five element Archives - Mend Acupuncture

The Organs of Fall
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The Organs of Fall

Organ, Seasonal Changes

The Organs of Fall

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-10-02T12:33:49-04:00September 26th, 2023|Categories: Organ, Seasonal Changes|Tags: fall tips, five element, grief, large intestine, letting go, lungs, organs, skin, tips|

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of "organs" is somewhat different from that of Western medicine. TCM organs are more than just physical structures – they are functional systems with broader roles in the body's overall health. According to TCM, each season is associated with specific organs, as well as an element and emotion. The fall season is closely linked to the Lungs, along with its partner organ the Large Intestine. Both are connected to the Metal element and the emotions of grief and sadness. Emotionally and physically, the Lungs and Large Intestine are responsible for helping you “let [...]

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The Organs of Summer
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The Organs of Summer

Organ, Seasonal Changes

The Organs of Summer

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-06-28T07:54:55-04:00June 28th, 2023|Categories: Organ, Seasonal Changes|Tags: five element, heart, Heart Protector, Small Intestine, summer, summer health, summer wellness, tips, Triple Heater|

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is associated with specific organs, and reflects the interplay between nature and the human body. The organs associated with the summer season in TCM are the Heart and the Small Intestine. Heart The Heart is considered the ruler of all organs and is the organ most associated with the Fire element. It is responsible for governing blood circulation and ensuring proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. And in TCM, the Heart houses the Shen, which refers to the mind, consciousness, and spirit. All over the world, the Heart has a strong affiliation [...]

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The Fire Element
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The Fire Element

Seasonal Changes

The Fire Element

By JaimeRoslyn|2023-06-20T18:18:47-04:00June 19th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes|Tags: five element, summer, summer health, summer wellness, tips|

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the five elements theory forms a fundamental framework for understanding the balance and harmony within the human body and its surroundings. These five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water – are symbolic representations of the natural world's energies. The Essence of the Fire Element Fire symbolizes transformation, warmth, and vitality. It is associated with the summer season, the most Yang time of year, bringing forth vibrant energy, brightness, and movement. In TCM philosophy, the Fire element is linked to various aspects of human life, including passion, joy, compassion, and the ability to connect [...]

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Dream Interpretation in TCM
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Dream Interpretation in TCM

Mood, Self-Care, Sleep, Wellness

Dream Interpretation in TCM

By Jaime Kauffman, Alex Shiflett|2023-04-13T10:26:34-04:00April 10th, 2023|Categories: Mood, Self-Care, Sleep, Wellness|Tags: dreaming, dreams, five element, Five Sprits, Hun, insomnia, Jung, Shen, sleep disturbances, sleeping, TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine|

Dream interpretation, as a practice, is indigenous in origin. In spite of the fact that we may not always be able to recall our dreams, for centuries they’ve had the potential to fascinate, scare, and even inform us when interpreted. Like music and film, dreams can be abstract in their expression. The meaning of one’s dreams, and the method to interpret, is a reflection of social, cultural, and historical frameworks. In many ancient societies, dreams were thought to be a kind of supernatural communication and a divination of sorts. Later, dream interpretation had clear associations. For example, in traditional [...]

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The Five Different ‘Looks’ of Fatigue: 5 Element Acupuncture Approach to Fatigue
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The Five Different ‘Looks’ of Fatigue: 5 Element Acupuncture Approach to Fatigue

Acupuncturists, Mood

The Five Different ‘Looks’ of Fatigue: 5 Element Acupuncture Approach to Fatigue

By mca_sarah|2022-11-15T14:05:34-05:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Acupuncturists, Mood|Tags: fatigue, five element|

Photo by Liza Summer from Pexels In 5 Element Chinese Medicine, there are different types of fatigue stemming from different types of activity, environments and constitutional factors. The different types of fatigue can cause specific variations of imbalances. Can you identify your own causes of fatigue and/or different variations of fatigue in yourself? What activity do you observe as the most draining in your day-to-day life? What type of fatigue do you observe in your body and mindset? Wood Type Fatigue (Spring energy) Feels like: irritable, moody, impatient expectations of ourselves and our growth, perceived as ‘aggressive’ OR like a doormat Physical [...]

