Orange Poppy 5 Element Acupuncture

We’ve had a relatively mild and clear winter, with breath-taking views of the surrounding mountain ranges. But, it snowed BIG snowflakes today in Seattle! Water is the most yin of all the elements, with the qualities of cold, passivity, darkness, interiority, inwardness, decrease, tranquility, and completion.  In contrast, yang qualities are heat, stimulation, movement, vigor, increase, and beginning.  So, if you see a hummingbird with its quick movements and bright colors in the middle of winter, you are seeing a small piece of yang within the season of yin!

In the Five Element cycle, water is the child of metal and the mother of wood.   Water is dynamic in its ability to fit any container, be stagnant or have movement, be pure or  incorporate other substances.   Plants go dormant in winter, by resting and suspending metabolic processes.   But, underneath, the water is still working at a  slow and deep pace.   When the water element feeds wood, the cycle is complete and spring will burst forth and the cycle starts again, yay!

The body’s chemistry relies on water to move nutrients and eliminate toxins.   A person with a balanced water element has knowledge and wisdom; which is applied to conquer fear. When the drive of water feeds the wood element, a person will have the intuitive knowledge and the power needed to complete a goal.  The Chinese view the kidneys as the organ that houses and produces “essence” which is part of what we inherit from our parents and also from the food and air we take in.   The essence creates the qi energy that drives life.  Many acupuncture points that deal with treating a person’s spirit are found on the Kidney meridian in the Five Element system.   The water element allows us to dive deep into the unconscious, to the “iceberg” that lies below.  From this place, we become more aware of how the subconscious drives us to behave in certain ways.   Getting in touch with this part of ourselves can be fascinating and life changing if we allow it.  Winter is the time for reflection, rest, and gathering  momentum for the growth of spring.  Keeping a dream journal helps to cultivate your intuition so that you can operate with greater self-awareness on a daily basis.  The archetypal symbols of the water element are Sage and Magician.  The magician uses alchemy by gathering the resources and knowledge to make the seemingly impossible, possible.  The Sage is the Wise  Woman /Man who has a keen perception and a direct link to the spiritual and intuitive.

Wu Hsing Tao School is hosting a course on dreams, taught by Jungian psychologist, Chaitainia Hein.  For more information please visit: http://wuhsing.org/events/DreamAnalysisFlyer.pdf

~Andrea

For those of us whom come from a Western science background, it can be challenging at times to accept the obscurity of the Eastern paradigm, which doesn’t deduce healing to a strictly scientific process.   Five Element Acupuncture approaches healing with respect for the mystical; the unexplainable connections that exist between the natural and spiritual forces at work in the universe.  We approach the patient as a whole; relieving physical symptoms and supporting the inner process.    Each carefully chosen point unlocks information to bring mind, body and spirit into harmony.

If you have been curious about trying acupuncture, but want more information:

What does acupuncture treat?

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture effective for treating the following conditions:  Allergies, asthma, anxiety, depression, stress, arthritis, neck pain, back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, sciatica, digestive disorders, chronic fatigue, migraine, insomnia, infertility,  hormonal imbalances,  and many more!

Do the needles hurt and is it safe?

Some patients may experience a small sting while the needle is being inserted through the skin.  However, to most the pain is very minimal.   Consider that each needle is about as thin as a human hair!   All licensed Acupuncturists (and Clinic Interns) are trained in clean needle technique and use sterile, disposable needles.

What can I expect to feel during and after the treatment?

Most people report a feeling of tranquility or invigoration after receiving acupuncture, as if they have become “un-blocked” on the inside.  Usually there is a great deal of relief from pain and headache.

How many treatments will I need for long term relief?

This depends on a variety of factors like how long the imbalance has been present and how deeply rooted in the body.   Some people feel instant relief after the first treatment, while other people may need a series of weekly treatments over a period of months.   We can determine a treatment plan during your first or second visit.

How long does the treatment effect last?

Each treatment is permanent, though we encourage a commitment to receiving at east three treatments within a month’s time span.  Every person responds differently to energy medicine and we will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

How much does it cost and do you take insurance?

