decision is not made until a consultation is completed to ensure the auspicious timing of the event planned.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS The North American indigenous people also have a system of the Five Elements. When these systems become disrupted, they cause major upheavals in both the individual’s life and health and the community. These systems are all interconnected and are part of the whole, connected to Universal Consciousness, and together produce the sum of everything. As a human being, you are the microcosm of the macrocosm. You are body and spirit, both tangible in form (something you can touch and feel, and is run by your ego) and intangible in form (energy and a form you do not see that is supported by your soul). This also speaks of either connectedness with all things or an individual separated being. So when using the Five Element system, it allows this intangible energy to be used as a basis for managing the energy in your life.
An Overview: The Three Treasures As an overview, these Five Elements are known to consist of the Three Treasures: Jing, Shen, and Qi. These are the three concepts of energy that underpin the philosophy of the Five Elements. In this Chinese philosophy and from an invisible or intangible point of view Jing energy is called your essence; this can be strengthened through your mind set, diet, and lifestyle. Your Shen energy is your spirit or soul energy, which is strengthened through silence, meditation, and the martial arts. I actually call this the center of you, your heart or consciousness energy. Your Qi energy is your dynamic and vital energy, the sum of the balance of yin and yang, your feminine and masculine energies cooperating and operating at full capacity in your body, giving you your life-force energy throughout the body. This works at its fullest when all body systems are working cohesively. When these three energies are operating and working together in a balanced way, you live your life at your fullest potential.
The Five Element System and its Virtues This system is made up of five different Elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Each of these elements is complementary and has a beneficial relationship to the others if used correctly, or they can be used in a destructive or hostile way. The Water Element: Its archetype is the philosopher and thinker. It is feminine and yin in nature; in fact approximately 80 percent of your body is made up of water. Water is about softness, stillness, and conserving and rejuvenating your energy when needed, like the Winter it reflects. It is full of wisdom and its messages can be heard when you are still at your center. When in balance decisions are easily made, without hesitation, and it does not flood or overwhelm your life, as it inherently knows when to flow or be still. It represents Winter, often a time to rest. The Water Elemental person is quite shy and creative, and is a deep thinker and innovator.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS The Wood Element: Its archetype is the pioneer and strategist. It is masculine and yang in nature, denoting strength, yet flexibility and idealism—perfect attributes when you need to be a leader in the external world and remembering also you need to lead yourself. This person likes to grow and expand, and experience new adventures and new beginnings as in Spring when flowers start to push out of the ground; buds blossom and start coming into their full expression. It is the start of the day at dawn. The Wood Elemental person has drive and is socially adaptable. The Fire Element: Its archetype is the socializer and wizard. It is masculine and yang with an expansive, persistent, and outgoing nature. When they are in balance these people are warm, curious, and enthusiastic; playing at life with ease, fun, and pleasure; and looking for the magical. It represents Summer, when all of nature is in its full bloom and its potential has flowered, and a time of day that is at its peak at noon. If a Fire Elemental person has an excess of this energy, it is easy to become restless and maybe impatient with how life is flowing. This could result in burnout. The Fire Elemental person loves change and something new. The Earth Element: Its archetype is the mediator and peacemaker. It is both feminine and masculine, yin and yang—portrayed so elegantly by Mother Earth. This element is the one that brings aspects together, to harmonize and create stability. It represents the afternoon, when the energy falls together. It is the very foundation stone of your world. Creating stability needs virtues of patience, being practical, and thoughtfulness for the whole. When the Earth Element is out of balance, obsessiveness, intolerance, and a controlling and overprotective energy can appear. The Earth Elemental person is warm-hearted and supportive of all aspects of life. The Metal Element: Its archetype is the alchemist and judge. It is feminine and yin, and it is known as the breath of life. It controls the lungs, and therefore is strongly related to breathing in your life and expelling what is no longer useful. It denotes Autumn, a fading, at dusk before dark descends. When in balance, as a Metal Element you will know and be accepting of yourself at a deep level, your worth to the universe, and you will have healthy boundaries, trust, and respect for self, others, and life in general. When not in balance this element can be hindered by not reaching out for support and being too controlling. The Metal Elemental person is self-reliant, feels complete, and is persistent. For balance in your life, the presence of all five Feng Shui Elements is required for harmony—harmony in yourself, the people you are in relationship with, and your home or office space in order to thrive and feel healthy.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
