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.