At Wu Hsing Tao clinic, the first treatment lasts from 2-3 hours, as we gather a thorough health history and form a traditional diagnosis. Follow up treatments are 1 hour. The first treatment cost is $75 and follow up treatments are $55.  Although we do not bill insurance directly, we provide you with a super bill that you can submit to your carrier for reimbursement.

Dr. Sue Morter TEDxNASA

“You are more creative than you think!”

It’s my favorite time of year, autumn!    There is something to be said for cool, crisp days with bright colored trees, pumpkins, and warm apple cider.  In the last blog  we  discussed the earth element, and nature was at her most full and ripe. The surplus of the harvest is being recycled, as apples start falling to the ground, going sour and rotting.  While playing in the park, my daughter and I were grabbing big handfuls of leaves and taking a big whiff!  I highly recommend this!

Autumn is the season of the metal element and this time of year there is clarity in the air.  In metal, we can experience the transformative power of grief to nostalgia and the beauty that comes from moving through this process. In my experience, grief can feel crippling, as if you’ve been punched in the gut and your lungs have a heavy weight pushing down on them.  Finding a distraction is our first attempt to avoid the hurt.  But if stuffed, it always finds a way to come back and haunt us.  In order to move through it, facing it head on and leaning into the pain allows it to transform.   I have heard from many that dealing with divorce is like a death.  Letting go of what was broken and disappointing about the relationship is the easy part.  But then fully understanding that you held a dream with another that you loved deeply, and all of the hope and effort and energy that you put into that dream was futile.  Holding both the bad and good in each hand and having to let that person  go leaves you feeling like a walking dead.  And just when you think things are starting to feel normal, you are stripped down, raw with pain, as each separate leaf falls away in your life.    Your sense of self is leveled to the ground.    Maybe this sounds dramatic, but I write from current experience.

What’s on the other side? Once you get through it, there is the promise of clarity, new purpose, and renewal. And you have solid knowledge of what you value in yourself and others; and the ability to discern this with wisdom.  This, in turn opens up a space for creativity, once acceptance of loss is reconciled. And nostalgia of good times and the love that you shared replaces the shit.  You piece yourself back together and hopefully without a hardened heart.
(Or so I hear. . .   )

The archetype of the metal element person is the shaman and merchant.  The shaman (holy person) works in the spiritual realm to connect energy from between heaven and earth to heal. The merchant archetype is concerned with quality by using a keen perception to determine what has true value and worth. For a metal person, quality, uniqueness, and spirituality are most valued.   If the metal element is unbalanced, one may feel toxic, or bogged down in regret; unable to let go.

With the season change, it’s easy to fall into a funk and feel the blues as the light decreases and summer fun is behind you.  Go for a walk and reflect on the beauty of autumn and how your own internal process is sometimes like a tree losing its leaves.    If nature can do this and survive the winter,  then surely we can as well.

~Andrea

It’s that time of year when evenings stay warm and long shadows are cast against the ground. The blackberries droop with over-ripe fruit while the leaves of the plant are turning yellow and brown. Birds fly in sync, swooping around the trees. Growing up, we called it Indian summer, that ephemeral time between summer and autumn when the harvest is at its peak. In Five Element speak; it’s the lovely time of the Earth element! (Did you ever notice that the word earth is scrambled up in the word harvest?)

My favorite place to visit outside of the city is my friend Lori’s house. She has a lovely trellised apple orchard in her yard. Her expertise growing fruit in the PNW has come from years of experimenting with different varieties of fruit trees. There is something special about being in her gardens, her own personal creation and labor of love. She laughs at her constant transplanting of plants from one area to the next, trying to find the perfect location for each plant. Her gardens stay lush and healthy because she is constantly adding compost to the soil to replenish the nutrients. Being at her home really feels like *home*. She is always sending me off with a plant, herbal tincture, or other lovely gift from the earth.

In Chinese Medicine, the earth phase usually holds a central position in the elements. The earth gives us the gift of abundance, sustenance, and nurturing. The symbols of the earth element are mother and farmer. The stomach is the holding ground for nutrients, while the spleen/pancreas helps to break down and disperse the nutrients for our body. When the earth element becomes compromised, a person may struggle with over-thinking, worry, obsession/compulsion, neediness, and an inability to follow through on tasks. (Oh, and I would know NOTHING about living in the earth element).