The Two Cycles
There are two cycles: the Productive or Creation Cycle, and the Destructive or Control Cycle. When these two cycles are in balance, life flows like a river. If any one Element is out of balance, it affects the other Elements and then there is disharmony. It is like your bank balance: Too much spending puts a strain on your incoming deposits. The Productive or Creation Cycle starts with the Element Water, which in turn feeds Wood. Wood then feeds Fire, which nourishes Earth, and in turn Earth produces Metal, which produces Water, and so on. Without Water feeding Wood, you would have no trees or nourishment for the Earth. So it is a continuous cycle, as each Element benefits from one another, creating a constant flow and harmony. The Destructive Cycle is equally as important as the Productive Cycle. This is where you can pinpoint imbalances that are evident in your life. For example, if you have too much Water as an influence in your life, life becomes unmanageable. If you have too much Metal, there is a sign of harshness and sharp edges. It comes down to the balance of these energies. In this cycle, Wood weakens Earth, Earth absorbs Water, Water puts out Fire, and Fire melts Metal, which, in turn, chops Wood. It is an ongoing, continuous cycle. It allows you to balance the energies around you. Both cycles need to be balanced in your life, not in excess and not in lack. Use this system to create correct energetic flow in your life. It is good to understand each Element’s aspects and how you can apply them simply. The beauty is that the Five Elements, when applied, can realign your emotional inner life and its discomfort, and your psychological development—your spiritual flow and connection to the whole. When understanding your mind-body connection, health and wellbeing, checking in with the Elements is a good starting point. These Elements have many reference points that you can use in your life, and each Element governs a different aspect. In deeper studies of the Five Elements there are reference points to different areas of human life. Over the thousands of years, this system has been applied to understanding the flow of your body energy in
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS your organs, tissues, and your body-mind system; your senses, flavors, and odors; all sound and music; your emotions and virtues; colors surrounding you in nature; food that is grown; shapes of buildings, objects, and the terrain; different directions; the seasons in a year; the environment and planets beyond; domestic animals; the climate; and, importantly, the developmental stages of your life. So this is a system you can apply to everything you come in contact with, as well as your life in general.
Individual Application Not everyone is the same. Different people have different energy systems, and these need to be respected. So you can apply this Elemental system to your emotional and spiritual flow, your relationships, your health and well-being. From a more personal perspective, you can research which Element you were born under, and your personal Kua number and how that affects your life flow. (Your personal Kua number is similar to your life number in numerology.) For instance, you will sleep well if you are facing the right direction that is in flow with your personal Kua number; if not, you will have disrupted sleep. As sleep is possibly one of the five major aspects of good health, not sleeping properly can be a trigger for imbalances and dis-ease to find you. When your whole system is weakened with a downward adrenal and nerve response, it is imperative to ensure that your sleeping position is to your optimum benefit. In the different Feng Shui schools, in particular The Flying Star, your Kua number is routinely used to apply auspicious aspects in your life and space, in particular your environment, in which you live and work. It is well worth the research and can give some deep insights to your life. So even if you are a different Element than your partner, when you apply these principles, you are able to come to solutions that support both of your energies. Always good to know! You can take this knowledge of the Five Elements and apply it across your life, and I invite you to do that. I will take a few areas discussed above to give you examples of application: your health and body, your emotions, colors and shapes representing your mind-body, your emotional state, and your environment.
Your Physical Health In health, many modalities use the Chinese Five Element system: acupuncture, kinesiology, acupressure, acupoint therapies, plus others. They are used to find out where the imbalances lie so your system of energies in the body and mind can be balanced, thus relieving any imbalances and blockages in your energy field to create flow. The Elements correspond to various systems. Your circulatory, glandular, respiratory, lymphatic, structural, muscular, digestive, nervous, emotional, mental, and reproductive systems, including your skin, brain, cells, and organs—all communicate through your meridian system. This carries information from one part of your body to the other. So it makes sense that if imbalances occur in your digestive system, for instance, or your muscular system is blocked, it can have an effect on your glandular and lymphatic systems.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Your system is a whole energy system. Remember that everything is connected, so are the body–mind parts! The five different Elements also have specific times of day when they are at their peak and their weakest.
