Five Element Acupuncture is a practice of traditional Chinese medicine that aims to balance the body's five elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water - to promote health and well-being. Each element is associated with specific organs, emotions, seasons, colours, and other aspects of nature, and imbalances can lead to illness or disharmony.
* Please note that when we refer to an capitalised organ (eg.Heart, Spleen etc) in Chinese Medicine, we are referring to the energetics of that organ and not the physical.
Here's a brief description of the Five Elements and their correspondences in Five Element Acupuncture.
Fire
Corresponding to the Heart, Small intestine, Pericardium, and Triple heater organs, Fire symbolises passion, joy, and emotional warmth. It is connected to the summer season and the colour red.
When the Fire element is not in balance symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, low moods and depression can occur.
Earth
Linked to the Spleen and Stomach organs, the Earth element signifies nurturing, stability, and balance. It is associated with the late summer season and the colour yellow.
When in balance, this allows us to care for ourselves and others giving us good solid foundations. When it becomes unbalanced, overthinking and worry take over. From a physical perpective digestive issues such as IBS can appear, food cravings, tiredness and bloating.
Metal
Represented by the Lung and Large Intestine organs, Metal embodies clarity, precision, and strength. It is related to the autumn season and the colour white.
When the Metal element is balanced it allows us to appropriately take on new relationships and let go of the things that no longer serve a purpose. The emotion associated with Metal is Grief which can take on many forms. It does not always mean the loss of a loved or cared one, it can be a longing for how things used to be, When the Metal energy becomes unbalanced, it can occur on many levels; being stuck in grief, holding onto possessions and 'clutter'. Digestively - constipation and other digestive issues such as Diverticulitis,. Other physical issues can manifest such as a weak immune system, chest infections and lung conditions.
Water
The Water element represents wisdom, adaptability, and calmness associated with the kidney and bladder organs. It is connected to the winter season and the colours blue or black.
When the Water element is not balanced, it can affect the musculoskeletal structure - back pains, joint pains and the like but also can affect fertility.
Wood
This element is associated with the liver and gallbladder organs and represents growth, flexibility, and assertiveness. It is linked to the spring season and the colour green.
When the Wood element is out of balance, anger and frustration can occur and physically migraines, headaches and sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep or dream disturbed sleep can indicate an imbalance. Irregular, painful or heavy periods can also occur.
In Five Element Acupuncture, practitioners diagnose patients based on their physical symptoms, emotional state, and personality traits to determine which element is out of balance. Treatment involves stimulating specific acupuncture points related to the imbalanced element along the body's meridians to restore harmony and promote healing.
Five Element Acupuncture differs from other forms of acupuncture, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or Japanese styles, in its diagnostic approach and treatment focus. While TCM acupuncture may focus more on symptom relief and addressing specific health conditions, Five Element Acupuncture aims to address the root cause of imbalance by restoring harmony among the five elements.
Five Element Acupuncture is a holistic approach to healthcare that considers the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit, emphasising the importance of balance and harmony for overall well-being.
If you are interested in seeing how Five Element Acupuncture can help support you, contact me on 07590 259888 or send me an email at
