Five Element acupuncture is the most ancient and classical tradition of all styles of acupuncture, dating back to the time of Lao Tzu 2000 years ago, and was first elaborated in the Chinese classic The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. As the name implies, this system treats the state of the 12 internal organs of a person with the aim of bringing them into harmony and balance. It is imbalances in the life force energy of the internal organs, called “chi”, which results in the myriad of the western named illnesses. In Chinese medicine, these are actually all symptoms of a poor energetic state in one or more of our organs.
By focusing on the energy imbalance, rather than the symptoms, the body can be restored to health and can heal itself. This is the fundamental difference between the Five Element approach and other acupuncture styles. It is a holistic, or “constitutional” approach, treating the entire person, body, emotions, mind and spirit. This approach cannot only alleviate or completely cure symptoms, but it also improves energy and mood, and restores a person’s sense of well-being.
Acupuncture is effective for treating most common maladies such as migraines, digestive problems, asthma, joint problems such as knee and back pain, low energy, and mood disturbances, to name a few. It is remarkably successful in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
