The Five Elements
Classical Five Element Acupuncture, as transmitted through the lineage of J.R. Worsley, is a living Daoist medicine with roots in the time of the Yellow Emperor. It is grounded in the principle that human beings are microcosms of the natural world. Our internal terrain reflects the rhythms of Heaven and Earth, and true health emerges when we live in harmony with that order.
The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are not symbols but living forces. They shape how we move, feel, relate, and heal. They govern how we metabolize experience—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
While all five elements exist within us, one is primary. This constitutional element reflects our original nature—our blueprint. When it falls out of balance, the whole system is disrupted. Left untreated, it sends ripples through body and mind, giving rise to symptoms and fragmentation. But when the constitution is treated directly, the system reorganizes. The parts remember the whole. The soul remembers its essence.
To treat one’s constitution is not simply to reduce symptoms—it is to call forth the authentic self. It is to harmonize the elemental order within so that we may walk through the world with greater ease, integrity, and purpose.
This medicine does not ask who you were. It asks: Who are you when you are fully aligned with Heaven?
The Wood Element governs growth, vision, and purposeful movement. It is associated with Spring—a time when life re-emerges with direction and force. After the stillness of Winter, Wood initiates movement toward what is next. When balanced, it brings hope, clarity, and the moral will to act in alignment with destiny.
When obstructed, Wood turns on itself. We see rage, frustration, hopelessness, paralysis, or blind rebellion. The qi tries to move but has nowhere to go.
Physically, Wood governs flexibility and rhythm. Imbalance may show up as tight sinews, poor coordination, or menstrual and hormonal disruptions.
Mentally and emotionally, Wood gives us structure, vision, and the ability to plan. When off, there's confusion, indecisiveness, and difficulty initiating or completing action.
Spiritually, Wood holds the blueprint of your life. It asks: Why are you here? Where are you going?
The Liver is the Architect—it maps the vision and organizes the timing. The Gallbladder is the Decision-Maker—it executes the plan and governs discernment. When these officials are in harmony, the individual knows their path and takes it. When disrupted, there is either chaos or stagnation.
In treatment, we restore the movement of the Hun—the ethereal soul—so that vision, clarity, and courage can reawaken. Healing Wood is not just about regulating flow; it’s about remembering your mission and realigning with it.
Related Organs: Liver & Gallbladder
Related Emotion: Anger
Related Color: Green
Related Odor: Rancid
Fire governs intimacy, joy, warmth, and connection. It is the light of consciousness, the divine spark, and the Heart’s ability to reach out and be touched. Its season is Summer, when life is in full bloom and expression.
When balanced, Fire brings emotional openness, appropriate vulnerability, clear boundaries, and authentic joy. There is trust, ease, and the capacity to give and receive love.
When imbalanced, Fire either dims or burns too hot. In deficiency, there is withdrawal, coldness, isolation, or lack of joy. In excess, Fire loses containment—leading to manic energy, inappropriate laughter, insomnia, anxiety, and a desperation for connection that often leads to heartbreak.
Physically, Fire governs blood circulation, warmth, and communication through the vessels. Imbalances can show up as palpitations, poor circulation, or dryness.
Mentally and emotionally, Fire supports intimacy, playfulness, self-expression, and emotional regulation. When off, we see overexposure, boundary collapse, or guardedness and numbness.
Spiritually, Fire asks: Can I remain open and connected without losing myself?
Fire is held by two organ pairs:
Heart and Small Intestine: discernment, clarity, and emotional honesty—separating what nourishes from what harms.
Pericardium and Triple Heater: protection and regulation—maintaining healthy boundaries and adapting to change.
In treatment, we restore the Shen—the Heart’s spirit—to its rightful home. This allows for embodied joy, relational clarity, and the courage to love with wisdom.
Related Organs: Heart & Small Intestine and Pericardium & Triple Heater
Related Emotion: Joy
Related Color: Red or Ashen Grey
Related Odor: Scorched
The Earth Element governs nourishment, stability, and the capacity to give and receive care. It is associated with Late Summer—a time when nature offers its harvest and the world is full, sweet, and generous. Earth centers us. When in balance, it brings empathy, groundedness, and the ability to digest life with clarity.
