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). 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.

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.

The goal of Five Element acupuncture is to enhance personal alignment with what the ancient Taoists called the Laws of Nature. When living in accordance with these Laws, the health of the body, mind and spirit is supported. These Laws include the concepts of Qi, Yin-yang and the Five Elements, the three key components of traditional Chinese philosophy . Qi is described as the vital life force which animates all living things. In the Five Element system, Qi is defined as Energy which is conducted through the body in the meridian pathways which supplies the organs and the body, mind and spirit. When the Qi is balanced a person remains well, when imbalanced illness can occur.

The Five Elements divides human experience into five distinct group- ings. These Elements act as maps that reflect all levels of human function, including, but not limited to, the anatomic and physiologic functioning of the organ systems. The levels of function range from biochemical processes to the function of the person as a whole ranging from behavior, psychologi- cal state, emotions, spiritual state and intellect to relationships and career. The Five Elements include Wood (liver and gall bladder), Fire (heart, small intestine, triple heater, pericardium), Earth (spleen, stomach), Metal (lung, colon) and Water (kidney, bladder).

Please contact Dr. Sarah for more information.