The Balance of the Five Elements

By Clive Witham

In the ancient Oriental medical system that was developed long ago, both yin and yang and the theory of the five elements were integrated as a way of better understanding the dynamics of the human body.

As in nature, the five elements– Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire – were noted to interact with each other within the body and to form an intricate relationship in maintaining good health.

Each of the elements is associated with organs in the body, as well as a whole host of other categories. Note: It is important to remember that the elements are representations of processes and functions in the body and not supposed to be taken literally. So, for example, the Lungs and Large Intestine are categorized as being within the Metal element even though there is nothing physically metallic about them. It is merely the case of using the principles of nature and applying them to other areas. Sometimes this makes logical sense – the Bladder is within the Water element, for example. Sometimes not – the Liver is categorized as Wood.

To maintain good health, all five elements must be in balance with each other. When they are not, signs and symptoms appear that can tell us which of the elements may be weak.

For example, an aggressive, tense person with a curt voice and a slight green tinge around their mouth could very well have an imbalance in Wood. This would probably mean that the two organs associated with Wood – the Liver and Gall Bladder – have developed their own imbalances.

Of course, the real situation is usually much more complicated than this, but these serve as very useful clues as to what is happening in the body.

The Five Elements

The following is a summary of how the body may react when one of the elements is out of balance. This information can be of great help in understanding some of our tendencies and where they come from.

When Wood is balanced it allows us to be calm, unaffected by stress, and have good decision-making and leadership skills. When imbalanced we can become frustrated, angry, impatient, aggressive, explosive, depressed, moody, unable to structure our lives appropriately, and prone to headaches, eye problems, and swellings.

A tendency towards having any of these characteristics or symptoms could mean that the strength of the Wood element holds an important place in keeping you healthy.

When Fire is balanced it is easy to be open-minded, genuinely friendly, enthusiastic, humble, to think clearly, and be a problem-solver.

When Fire is imbalanced, however, we can have depression, mood swings, memory problems, confusion, a pale or red complexion, and be inappropriately open and vulnerable. A predominance of these characteristics or symptoms could mean that the state of the Fire element holds the key to your good health.

When Earth is balanced we can have a strong appetite, smooth digestion, strong arm and leg muscles, and can be responsible, stable, creative, and imaginative.

When it is imbalanced we can have a poor appetite and digestion, stuck feelings, put on weight, and be tired, overly concerned, and worried. If these characteristics feel more familiar to you, the Earth element may be the most important to keep in balance for your health.

When Metal is balanced we can be principled, consistent, ordered, good at prioritizing, and have well-conditioned skin and hair. When Metal is imbalanced we are more likely to be confused, dissatisfied, disordered, unable to let go, have an inappropriate view of own worth, and have dull skin and hair. Should any of these symptoms or characteristics ring true, the Metal element may be the one that most needs to be balanced.

When Water is balanced we can be calm, consistent, wise, easygoing, and flexible. When Water is imbalanced we can become fearful and insecure, take inappropriate risks, have joint, bone and teeth problems, problems with hearing, and urinary and reproductive problems.

A tendency towards having these characteristics or symptoms suggests that the Water element may hold sway inside our system and be the one most in need of balance.

Excerpt from: THE BOOK OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE: A COMPLETE SELF-TREATMENT GUIDE by Clive Witham

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Clive Witham is a licensed acupuncturist and runs an acupuncture clinic in a Spanish enclave in North Africa where he promotes Oriental ideas of healing and self-treatment. He has trained in the UK, China, Thailand and Japan, and is also a Member of the British Acupuncture Council.

For more information or to purchase the book, visit: FindhornPress.com