Metal element

Metal element

Introduction

Five Element acupuncture as practiced in the West is a distillation of traditional concepts from Chinese medicine which emphasizes treating the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Many of the current practitioners of this healing art have been trained by J.R. Worsley, who has captured the essence of this remarkable system and brilliantly applied it to the dilemmas and challenges of modern life. This article reflects the training I had with Worsley and my experience of applying it over 25 years in a primary care medical practice. (arnes, LL 2005)

The Five Element acupuncture system, rooted in Taoism, is over 2000 years old yet in many ways is more applicable today than ever before. Five Element acupuncture brings a vision and understanding of how to assess and treat the roots of illness, whether on a body, mind or spirit level. In today's culture, with its emphasis on striving for material wealth, as well as the overwhelming mental stimulation, there is little to nurture the spirit. This has led to the clinical finding that many individuals today have the origin of their health problems on the spirit level. The Tao Te Ching discusses protecting the spirit through the state of desirelessness (wu wei). (1) The knowledge that addressing the spirit is critical is also found in the earliest writings in Chinese medicine, the Nei Ching Su Wen "the first method of acupuncture is to cure the spirit, the second was to give knowledge of how to restore the body. In order to make acupuncture effective one must first cure the spirit. (2) The gift of Five Element acupuncture is to make available the wisdom and understanding of these classical concepts of acupuncture for the challenges of life at the brink of the new millennium. (arnes, LL 2005)

Explanation

Classical 5 Element

Acupuncture is drawn from the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine. Its reliance on the laws of nature and its ability to reach all levels of illness - (Jin JX, Jin LL 2006)body, mind and spirit - set it apart from other systems of medicine. In Chinese medicine it is recognized that the essential ingredient of life is "QI," the vital force that controls the function of all organs and systems in the body. QI is the spark of life in all living things. QI is the basis for and can be recognized through movement. The ancient Chinese masters observed that QI moves in cycles and they named these cycles the "Wu Hsing" or 5 Great Changes. These 5 phases of the journey of QI became known as the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. These five elements describe the characteristics of QI as it moves through seasons and lifetimes and as it manifests on a day to day level in nature and in human beings. (Jin JX, Jin LL 2006)

When nature is healthy Qi is flowing through its 5 phases in balance and harmony. When one of the elements is depleted or excessive in strength, the symptoms of ...