Elemental Body Organs Water: Kidney and bladder Wood: Liver and gallbladder Fire: Heart and circulation: triple warmer and small intestine Earth: Spleen and stomach Metal: Lung and large intestine In each element one yin organ is paired with one yang organ, and they work in concert. The yang organs are known as the hollow organs. The five yang organs drain fluid and energy out of the body, and are the large intestine, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and bladder. The yin organs produce, transform, and store Qi, blood, bodily fluids, and essence. The five yin organs are the lungs, spleen, heart, liver, and kidneys. The triple warmer is sometimes considered a sixth yin organ. When your systems are not in harmony you create stress and imbalance. Your body does not like stress at all. Most dis-eases today are related to the impact of stress on your body and mind. Western society is so busy, noisy, competitive, and stressful; your Elemental system is often out of balance as a result of this. Remove the stress, and automatically your body will respond, and will create and enjoy calmness and harmony. There are many ways to support your system to counter this. Here are a few tips to help you along in your day: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Meditate or take time in nature each day, and regularly do exercise you enjoy! Eat healthy organic foods and prepare them yourself, and drink lots of water. Ensure you sleep well. Keep a youthful and active mind, smile, and have fun! Don’t carry grudges or resentments, don’t compare yourself to others, and forgive yourself often.
Your Emotions Your emotions are affected by many things. This includes how you mentally filter what is around you, your thoughts and beliefs, what happens to you directly and indirectly, and what you ultimately perceive through your reality. So what you have stored in your subconscious mind over time, any responses of your senses, the odors you smell, the flavors you taste, your environment—people, spaces, colors, energies. You will have a response to all of it, whether you are aware of it or not. These emotional responses will have either a positive or negative effect on you, all signposts to the flow in your life, giving you indications of what is or is not working for you. The question to ask is: “Is your energy going against you, and what can you do to change it?”
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
Elemental Emotions Water: Fear and anxiety or calmness Wood: Anger and resentment or patience Fire: Hate or joy and love Earth: Worry or empathy Metal: Grief and guilt or courage Big negative emotions have a habit of contracting your energy quickly, and then you have no space to be centered and grounded. Here are a few simple tips to handle your emotions and let them pass so you are not swallowed up in their drama: 1. Breathe five deep breaths slowly, and see how your energy changes immediately and your auric field expands. 2. Take a five-minute walk away from what you are doing. 3. If there is a persistent worried thought, acknowledge what it is, write it down, and come back to it later. 4. Tell yourself the truth about the emotions you are feeling; accept and take responsibility for what you have created. 5. Move your body around for a few minutes by stretching or dancing; it is amazing how this shifts a mood!
Your Space and Environment
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS In my days of interior Design, I was asked to check out the design of a casino in relationship to the Feng Shui of the floor plan. I made suggestions for improvement of the design flow, which were not implemented. Within nine months of the commencement of the project it had collapsed. Is this coincidence, or was there something deeper at work here? My belief is that energy plays an enormous part in our daily lives, and it behooves us to take notice! Imbalances are also caused by “clutter” that surrounds you in your home and office. Cleaning out what is no longer wanted, or giving away items that no longer portray your life or represent your deepest values, is a very powerful action to take. It keeps energy flowing, clearly and concisely. One small tip when doing this: Have a friend with you, as the process can bring up a lot of emotions, maybe anxieties, as you visit old memories and cut old cords that need to be honored and be released. However, the gift at the end is a clean palette to do with what you will. When applying Feng Shui principles in design, each Element has a specific shape and color. This system can be applied to your living and working space, ensuring that energy flows and supports your lifestyle. Each Element relates to the building blocks of life and the five platonic solids (i.e., Earth denotes a square shape, Fire a triangle, etc.; see below).
