Healing through the 5 Elements: Water

Healing with the Five Elements: The Water Element
By Dr. Matthew Lyon, DC, L.Ac

Winter is the season associated the water element in Chinese medicine. As I write this, the winter solstice is approaching. Darkness abounds and the purifying action of the northwest rains reminds me of the power inherent in the water element. The quiet stillness and rain of the winter nourish the seeds of the life that will bloom again in spring. Hence, the water element provides the deep nourishment for all activities of life, birth, and growth. In the darkest period of the year, the fire that blazes in the summer is born.  In the stillness of the Water element, we build the reserves needed to fulfill our function and destiny. Without the water element’s nourishment, we often burn out and lose touch with our original purpose. Water contains the seeds of our “curriculum” in this lifetime. Water holds the blueprint of our souls’ life purpose.

The organs associated with the water element are the bladder and the kidney. The bladder stores our body’s fluids and maintains our energy reserves. The kidneys balance and distribute fluids in our bodies. The kidney contains the well of vital life essence that we are born with called “Jing” in Chinese medicine. When the water element is depleted we may experience exhaustion and total depletion. Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are often manifestations of a water element imbalance. For men, impotence and a loss of libido may indicate a water imbalance. For women, infertility is one sign that the water element is disturbed. The water element in Chinese medicine governs the entire endocrine system.

The water element nourishes and lubricates every joint in our body. The water element provides the flexibility and fluidity for movement. Stiffness, tightness, and joint pains are often a manifestation of an imbalance in the water element. Degenerative arthritis, low back pain, knee problems, and various joint pains reflect disruptions in the water element.

The emotion associated with the water element is fear. When the water element is out of balance we may experience fear that shows up in every aspect of our lives: relationships, career, finances, and personal growth. An imbalanced water element habitually reacts to fear instead of responding with wisdom and equanimity. Often, the reserves of Jing are continually used up in a desperate attempt to control, manage or run away from fear.

The spirit associated with the water element is willpower that guides us to take steps in life that are congruent with our soul’s purpose. It is the commitment to live the highest virtues in life even when we are faced with fear and extraordinary difficulties.

Ironically, when we overuse this will through habitually reacting to fear, we end up exhausted and depleted. In order to find balance with fear, we must cultivate wisdom. The importance of the development of authentic wisdom cannot be overemphasized. Wisdom guides us to respond to life and utilize our resources appropriately.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are remarkable in their ability to help with exhaustion, fatigue, back pain, joint pain, arthritis, and various hormonal imbalances. In addition, Chinese medicine as discussed in this article can be an indispensable tool in reconnecting to your deeper purpose of life while developing new strategies and resources for living life to its fullest.

Healing through the 5 Elements: Metal

The 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine: The Metal Element
By Matthew Lyon DC, L.Ac

This month, we’ll continue with our look at the 5 elements of Chinese Medicine. In this issue, we will examine the Metal Element. The Metal Element corresponds to the season of Fall. In the physiology of Chinese medicine, the Metal Element corresponds to the Lungs and Large Intestines. The emotion related to the Metal Element is Grief.

Autumn is the time when we eliminate what is unnecessary, store up what is needed, and allow the proper process of withering and decay to unfold. The Metal Element represents contraction, cleansing, letting go, evolution through reduction, a return to simplicity, righteousness, ethics, morality, and an honoring of structure and form. In the righteousness of the Metal Element, we surrender to the will of something much greater than ourselves.

The Large intestine is the organ through which we let go of what is no longer needed. The Large Intestine is a major pathway of detoxification in our bodies. Our Lungs help us to take in life itself through the form of our breath. The Lungs allow is to “inspire” – literally to be filled not only with oxygen, but also with new levels of purpose, inspiration, and creative ideas. Thus, the two poles of the Metal Element help us maintain a balance of letting go while being receptive to new life and evolution. Physical problems that reflect an imbalance in the Metal Element are Asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, diarrhea, constipation, allergies, chronic sinus problems, multiple food allergies, depression, fatigue, obsessive & compulsive tendencies, co-dependency, and pathological interpersonal control issues. Because the lung governs the skin in Chinese Medicine, we can also see a variety of skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, and acne.

