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Acupuncture & the 5 elements - Practice L. Spring-Taylor, Bern
Acupuncture and the 5 elements Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) of which acupuncture and the 5 Elements is a part, recognises that health is more than the absence of disease and it has a unique capacity to maintain and enhance our potential for wellbeing and happiness. Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest systems of medicine dating back almost 5000 years. The Taoist philosophers of that time were astute observers of nature and realised that the fundamental processes of the universe were a good basis for understanding life. Acupuncture is the most well known therapy of oriental medicine. It is a vital component of the health care system in China, Japan and other countries, the other componants include herbs, diet and an exercise system known as Qi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan. Some health insurance providers even provide coverage for such complementary treatments. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. These points lie along channels called meridians, within which flows energy (Chi). The meridians connect the inner organs with the surface of the body. The needling of points reestablishes balance within this organmeridian system. Along with Yin Yang the 5 elements are the most important foundation of chinese medicine.
According to 5 Element theory the energy of the world can be divided into 5 movements or phases. These interrelated aspects of energy are evident in nature as Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal and are in constant movement and connection with each other. Through the associations made with the elements there arises a language to describe the world and a way to observe and determine the constitution of a person. There are many correspondences associated with each element, here is a brief outline pertaining to the 5 element diagnosis. Element
In nature
In Humanbeing
Water
Winter Cold
Kidney & Bladder Fear/Recklessness
Blue
Groaning voice
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24.04.14
Acupuncture & the 5 elements - Practice L. Spring-Taylor, Bern
Blue Seed
Groaning voice Willpower
Wood
Spring Wind Green Growth
Liver & Gall Bladder Anger/Frustration Shouting voice Life plan
Fire
Summer Heat Red Mature
Heart & small Intestine Laughing Voice Joy/Sadness Responsibility
Earth
Late summer Humidity Yellow Harvest
Spleen & Stomach Compassion/Worry Singing Voice Family
Metal
Autumn Dry White Contracting
Lung & Colon Letting go/Grief Weeping voice Connection
Each element describes a different phase in nature and in a person. How a person acts & goes about life reveals a lot about their inner state & also about the energy in their organs. A 5 element acupuncture diagnosis is about recognising which phase is out of balance and treating the corresponding organ to regain balance. The organs are not only limited to physical functions, but are responsible for our emotional and spiritual balance. Each element has a unique character and they can be described as 5 Types.
Healthy organs give us capacity for healthy emotional expression Water
Kidney
capacity to feel fear, sense & assess risk & respond appropriately.
Wood
Liver
capacity to to be assertive, have structures & boundaries enabling us to grow & develop
Fire
Heart
capacity to feel joy; give & receive warmth, love & varying degrees of emotional closeness.
Earth
Spleen
capacity to support & nourish ourselves and others appropriately
Metal
Lungs
capacity to feel loss and let go, ability to receive recognition and feel complete
Imbalance diminishes capacities associated with organ Water
Kidney
frightened & not feeling safe "Can I trust"
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Acupuncture & the 5 elements - Practice L. Spring-Taylor, Bern
Wood
Liver
anger, frustration "I dont know my direction ìn life"
Fire
Heart
hurt, abandonment, feeling rejected "I am unlovable"
Earth
Spleen
not being nourished, or supported "noone looks after me"
Metal
Lungs
not recognised or acknowledged, feeling something is missing "I'm not good enough"
(For further expansion on this theme please read "Healing your Emotions" by Angela & John Hicks)
Example case treated with acupuncture: A 52 year old teacher comes with eczema, headaches and menpopausal problems. Eczema since puberty, better after having her 2 children, returned with the menopause. Headaches when stressed. Low energy, has to lie down after lunch. Loss of hair and inexplicable weight gain. Feels better in the fresh air. Needs a lot of time alone. Holds high values for herself and others and is described by collegues as a perfectionist. Difficulty expressing emotions which makes her seem cool and hard. She is hurt by a lot of things but doesn't show it. Recuperates by taking long walks in the mountains. Diagnosis: Metal element in focus Treatment: Appropriate points along the lung and colon merdian Result: 1 week later: No change in symtoms but felt very relaxed and happier 2 weeks later: Cleared out her work room and threw a lot of old stuff away. Less critical about herself and more satisfied with her performance. Fewer flushes of heat otherwise no change in symptoms. 1 bad headache 3 weeks later: Feeling much better in herself "like I have more room to breathe" 4 weeks later: Eczema improving a little, has more energy to get behind the things she has been neglecting. Started a diet 5 weeks later: No headaches, energy better, no longer needs to take naps. Eczema slowly improving. Flushes of heat much better, still losing hair. Inner sense of wellbeing and better able to express emotions. "I am more tolerant of others' stupidness." Lost 2 kilos Acupuncture treatments were reduced to fortnightly then monthly over a period of 1 year, after which all symptoms were better. She uses acupuncture now as a preventive measure by coming for treatment 2 to 3 times a year or in particularly stressful times. Lorraine SpringTaylor Acupuncture and TCM practice Thunstrasse 22, CH3005 Bern, Switzerland Phone: +41 31 352 73 83 Mobile Phone/SMS: +41 78 766 82 62 EMail:
[email protected] Homepage: www.5elements.ch www.5elements.ch/praxis/en/acupuncture.html
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Acupuncture & the 5 elements - Practice L. Spring-Taylor, Bern
Homepage: www.5elements.ch Webmaster: Thomas Lüthi, tomogramm.ch Webdesign Bern. Last modified: 25 November 2011. URL for this page: http://www.5elements.ch/praxis/en/acupuncture.html
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