Walking into Autumn

Lime Tree Avenue

Originally uploaded by D-Kav

Hey Everyone!

Fall is just around the corner (I know,I know that doesn’t mean we won’t be in the high 90’s this weekend!) and it made me want to review what the philosophy of the 5 elements observed about this time of year.

5 element acupuncture is a philosophy of understanding of the interconnected relationships of things in the world and their relation to humans based on hundreds of years of observation. It grew out of a time when more humans were more intimately connected to the natural world. In other words, someone sat around long enough to realize there are certain connections between certain things and people that create special relationships between these things and people. Acupuncturists use the knowledge of these relationships to help diagnose and treat their patients but the information can be used by everyone to better understand themselves and to also lead a more harmonious life.

For each of the five elements there is a long laundry list of these connections. The element of fall is metal. Metal represents functions in a declining state much like fall is the decline of the energy of the year’s growing season. Or, as we sometimes say as we get older, that we are in the autumn of our years. The ancient Chinese observed that the character of metal is to descend and be clear. Within the human body the metal element is concerned with the balance of the lungs and large intestine. Imbalance of respiratory health or large intestine health would be diagnosed as an imbalance of the metal element. The following is a fairly complete list of the other observed items of connection to this element taken from the Student Manual on the Differentiation and Treatment of the Zang Fu Syndromes by Tyme L.Ac. How best to use this information? Start with seeing if there are there any that stand out for you. Do any play significant roles in the story of you or you in connection to the world around you? Think about it!

Color-white

Flourishes-body hair

Tissue-skin and mucous membranes

Physiognomy-cheeks and nostrils

Eye- the sclera (the white part!)

Tongue-posterior of tip

Orifice-nose

Secretion-mucous

Pulse- floating

Emotion-sorrow, grief

Odor-rotten, as in fishy

Flavor-pungent and spicy

Metal is strained by- lying

Metal’s sound in relation to an emotion-weeping or wailing

Sound emitted in relation to an illness-coughing

Metal’s sense is smell

Instinct-health

Thought-energetic

Development-decline

Motion-cough

Heavens-zodiac

Direction-west

Climate-dryness and cold

Season-fall

Planet-Venus

Numbers- 9 and 4

Tendency- down

Ministries- justice

Classes- mammals

Instruments- t-square

Covering- hairy

Wild animal- bird

Grain- rice, oats

Veggie- tall green ones

Fruit- peach

Cooking- to bake

Happy fall!