When Metal is out of balance, there is also a greater tendency to perceive life on a superficial level. When Metal is in balance, we will identify with the depth in all things.

An imbalanced Metal Element will often obsessively organize and create structure in life to a fault. This can lead one to become overly strict, rigid, self-righteous and cold. Likewise, a balanced Metal type has a wonderful sense of systems, stability, and structure.

When the Metal Element is healthy and balanced, we naturally let go of what is no longer needed with grace and dignity. We process grief in a healthy and appropriate manner. We understand our role in relationship with others, and we are able to relinquish the need to control others and challenging life situations. At the deepest level, the highest aspiration of the Metal Element is “Not my will, but Thine be done.” On another level, to the extent that we are completely transparent with our lives and have nothing to hide, and to the extent that we renounce the need to take all things personally, is to the extent that the Metal Element will be liberated within us.

I have often seen patients with a Metal imbalance who have spent their lives living in regret over a sense of loss, grief, and recrimination. “If only it had happened that way…” is a common mantra for a Metal imbalance. Often, there can be such a sense of loss, lack of “spark” and emptiness, leading one to search wildly and without genuine purpose and direction, to seek fulfillment of a void.  In balancing the Metal Element, the true self comes forth, which allows for an authentic connection with others and the Divine.

I have found no better way to balance the Metal Element than constitutional acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine.

Dr. Matt Lyon practices Chinese Medicine and Network Spinal Analysis. Visit www.drmattlyon.com for more information.

Healing through the Elements: Wood

The 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine: Wood

Wood is the element that provides the structure, rebirth, renewal, and new growth required for all of life. It is constantly expanding and branching out
The wood element controls wise decision-making, planning, and design into every area of our lives. The Wood element provides us with organized growth and movement through time into the future. Wood also allows for flexibility to adapt the changes and challenges. Wood provides order, symmetry, and clear leadership. The Wood element governs the Liver and Gallbladder in our body. In Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth and efficient flow of your body’s Qi, or vital energy.

Physically, it is easy to recognize those with a Wood constitution, as they tend to be lean, muscular, and supple with strong and slim hands and feet. Wood types love the morning and enjoy the unbounded sense of potential each new day brings. They often appear slightly flushed. Often they appear tense in the neck, jaw and shoulders.

When the wood element is balanced, people with this constitution make great leaders, executives, and decision makers. They tend to be bold, assertive, confident, decisive, powerful, to the point, clearly see the big picture and make wise and effective strategic decisions. They thrive on working under pressure. Wood types can be very kind, benevolent, and forgiving.

When out of balance, wood types can appear angry, aggressive, confrontational, overly-goal oriented, tense, tight, and even tyrannical. At times, particularly when overly tired they can come across as snobby and conceited, devious, indecisive, erratic, compulsive, short, anxious, and demanding. Wood types become angry in the face of obstacles.  People often feel Wood types have “control issues”. Even when Wood types become exhausted, they hate to slow down. As Wood types get more and more run down, they become very volatile, intolerant, and impatient.

Physically, Wood types often struggle with high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, heartburn, sciatica, very tight muscles of the neck and shoulders, headaches, migraines, jaw pain (TMJ), menstrual problems, severe PMS, tendonitis, hypoglycemia, IBS, eye problems, impotence and pre-mature ejaculation, liver and gallbladder problems, and multiple addictions, Wood types often require alcohol or other drugs to slow down.

Here are some suggestions to help balance the Wood element:

Diet: Avoid spicy, greasy, creamy foods, refined carbohydrates, and stimulants. Focus on high fiber foods, protein rich legumes, and complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and quinoa. Steamed vegetables are particularly helpful for Wood imbalances. A focus on a plant-based diet is key with an integration of healthy and organic meats as needed. Eat slowly, chew your food, and be grateful for the very experience of nourishment.

Lifestyle: Regular exercise including yoga most days of the week is critical. Practices like meditation are invaluable. Have fun and enjoy the process and journey of life.