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Path to Letting Go: A Guided Tour Through the Large Intestine Meridian
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Path to Letting Go: A Guided Tour Through the Large Intestine Meridian

acupoint, Acupressure, Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Path to Letting Go: A Guided Tour Through the Large Intestine Meridian

By Dana Robinson|2022-11-15T14:06:21-05:00November 2nd, 2020|Categories: acupoint, Acupressure, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: channel, fall, five element, large intestine, LI 1, LI 10, LI 20, LI 4, meridian, metal, TCM, tour|

Owner Sarah O'Leary wrote on the blog this week about how this time of year, combined with the endless tide of current events, has most of us feeling depleted, shook up, and dysregulated most of the time. In the face of this, I wanted to offer a brief, guided "walk" through an acupuncture channel in the body that’s at its peak this time of year, and that we can call on for clarity and movement as we navigate these times. The Large Intestine channel and its acupuncture/acupressure points are used for issues with the lower intestines, movement [...]

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At Surge Capacity and a Nation in Grief: Why It’s Time to Clean the House
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At Surge Capacity and a Nation in Grief: Why It’s Time to Clean the House

coronavirus, Mood, Parenting, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness

At Surge Capacity and a Nation in Grief: Why It’s Time to Clean the House

By Sarah O'Leary|2022-11-15T14:06:22-05:00October 30th, 2020|Categories: coronavirus, Mood, Parenting, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: ambiguous loss, Chinese medicine, fall, five element, letting go, surge capacity, TCM|

Anyone noticing that just as our annual cultural prediction of “fall cleaning” arrives, that indeed you are inspired to tidy the house? Anyone else observing that in this week's climax of election angst and COVID cases rising nationally that you move between being frozen and then finding small comfort in seemingly insignificant completed tasks (like a clean bathroom or empty dishwasher)? And is your tolerance too for overstuffed drawers and piles of paperwork suddenly feeling unbearable? I think I have an explanation (with married concepts from modern psychology and the lens of Chinese Medicine).... In Eastern philosophy, we think of the Fall months [...]

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Questions for the Fall
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Questions for the Fall

Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Questions for the Fall

By Sarah O'Leary|2022-11-15T14:06:22-05:00October 21st, 2020|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: Chinese medicine, fall, five element, prompts, questions, TCM|

In Chinese Medicine, each season brings with it a new frame of reference. You may notice some particular aspects or insights rising to the surface this Fall season (September to November in the Chinese calendar). For example: A pruning/purging energy: Fall is a season in which nature rids itself of what is not needed. Feeling “space” from an issue or less attachment to outcomes. Increased ease in identifying what is essential vs. discretionary. Clarity on what is of highest importance and value in your life and work. Acknowledgement for others’ unique gifts. A renewed sense of self-worth. Connection to [...]

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Attuning Ourselves to Nature this November
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Attuning Ourselves to Nature this November

Seasonal Changes

Attuning Ourselves to Nature this November

By Brian Dougherty|2022-11-15T14:06:22-05:00October 20th, 2020|Categories: Seasonal Changes|Tags: Ancient China, balance, Election 2020, five element, November, TCM|

There is a transformation taking place right now as I write this. In the poetic language of ancient China, Heaven is expanding its influence, and the Earth is receding. We see the latter by the ground giving up the last of its crops for the year (in temperate climates) and the trees letting go of their leaves in order to conserve energy to embrace the Winter. We call this time Autumn. It is the planet's shift from the scattered energy of Summer, to an inward and downward movement that is reflected in both the world around us, and the [...]

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Energetic Movement of Metal
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Energetic Movement of Metal

Seasonal Changes, Wellness

Energetic Movement of Metal

By Dana Iscoe|2022-11-15T14:06:23-05:00October 13th, 2020|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: fall, five element, metal, TCM|

Where We're At In previous blog entries, we've taken you through some of the energetic correspondences of the Metal element that comes into focus during the Fall/Autumn season. The Metal's main organ correspondences, the Lungs and Large Intestine, regulate inhalation and exhalation, strengthen the exterior of the body from invasions, and their connection to the nose means that we can tell the difference between fresh and rotten with a single sniff. All these examples point to the more abstract aspects of the Metal element: discernment, judgement, and clarity unmuddled by interference. As we enter the Fall season, nature around [...]

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