Taking some time for self care is important to refill the tank so that you can take on life’s demands and care for others. There is great wisdom to the airplane instructions to place your own life mask on before helping to secure the person next to you! There are whole books written on that topic, so let’s keep it simple! Feed your soul, give back to the world your cultivated gifts.

~Andrea

The shift from spring to summer was so grad…….ual here in the Pacific Northwest. Usually spring lasts through June and the month is nick-named “June-uary” and that was definitely the case this year. My fellow acupuncture Interns and I were long debating about the official shift to summer.

I feel the start of summer with a certain smell, one of the benefits of having a nose like a hound dog! The sharp, rancid smells of spring are replaced with fuller scents; a hint of slightly scorched rock and pavement. The insistent push of spring brought forth the lush undergrowth and full canopy in the trees. The insects and birds are zooming around and being social, as is the human species.

Here I go talking about plants again, but I can’t help it! In summer, the plant life is lush and at its peak; blossoms abound. Likewise, in people, the Fire element within each of us wants others to take notice of what makes us each beautiful and receptive. Joy and warmth of the fire element are needed to create friendships, romantic relationships, and links with family. The fire element gives us the ability to be intimate and vulnerable with others.

Unlike the other elements that have two officials each, the Fire element has four! The “King” is the official of the heart, the “Jester” is the official of the small intestine, the “Diplomat” corresponds to the triple heater, and the “Lover” is the pericardium (or heart protector).

The heart is responsible for making sure that each cell of the body is receiving nourishment by pumping blood and oxygen through our system. Historically, the King’s duty was to serve the kingdom as supreme leader. When we live with heart, we may choose to serve a cause or purpose that is greater than ourselves. The Jester works for the King and has the duty of taking in what he hears in the King ’s counsel and sorts through what is true and untrue. The Jester has the ability to see both sides of an argument and can effectively play the devil’s advocate for the truth to be known. In our body, the small intestine is the vehicle used to break down all of the nutrition that we take in and passes on what we don’t need. The heart and small intestine help us to live harmoniously by connecting our mind and heart.

The Lover is the official of the pericardium, which in our physical body is a fluid filled sac that surrounds and protects the heart. The job of the Lover is to harbor protection, compassion and intimacy in our relationships with others, while maintaining good boundaries. Paired with the Pericardium, is the Diplomat, which rules the triple heater. In Chinese Medicine, the Triple Heater is thought of as the waterways which regulate and maintains the temperature and chi disbursement throughout our body. The job of the diplomat is to create harmony and compromise.

A person with a well- balanced Fire element will express joy and compassion for others. Some Fire persons may be particularly shy but have a deep desire for connection with others. The fire element feels most comfortable when on equal ground with others.

To nourish your fire element take time to reach out to friends, be vulnerable and authentically you! Harbor self love with affirmations. Take time for things that you feel passionate about and strive to be forgiving of yourself and others. Have fun and laugh at yourself.

~Andrea

Five Element Acupuncture has not been as thoroughly researched as Traditional Chinese Medicine, though here is a publication out of England.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-30/health/29599612_1_acupuncture-patients-usual-care

In the wake of the devastation in Japan, I feel stirred to write about the beautiful tradition of wabi-sabi.   Put simply, wabi-sabi can be described as finding beauty in the imperfect and transient nature of things. (Not to be confused with wasabi horseradish eaten with sushi!)

Like five element philosophy, wabi-sabi is a nature-based principle, rooted in Zen Buddhism and Taoism.   Zen monks perfected the art of living in harmony with nature, having a simple existence, and finding peace in the  everyday normalcy of life.   There was an underlying appreciation for the cosmic order and an explicit acceptance of the uncontrollability of nature.   The water element and winter season are a perfect example of the stark and decaying aspects of wabi-sabi.  Wabi-sabi is organic versus geometric; intuitive versus logical; ephemeral versus enduring.  In antiquity, wabi and sabi had two separate meanings, but evolved and fused into one.   Wabi means humility and modesty (historically it had a negative connotation of wretched, miserable and forlorn), while sabi encompasses austerity and loneliness.