Health Care: Acupuncture from a rich tradition is critical. Acupuncture can help balance the body in a systematic and exact fashion yielding tremendous results on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Numerous Chinese herbal formulas can be helpful. Plant based supplements such as Megafoods are wonderful. Western herbals such as Milk Thistle and Dandelion help balance the wood energy in the Liver. Network Spinal Analysis has been shown to be exceptionally helpful improving a perceived sense of wellness, health, and well-being.

Psychospiritual: Stay flexible, forgive, laugh often and much, go on retreat when you need to pull back, and never be afraid to express your beautiful intensity and leadership when needed. Create flexible structure for your life. Be kind. Use your gifts to serve humanity.

Dr. Matthew Lyon practices Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and Network Spinal Analysis. You can download his free eBook at www.drmattlyon.com.

Healing through the 5 Elements: Fire

The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine: The Fire Element

The 5-element system has been used for 2500 years to help treat a variety of health problems by individually and naturally restoring the body’s natural rhythms. As balance is restored through this gentle system, we can express our built-in capacity for boundless and radiant health.

The fire constitution relates to the season of summer. Imagine how summer feels to you: warmth, bright sun, excitement, activity, and expansion. The emotion related to fire is joy. The main organs associated with the Fire constitution are the heart and small intestine. Fire, like summer, is warm, extroverted, brilliant, radiant, and expansive. Just as the summer sun gives life and vitality to the entire earth, the heart controls and governs life within our bodies, pumping the living blood of life through our circulatory system.

Fire types are natural leaders: they are passionate, articulate and have that ineffable gift of being able to inspire large groups of people through inspiration, magnetism, and sheer charisma. Often, fire types are incredible bridge builders. Fire types make tremendous sales people.

When the fire burns too brightly, we can quickly zap the reserves in the rest of our body. Thus, fire types when out of balance can exhaust themselves and “burn out” those that are closest to them. They may “fall in love” with new ideas, people, concepts, and dreams only to burn out and feel hyperactive, nervous, unpredictable, and exhausted. That beautiful charisma and magnetism can quickly turn into depression, isolation, and weakness.

Many fire types will crave stimulants and have a natural predilection towards addictive tendencies. Imbalanced fire types love the feeling of being “high” and they love the excitement and rush of euphoria that comes from new relationships, new jobs, and new possibilities. Often, they spend more time in an exciting fantasy world than they do in the real world.

Common health problems that fire types experience are cardiovascular disorders, anemia, hypertension, anxiety, depression, urinary tract infections, hot flashes, canker sores, hives, frequent nightmares, digestive problems, insomnia, heart palpitations, hypoglycemia, and nervous exhaustion. On an emotional level, they will feel that life, people, and experiences are not safe and that it is impossible to find real intimacy. When in balance, fire types have balanced energy levels, graceful charisma, joy, connection, and deep wells of compassion.

Thus, this model allows us to observe and understand the precise psychological, spiritual, and energetic components of symptoms that we experience.

In order to maintain balance fire types require self-care. Acupuncture and gentle forms of chiropractic like Network Spinal Analysis are incredible tools to restore balance based on constitution. Whole food, plant based vitamin and mineral complexes such as B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C can be very helpful Supplements such as hemp protein and flax seed oil can be helpful. Certain herbs can also be very helpful to balance the fire type. Certain Chinese herbal formulas are unparalleled in their ability to restore balance. Individual herbs such as Schizandra, Hawthorne, Licorice, St. John’s Wort, and Rehmannia, can be exceptionally helpful. Consult the staff at Marlene’s or a qualified health provider before taking any supplements or herbs.

Fire types require the silence and space of deep contemplation to help direct their creative impulses from a deeper purpose. Just like a wood stove has a vent system to slow down the blaze, fire types need to tap into the quiet resources of their soul in order to engender a grounded expression of their natural fire. Burn out is a function of a forgotten purpose.

The diet of fire types should avoid over consumption of alcohol, coffee, black tea, hot, spicy and sweet foods. Often, fire types do well eating a lower calorie, plant based diet with healthy sources of fats and proteins. Fire types do terribly with over consumption and the Standard American Diet. Fire types benefit from calmer exercise programs like daily walking, yoga, tai chi, swimming, hiking, and a weight training programs such as the “Slow Burn” method.

