Fire. Earth. Metal. Water. Wood.
The Five Elements in Chinese Medicine represent a theoretical foundation for how nature acts, and in turn, how our bodies, mind, and spirit interact with nature. The Five Elements can be broken down into categories relating to all aspects of nature like tastes, colors, emotions, organs, and sounds. Their relationships are all interconnected, much like in nature.
We are each a combination of the five elements, but usually, one element is most dominant within our personalities. Acupuncturists can diagnose imbalances within the different aspects of the elements to help patients relieve emotional, physical, and spiritual symptoms, in order to better connect body, mind, and spirit.
Knowing which element is dominant within ourselves and our children can help us with unhealthy patterns. Irregular sleep patterns, emotional symptoms like anxiety, stress, and depression, digestion changes like diarrhea or constipation, changes in skin like dryness, changes in appetite or all signs of an out of balance system. Diet, acupressure, yoga postures, and mindful awareness can all provide a reset when our element is out of whack.
Fire
The Fire Element person loves to be the center of attention, and they love joy and life. You can often hear the sound of laughter in their speech. Fire children are often warm with red cheeks and refuse to wear a jacket on cold days. They can be loud and full of energy. The enjoy a large social circle of friends any may love theater and dance.
When a Fire Element child or adult is out of balance some of the emotional symptoms they might experience are:
Agitation
Anxiety
Continuous laughter
Critical, cynical behavior
Excessive and/or vivid dreaming
Forgetfulness
Lack of joy or humor
Lack of self-love
Mania
Mental confusion
Poor self-esteem
Restlessness
Earth
The Earth Element person is a nurturer at heart. They enjoy hosting family gatherings and thinking about the people they love. Earth Element children may enjoy playing house and caretaking dolls and animals. They find peace in helping with cooking, taking care of younger children, and small communities of friends and family.
When an Earth Element child or adult is out of balance some of the emotional symptoms they might experience are:
Confusion
Craving sympathy
Feeling ungrounded
Insecurity/neediness
Obsessive thoughts
Over-protective
Restless sleep
Selfish behavior
Worry
Poor concentration
Poor memory
Scattered feeling
Metal
A Metal Element person craves order and organization. They are often the people first to clean up a party, often during the party. They are comfortable with clearly defined boundaries, rules, and expectations. A Metal Element child needs structure and feels out of balance without it. Their birthday wishes may be high-quality items, but few of them. They enjoy games with clear rules, like board games, and might not enjoy spontaneous adventures.
When a Metal Element child or adult is out of balance some of the emotional symptoms they might experience are:
Apathy
Boredom
Grief
Inability to let go
Lack of inspiration
Melancholy
Sadness
Timidity
Water
A Water Element person usually loves the arts. They are flexible and fluid in their personalities, enjoying surprises and spontaneity. A Water Element child does not mind their hands full of paint, mud, clay or any other creative project. They seem to “go with the flow” easier than other kids, may be found daydreaming, and can make up bedtime stories with ease.
When a Water Element child or adult is out of balance some of the emotional symptoms they might experience are:
Armoring
Depression
Fear
Feeling overwhelmed
Lack of willpower
Moaning and groaning
Panic attacks
Paranoia
Timidity
Adrenal weakness
Wood
A Wood Element person is comfortable in a leadership position. They thrive being in control of work and family life, be it as a CEO of a large corporation or in charge of command central of the family dry erase board dictating the calendar. A Wood Element child may enjoy being captain of a team sport and may tend toward tantrums when they feel they are being told what to do. Strong-willed and highly intelligent, Wood Element children may find success on debate teams and should be given lots of responsibilities at home.
When a Wood Element child or adult is out of balance some of the emotional symptoms they might experience are:
Aggressive behavior
Anger and angry outbursts
Bitterness
Depression
Emotional repression
Frustration
Impatience
Inability to plan or organize
Indecision
Irritability
Jealousy
Moodiness
Negative outlook
Over-fastidious planning
Resentment
A rigid and inflexible attitude
Shouting
Timidity
If you are interested in finding out which of the five elements in Chinese medicine dominates your or your child’s personality? Take this quiz from Integrative Acupuncture!
This 25 question quiz to determine which of the five elements in Chinese medicine dominates your personality can be taken for yourself or for someone you love. After you complete it, you will be emailed a detailed guide about your element with ideas for diet, acupressure, and yoga to help you find balance.