When Earth is weakened, we feel untethered. There may be worry, overthinking, codependence, or a chronic hunger for something we can’t name. We give too much, or resist receiving at all.
Physically, Earth governs digestion and assimilation. Imbalances show up as bloating, fatigue, loose stools, weight issues, and a sense of heaviness in the body.
Mentally and emotionally, Earth gives us the ability to reflect, process, and offer care without depletion. When out of balance, there’s obsession, confusion, emotional enmeshment, or inability to set boundaries.
Spiritually, Earth asks: Can I trust that I am supported? Can I receive what I need?
The Spleen extracts nourishment and turns it into vitality. The Stomach takes in what life offers and breaks in down. When these officials are in harmony, we feel centered, nurtured, and generous. When disrupted, the system spins—overfed but undernourished.
In treatment, we restore the Yi—the spirit of intention—so the mind can steady, the heart can soften, and the body can receive. Healing Earth is not just about nourishment; it’s about coming home to yourself.
Related Organs: Stomach & Spleen
Related Emotion: Sympathy
Related Color: Yellow
Related Odor: Fragrant
The Metal Element governs refinement, value, and release. It is associated with Autumn—the season of decline, where nature sheds what is no longer needed. After the fullness of Summer, Metal brings quiet, discernment, and the sacred invitation to let go. When balanced, it inspires reverence, clarity, and the ability to grieve what’s passing while making space for what’s to come.
When obstructed, Metal clings to what is no longer vital. Grief becomes stagnant, and value is sought externally. There may be a sense of meaninglessness, low self-worth, or disconnection from inspiration.
Physically, Metal governs the Lung and Large Intestine. These officials orchestrate the sacred exchange of taking in what is pure and letting go of what is not. Imbalance can lead to skin issues, constipation, shallow breathing, or toxicity—physically and emotionally.
Mentally and emotionally, Metal offers clarity, detachment, and the ability to honor life’s impermanence. When off, there is rigidity, obsession with perfection, or an inability to release the past.
Spiritually, Metal asks: What gives my life meaning? Can I receive inspiration and let go of what no longer serves?
The Lung is the Official of Receiving Pure Qi—it connects us to Heaven, breathes in awe, and grants dignity. The Large Intestine is the Official of Elimination—it discerns what to retain and what to release. When these officials are in harmony, we live with purpose and purity. When disrupted, we either hold on too tightly or feel empty inside.
In treatment, we restore the Po—the corporeal soul—so it can once again receive light and release with grace. Healing Metal is not about detachment; it’s about restoring reverence, clarity, and sacred worth.
Related Organs: Lung & Large Intestine
Related Emotion: Grief
Related Color: White
Related Odor: Rotten
The Water Element governs will, trust, and the deep reserves of life. It is associated with Winter—the time of stillness, conservation, and potential. Beneath the frozen surface lies the blueprint of what is to come. This is the season of retreat, reflection, and renewal. When balanced, Water offers courage, clarity, and the inner strength to meet the unknown.
When depleted, Water turns to fear. There is a collapse of will, a dread of what lies ahead, or a chronic sense of being unprepared. Without reserve, the spirit trembles.
Physically, Water governs the bones, joints, and fluids of the body. Imbalance can present as adrenal fatigue, brittle bones, edema, or low back pain.
Mentally and emotionally, Water brings adaptability, stillness, and foresight. When off, we may freeze in indecision or become hypervigilant, unable to rest or trust.
Spiritually, Water holds our ancestral wisdom and the Zhi—the will to live and to fulfill our destiny. It asks: Can I trust life enough to surrender to its flow?
The Kidneys are the Gatekeepers of vitality. They store the Jing—our deepest essence—and filter what supports life from what does not. The Bladder is the Reservoir, helping to store and release fluid, both literal and energetic. When these officials are in harmony, there is clarity, quiet strength, and the endurance to walk the path. When they are compromised, we feel exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from purpose.
In treatment, we nourish the Jing and restore the Zhi. Healing Water is not about force—it is about learning to be held by something deeper than fear. It is about remembering that even in the coldest season, life is preparing to emerge.
Related Organs: Kidney & Bladder
Related Emotion: Fear
Related Color: Blue
Related Odor: Putrid