Five Element Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient system of medicine originating in China and the Far East that has been used effectively as a holistic healing method for over 2,000 years. It is used as part of mainstream healthcare in many countries.
Energy (qi) flows around our bodies along pathways (meridians). When we are in health, this flow is smooth and uninterrupted. However, for many reasons including lifestyle and environmental factors, this flow can become blocked, weakened, or disturbed. This results in pain or illness. Many people have noticed that when they are stressed or overworked, they become ill more easily – but when they are in good health and happy with life, their health is rarely an issue.
Acupuncturists seek to find and treat the root cause of disease, with the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of life all seen as interdependent. Using very fine needles on specific points along the meridians, they help unblock and restore the smooth flow of energy, helping the body to naturally heal itself. You may notice other, niggling health problems improving, as well as the main issue that brought you to acupuncture.
As treatment brings relief, many patients describe feeling a greater sense of well-being:
“My back pain hasn’t gone completely, but I’m more able to deal with it” J.F Heathfield
There are over 350 acupuncture points on the human body, but as each person is unique, a Five Element Acupuncturist will select points particularly relevant for you, through understanding your symptoms and medical history. We don’t work to a specific plan or protocol, instead we develop a treatment plan for each individual, enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Can Acupuncture help me?
Acupuncture has been proved to work for a variety of physical and emotional problems. It is used to treat specific health issues, or as a preventative form of medicine.
The Five Elements
There are several different types of acupuncture throughout the world, as throughout the ages different styles of treatment have emerged. Jeanie practises Classical Five Element Acupuncture, as taught by J R Worsley.
“Having seen the benefit of Five Element Acupuncture to my own health, it was a natural choice”
Five Element Acupuncture treats you, not just your symptoms. A Five Element Acupuncturist will look not only at the problem you come to them with, but how it developed – and how you are coping with it. Unless the pain has started with an injury, it can often be part of a larger picture of what is happening in your body: this means that an individualised treatment will be prescribed, rather than a formula.
Stress has become an inevitable part of 21st century life, Five Element Acupuncture can help counterbalance its effects, restore harmony and balance, to help you navigate a smoother path through life. Looking beyond your stress and pain, it can help you be the person you aspire to be.
According to Chinese philosophy, all the universe is manifested in the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. They make up the world in which we live and influence how we function throughout our lives: each element is responsible for the different organs in our body, and different seasons in nature. They also represent a constant cycle of change and growth. In nature, the elements correspond with the seasons:
Wood
The energy of Spring – Wood gives us structure to plan our lives and make decisions. The Wood Element helps us see a sense of future, hope and possibility. When out of balance, it can result in anger and frustration.
Fire
The energy of Summer – Fire gives us the ability to give and receive love, communicate with others, and feel warmth and joy. When out of balance, it can result in either lack of joy (sadness) or excess joy.
Earth
The energy of Late Summer – Earth enables us to nurture ourselves and others, to show empathy and caring. When out of balance, people can crave sympathy – or reject it.
Metal
The energy of Autumn – Metal allows us to experience our sense of quality and self-worth, as well as giving us the ability to let go. When out of balance, a person can feel cut off, without connection or worthless.
Water
The energy of Winter – Water gives us our identity and will to survive through our ability to adapt. Giving Knowledge and knowhow, when Water is out of balance it can result in excess fear – or a complete lack of it.
We need to have the correct balance of the elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood within us, and for energy to move through them smoothly.
The individual combination of these elements shows up as our strengths and weaknesses. Most of us have one element that is weaker than the others. By strengthening and nurturing this element, the others are also helped – and we become healthy and balanced.
Five Element Acupuncture helps people move through the seasons more easily, dealing with seasonally related health issues – from hay fever to seasonal depression.