To the Japanese, wabi-sabi is difficult to put into words, and this elusive quality may be part of what makes it so special.  It’s more easily described as a feeling, rather than a concept.  The Japanese tea ceremony embodies the spirit of wabi-sabi.

I feel wabi-sabi in my daughter’s lovely hand crafted pottery.  Her little chubby fingers pushed and molded the clay to make a lop-sided master piece! In the spiritual sense, I feel wabi-sabi in my friendships.  When I reunite with my best friend from college, we notice the specks of gray, and smile lines on each others faces, and pick up where we left off years before as if no time as passed.  We see the marks of life that happened across the miles and we only appreciate and love each other more.

The recent Tsunami in Japan washed away hundreds of villages and thousands of lives.   There is no easy way to pad the deep grief that the people are facing.   Though, I imagine that the wabi-sabi spirit is alive, allowing people to find beauty and acceptance while beginning to rebuild their lives.

Ring the bells that
still can ring.

Forget your perfect
offering.

There is a crack in
everything.

That’s how the
light gets in.

-Leonard Cohen

*Information for this blog post gathered from:

Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers by Leonard Koren

Wabi Sabi Style by James and Sandra Crowley

~ Andrea

Five Element Garden Tea House, Portland OR

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

Over the next year,   I am excited to share about the elements and how they are expressed in each season, as well as the archetype and spirit of the element as it manifests in people.    

In the height of spring in the PNW, we will begin with the element wood!

 As a student of this healing art, we are taught that nature is really our best teacher for understanding the natural laws of the five elements.  As a plant lover, it is easy to tune into the shifting seasons.  It’s a living meditation to observe closely as the season starts to transform from the quiet yin energy of winter into the more assertive yang energy of spring.  Lately, I have been noticing how active the birds are in the trees around our neighborhood.  There is a warm moisture in the air, and a light breeze that smells like ocean.   Early blossoms on plum and cherry trees are opening and the days are growing longer.    I feel the urge to spring clean my apartment!  I am opening windows to get the stale air out and the fresh air in.  I notice that people around me are propelled forward with a new energy in spring, as we synchronize with nature.

When you look at a towering douglass fir, think of its humble beginnings!  Within each tiny seed is everything needed to grow into a huge structure.   The seed lays dormant in the soil through the winter and utilizes its stored nutrients.  When conditions become ideal, the seed germinates and sends out a small root and shoot; and intrinsically “knows” which direction to grow in.   The roots expand underground to give the plant stability, which anchores its growing structure.   Isn’t it amazing that a tiny seed holds the plan within its DNA to become a massive structure?!  The seedling’s ability to be flexible and strategically grow into its environment is imperative for its survival and success.  

In ancient Chinese philosophy, the five element archetype of the wood element is the general and warrior.  The wood element gives us the ability to plan, make strategic decisions, and follow through with action when the time is right.    To be able to start an endeavor, we must first have a vision.  To put the plan into motion, there must be correct timing in order for the strategy to be effective.  But almost as important, there must be flexibility as we run into obstacles along the way.  Think of a tree bending in the wind; without flexibility, it’s branches snap. The emotion associated with the wood element is anger.  Controlled anger serves an important purpose; allowing us to be motivated for change.   When the wood element is balanced within us, we are structured,  organized, and able to follow through.     When the inner general and warrior are out of balance, we become blocked and frustrated.   We can honor our wood element by asserting ourselves, following our own unique path in life, and remaining flexible as we encounter obstacles along the way.   

            Here are some suggestions to harmonize with the energy of spring:

• Spring clean your living space!  Getting rid of what you no longer need, clearing the clutter, and getting organized are great ways to open up space for the new.
• Take time to be outside and observe spring.  Walk, bike, hike, and plant some spring flowers.
• Do a spring cleanse by limiting heavy foods, sugar and caffeine.  The organs associated wtih the wood element are liver and gall bladder.  Adding steamed veggies, like dandelion greens are a great way to give these organs a boost.
• Make a “bucket” list of goals and fun activities to do over spring and summer.  Post it on your fridge.
• Schedule an acupuncture treatment.   If you are feeling sluggish and unmotivated, acupuncture will help to get your Qi moving both body and spirit!