Dr. Matt Lyon practice acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Network Spinal Analysis. You can download his free eBook at www.drmattlyon.com.

Healing through the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine, the 5 Elements, and Personal Transformation

I’d like to invite you on a journey with me. Over the next 5 months we’ll be taking a look at the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine and Philosophy. My intention is to help you to understand and utilize the 5 Elements in order to 1) take more responsibility for your health and wellness, 2) improve your awareness of the connection between emotions and health, and 3) to provide practical tools that you can use on a daily basis to improve healthy, increase energy and vitality, and decrease pain. Ultimately, the 5 Elements take us into the very heart of healing and allow us to reconnect to the natural rhythms of our bodies. This aspect of health and healing has been painfully overlooked in modern healthcare. I firmly believe that to the extent that we can return to that natural, innate state of awareness health, we can regain a sense of vibrancy, life, and wellness. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, this connection to Life itself can have dramatic and profound implications for the health of our planet, our environment and our global family.

The 5 elements found in Chinese Medicine offer us a very unique and comprehensive paradigm in which to understand nature and health. I was recently blessed to have spent time with renowned Buddhist author and teacher Sharon Salzberg, I asked her what healing was and how to approach it from a deeply authentic place. She stated, “The nature of healing is to enter into a deep communion with each person you work with. Do not have a ready-made template, but let that healing come from the authentic space of communion.” One of the most phenomenal tools to enter into this communion is the 5 Element paradigm.

The magic of any authentic vitalistic healing practice is that it recognizes that our lives are part of an ever-changing interdependence of life experiences, traumas, belief systems, environmental inputs, physiological influences, emotional factors, and structural components. In other words, to separate parts from the whole is antithetical to a vitalistic paradigm. Curing a named disease or symptoms is not the purpose of the 5 element tradition, nor is it the purpose of any authentic vitalistic tradition. Healing from the deepest level of being is the function of the 5 Elements. In my clinical experience, many times my work will result in a reduction of subjective complaints (symptoms) and changes in objective measurements (X-Rays, Labs, MRIs, etc), but that is not the goal per se. Healing is not merely a diminution of pain or named disease, but rather a collective increase in quality of life, relationship to spirit, improved relationships, self-actualized behavior, better life choices (exercise, diet, spirituality), and ultimately an expanded sense of self that goes beyond our cultural norm of materialism and narcissism. The 5 elements are unique in their capacity to provide a roadmap and structure to this healing experience.

Because the 5 elements look at the entirety of a person’s makeup, we don’t look at symptoms as discrete entities. For instance, anxiety and depression often have a set number of medications prescribed (Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, etc). In our 5 element work, anxiety and depression are simply the body’s feedback system.  Anxiety and depression are thus only meaningful in the context of the person and their constitution.  Thus, a person who is predominantly a Fire constitution would be treated differently than someone who is primarily an Earth constitution. Returning to the wisdom of Sharon Salzberg, we approach healing through this communion, not through a fixed, pre-determined template that seeks to correct symptoms.

As we progress each month we’ll look at one element in detail (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood).   Everyone has a specific constitution that they are born with and  each of us will reflect one fundamental elemental tendency. As you read end enjoy these articles, you will find one of the elements that resonates most closely with you (and those you spend time with). From this new awareness you’ll be able to use the information to tailor-fit a wellness program for yourself.  This includes herbs, supplements, exercises, attitudinal shifts, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathics, flower essences, and breathing/meditation techniques specific to each element.

Furthermore, once we have an awareness of our elemental constitution, we can learn new tools to cultivate health by learning to create balance according to our unique constitution. This is the magic of the 5 Element model. It provides us with an organic way in which to access an individualized healing program that is right for our unique makeup.

Join me on this fun and educational journey towards health and wholeness. In addition, we’ll have monthly lectures to delve more deeply into each element and how to apply this knowledge to your life.

Matthew Lyon, DC, L.Ac is a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and herbalist. You can learn more and download Dr. Lyon’s free eBook at www.drmattlyon.com.