Acupuncture is a system of medicine from China that is thousands of years old. It is likely that more people have been treated by Chinese medicine throughout history than by any other formalized system of medicine. The fact that it is still practiced today demonstrates its effectiveness.

Chinese medicines recognizes that our life force or “chi” flows along pathways or meridians. In order for us to experience greater health of the Body, Mind and Spirit, it is essential that the flow of our chi energy is smooth and sufficient. When the flow of chi is impeded or deficient, illness inevitably occurs. By utilizing hair-fine sterile needles placed in specific energy points along these pathways, acupuncture stimulates the chi, removing impediments and enhancing the flow and quality of chi, allowing us to experience greater health.

Classical Five-Element Acupuncture recognizes that we are more than just physical bodies. We all have minds and spirits, too. When we are ill, all three are affected and most often illness starts at the spirit level. Therefore, five-element acupuncture treats more than just physical symptoms, it also treats the mind and spirit.

Five-element acupuncture is unique because it looks for the root cause of disease or imbalance. It is not the illness that is treated, but the person who has the illness. Therefore, treatments are designed according to our unique needs as individual patients. Working in harmony with the laws of nature, the five-element acupuncturist stimulates the body’s own natural healing response and brings about balance at a deep level.

Classical Five-Element Acupuncture is also preventative, not just curative. After all, health is more than just the absence of sickness, it is the state of well-being. Periodic acupuncture tune-ups can us maintain this state of well-being.

The Chinese based Five-Element Acupuncture on their observation of the cycles of nature and the seasons, and used elements to represent them: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each element exists both within us and in life around us. For our lives and bodies to be healthy, all the elements must be in balance and flow harmoniously from one to the other.

WOOD is associated with spring and growth, with having a vision for our lives, with planning and decision-making and the anger and frustration we feel when thwarted. It gives us the ability to set goals and be decisive, but also to be flexible and adapt easily. We move forward in life, but are not overly driven.

FIRE goes with summer, with the maturing of our lives, our plans and our visions. It is associated with joy and our ability to have relationships, make friends, love and be loved, and have fun. It gives us the joy of a keen and lively intelligence. We feel connected to life all around us.

EARTH is associated with late summer and with the reaping of the harvest of our plans in our lives, in our work and in our families. Earth gives us the ability to take care of ourselves and others, and to feel sympathy for the suffering of others. When we are well-nourished by healthy food, stimulating information and the loving care of others, we feel secure, grounded and content.

METAL is represented by autumn, when the trees let go of their leaves. Like the trees, we need to be able to let go of old beliefs, old possessions, old relationships, the past. Metal also gives us the ability to take in, to be inspired, to see the Divine within us and around us. Metal goes with the grief we feel when we don’t recognize our own value, can’t let go of the past, and aren’t inspired. Metal gives value to our lives.

WATER is associated with winter, when rain and snow replenish the reserves that spring will draw upon. We also have reserves within us that give us the will and determination to move forward in life. Excessive demands on or squandering of our reserves of energy, money or abilities can make us fear for our survival. We must relax and rest and replenish our reserves.

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