Acupuncture and the Principle of the Five Elements

The Five Elements (known as the Wu Xing in Chinese) describes the flow of Qi and the balance of Yin and Yang throughout the seasons and our lives.

According to the principle, all change “in the universe and in your body ” occurs in five distinct phases. Each of these phases is associated with a particular time of year, a specific element in nature, and a pair of organs in the body. The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water in Eastern philosophy. A practitioner of Traditional Chinese medicine uses this principle to diagnose and treat health problems, linking specific foods, herbs, and acupuncture points to the restoration of yin-yang and Qi throughout the year.