Elemental Shapes
Elemental Colors
Water: Wavy
Water: Blue, black
Wood: Rectangular
Wood: Green, brown
Fire: Triangular
Fire: Red, strong yellow, orange, purple, pink
Earth: Square
Earth: light yellow, sandy/earthy, light brown
Metal: Round
Metal: White, gray
There are many different schools of Feng Shui where you can learn about the flow of your environment; they number too many to list. When Qi or energy is blocked in your space, the outward manifestation of this is easily recognized in the form of whether your career is fulfilling you, attracting to you the correct relationships that support you, ensuring your health and energy are at the optimum, or your abundance is flowing. You can apply Feng Shui principles throughout your house, your bedroom, your office, and even your desk that can enhance the flow of positive energies. To enhance the elemental flow of your environment, depending whether you want more or less impact of an element, use the shapes and colors above. Here are some tips you can use to do that for you; always check in with yourself on how it feels. A good idea is to leave it for a few days. Then, if the change you have made does not feel right, you can shift it around again. Always make sure you are happy with what you have done.
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS Allow your creative spark to rise, be imaginative in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, and remember to use these techniques in any outside areas, too. You can create miracles by thinking outside the box! The Water Element is about flowing and reflecting: Use the color blue with soft shapes. Use black frames for paintings, images, or photos of water landscapes. Use small table fountains for running water, or mirrors to reflect nature into your house. Use scatter cushions and throw rugs to soften seating, or flowing curtains. Maybe a lovely black stone Buddha! Feel how it makes a difference! The Wood Element is about feeding and nurturing: Use healthy and vibrant plants. There are particular plants that purify your space; you can even use the smell of herbs in the kitchen. Use wooden photo frames, statues, Buddhas, and objects in places where you cannot use plants (i.e., the bedroom). Use the color green to give you a feeling of nature. A bamboo plant is supposed to be lucky! Have bamboo hanging chimes for a general sound when blowing in the wind. The Fire Element is about expanding and purifying: To brighten up an area, use splashes of the red spectrum around the house. Not too much, as it can become overpowering use it in sparingly. You can have fun with choosing objects, paintings, candle holders, photo frames, cushions, rugs, and materials that have texture. Natural fabrics are best; perhaps choose velvet or silk for a luxurious feel. The ultimate is to be able to create fire with candles and with a fireplace. The Earth Element is about stabilizing and grounding: Here you are looking to create grounding in a space. You can use items that speak of the earth, such as crystals or large stones, or even earthenware pottery in the kitchen. Use objects and figurines made of earth such as clay, terracotta, or even salt rock lamps, as they add a warmth and calmness to the space. You can use crystal chandelier lighting for something different. Add lovely earthen tones for floor rugs made of natural fibers. The Metal Element is about transforming and letting go of the old: Use white, gray or even metalcolored (i.e., gold, bronze, silver, etc.) paints to change and brighten up an area instantly. Anything metal goes: photo frames, picture frames, metal wind chimes, metal figurines or Buddhas, or even metal wall sculptures. Mental vases and décor items can also be used for enhancing the space. Add the soft colors of white and cream, and metal colors in gold, silver, and bronze, in the form of rugs, curtains, bedspreads, and throws to soften an area. Applying all these principles will affect the nature of your life, your relationships with yourself and others, and your life direction and soul’s journey. So be adventurous; do something new to your space at home or your office. Ensure the changes you make feel and look right for you. Be clear about the results you want to achieve. Have fun with Feng Shui and the Five Elements. Notice the changes in your life as you become more balanced and in flow with your energy and the space around you. Wishing you harmony in your travels! “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” –Lao Tzu Tung
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5 SECRETS TO BALANCED, HEALTHY LIVING: HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE 5 ELEMENTS
—SUMMARY—
THE NEXT STEP FORWARD We hope you enjoyed your experience reading 5 Secrets to Balanced, Healthy Living: The Power of the Five Elements. Let this experience propel you into taking more responsibility for your wellness. The outer realms of your environment reflect what is inside of you. Realize that you are part of the greater whole. Currently, the world is experiencing a shift in consciousness. In order to turn the world into a co-creative and cooperative place, massive changes are required. You are part of this change; respect all life. If you nourish and nurture yourself, you will create a cohesive, harmonious space for all. Take responsibility for your own backyard. Be accountable for your own energy and health. Be mindful of your emotional state of being, and your spiritual development and expansion. Recognize that you are a part of the wholevone Universal energy—one body, mind, and spirit. May your journey be fruitful! May you find joy, health, balance, and harmony!
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