Most of the time Chinese ideas of the elements sound something of mythology or mystical to the Western Society, but these elements will bring you to the same conclusion of Western Medicine, except it has a different way of relating life to medicine. The five elements relate closely with the idea of “qi,” or energy in the body. Acupuncture seeks to resolve imbalances in the five elements, which result in the disruption of the flow of qi in the body.

As you may know, the Chinese look at everything in the aspect of yin and yang; everything has a positive, everything as a negative. The Chinese also look at everything with a view of yin and yang. You can think of yin and yang as opposites in the terms of spring and winter. Yin is associated with all of that is positive. You will find that the rebirth, warmth of life, spring, and all of the light in the world is Yin. Yin is the beauty of the world. It is the beauty of nature. When it comes to Yang, you will find that it is everything dark in the world. Things like winter, downward actions, hibernation, and dying of summer is what Yang is referred to. Each element can be associated with either yin or yang, and each of these pairings in turn represents a part of the body.

When it comes to the spleen and stomach, you will find dampness or yang. You will find that coldness is linked to the kidneys and bladder. Then the heart and the small intestine is paired with fire, while metal is associated to the large intestine, lungs, and dryness. As for the wood, you will find it to be associated with the liver and the gallbladder is the wind. When you study these elements and the body, you will begin to know how you can treat your ailments and you will be able to use acupuncture to help your body get back in line. In fact, many studies will support all of these associations. You will need to remember that you need to be open to new ideas and then you can find ways to live in a healthy way.

First, it is important to note there are five main types of qi energy: Qi, Jing, Xue, Jin Ye, and Shen. Qi can be roughly translated to “matter-energy.” It causes the movements in the universe, but it is a vital part of your own good health. Some equate the Qi to the soul. Jing can be most closely translated to “essence” in the English language, but there are no exact words in Western terms that mean Jing. When it come to Jing, it is something that is inherited like DNA and then we are able to create out own by eating certain foods and through the air that we breathe.  Jing, then can be somewhat called “health,” since we genetically receive some health predisposition, but also effect our own health and the health of our children with our lifestyle choices.

Literally meaning blood, Xue is the liquid that flows in the blood and through the Qi or energy of the body. The health of the two is dependent on one another. Jin Ye is also a tangible idea – bodily fluids. These include saliva, milk, tears, genital secretions, sweat, stomach fluids, and other liquids of the body. Finally, Shen is simply just the spirit of the body. Traditionally, your spirit is located in your heart.

Acupuncture is a way that you can treat the energies and to help create a healthy body. The energies are important since that help us develop body heat, defend illness, grow and develop, control the body’s blood and organs, transform, and break down the body’s metabolism. If you get acupuncture done on a regular basis, then you will be able to turn all of your negativity in your Qi to be released.