Which tcm element are you

And for earth-dominated people too much sweetness in the diet can interfere with spleen and digestive function in TCM, resulting in symptoms like nausea, abdominal bloating or a feeling of fullness. Give yourself bonus points for walking barefoot on the grass or at the beach, restoring your connection to the earth.

Build meditation and other practices that help break the cycle of over-thinking into your daily routine too. For example, try our short mindfulness meditation to help you focus on being present. This organ-meridian encompasses not only the lungs themselves, but also the nose, throat and skin, and all aspects of breathing, including the absorption of qi life force energy from the air.

As a result, having strong defensive qi helps reduce susceptibility to minor illnesses — you might like to think of it as your protective shield. In TCM, Chinese licorice is traditionally used as a lung tonic that works by moistening the lungs. As a result, this herb has a long history of traditional use in TCM to strengthen lung qi, improve immunity and help reduce the frequency of common colds.

Dong quai is traditionally used as a blood tonic in TCM to relieve skin dryness and improve skin health. This herb is also traditionally taken in TCM to improve skin regeneration and relieve mild symptoms of hives caused by allergies. Your primary health goal is to support your lung organ-meridian system and by extension your immune system health.

Deep-breathing techniques are your best friend here because they help your lungs to circulate qi around your body. Try practicing qigong for the same reason. The Metal element is associated with pungent tastes, so make sure to include garlic, onion, ginger and shallots in your meals from time to time. White is the colour traditionally associated with the lung organ-meridian in TCM, so enjoy foods that are white or have white centres. Think button mushrooms, cauliflower, radishes, turnips, almonds, cannellini beans and apples - but not refined or processed foods like white bread and sugar.

On the other hand, avoid foods traditionally believed to promote the formation of mucus, which include dairy foods, sweets and fried foods. Pears are a good food for people with Metal constitutions. Personal connections play an important part in your wellbeing, so maintain an active social life and make an effort to participate in community-based activities. As someone influenced by the Metal element, incorporating a combination of spontaneity and structure into your relationships in this way may be particularly beneficial for you, especially in times of grief or sadness.

You have strong willpower, a determined nature, and a tendency to be self-sufficient and independent. You may also be prone to becoming fearful. Another function of the kidney organ-meridian system in TCM is to act as the storehouse for Jing , a form of life force energy that declines with age. Problems characterised by heat and dryness may also occur, reflecting an underlying imbalance in water or moisture in the body.

In women, menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness may be related to imbalances in the kidney organ-meridian system too, and in particular to a deficiency of kidney yin, according to TCM. Consider taking the herbs goji berry, rehmannia and horny goat weed, which are traditionally used in TCM as kidney tonics. In TCM, goji berry is also traditionally taken to balance yin and yang, and rehmannia and horny goat weed are traditionally used to regulate the fluids in the body.

Horny goat weed is also traditionally used to promote a healthy libido, improve bone strength, and relieve mild joint aches and pains in TCM. In menopausal women whose water element is out of balance, kidney yin deficiency is often present.

In those circumstances, anemarrhena is traditionally used to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness in TCM.

Your primary health goal is to look after your kidney organ-meridian system and preserve your Jing , which may otherwise be prone to depletion as you age. That means a healthy lifestyle that accompanies nutritious food, regular exercise and time in the fresh air should be high on your agenda.

Other forms of exercise that are beneficial for you are those that have calming effects on the mind and are low-impact on the joints — yoga and Pilates are ideal. The colour black is associated with the Water element in TCM, so include plenty of blue-black foods on your menu.

Good options include plums, dates, black beans, eggplant, wood ear mushrooms and black sesame seeds. The taste associated with the water element is saltiness, so a little bit of salt is considered beneficial for you. Although you like to be independent, avoid becoming too isolated. Socialising is good for your physical wellbeing and your mental health, and helps keep you feeling energised and vital, especially as you get older.

Search Catalog Search Search. About Us. Home fusionhealth Blog Blogs Wood, fire, earth, metal or water: Which of the Chinese 5 elements are you and what does it mean for your health? The five elements theory is one of the central concepts of traditional Chinese medicine. Take our quick quiz to determine which of wood, fire, earth, metal and water is dominant for you right now, and discover time-tested tips to help you look after your health and wellbeing and feel your best.

Take our quick quiz to discover your constitution according to TCM Learn what each element means for your personality, health, diet and lifestyle. Which of the five Chinese elements body types are you? Do you deal with trouble sleeping? Do you enjoy unplanned adventures? Do you love to perform? Are you disciplined and analytical? Do you find it hard to connect with other people? Are logic and intelligence very important to you? Are you most comfortable with a very organized home?

Do you appreciate the finer things in life? Do you doubt yourself a lot? Do you have a sweet tooth? Are you a natural caregiver? Do you doubt yourself and ruminate on your thoughts? Are you a daydreamer? He will also ask questions to determine your sensory experiences, as well as discover what areas of your body or mind are troubling you.

Each individual is a blend of the elements, and in order to be truly healthy, these elements need to be balanced. All of the information that the doctor gathers will be viewed comprehensively using the five elements model.

For example, if a patient has a yellow cast to her complexion and is experiencing bloating, lethargy, and muddled thinking, the doctor will examine the Earth element more closely the spleen and stomach. Acupuncture is just one of the treatment modalities that Dr. Mosher may employ in your customized treatment plan.

Clinical nutrition , structural alignment, detoxification , and Chinese herbs are other treatments that can help you attain optimal whole-body health. The five elements theory is a sophisticated system developed over millennia in China. Modern TCM practitioners use this wisdom to treat patients safely, without invasive surgery or the harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals.

If you would like to learn more about how an understanding of the elements can drastically improve your health, please schedule your consultation by contacting us online , or calling us at to make an appointment with Dr. Mosher today. Some images are of models, not actual patients. Sitemap Privacy Policy Login.