What does a wood element look like?

Wood

Since joining the Vida Wellness treatment team, I have been amazed at the personal

influences Dr. Randi has had on me personally and professionally. I have become more

conscious of my nutrition, thought process, physical health, and general knowledge of

the body and how to compliment its efforts to maintain balance. I am so grateful for the

wisdom gained from our meeting that I would like to spend the coming weeks sharing

the same information that has been paid forward.

The “5 Element Theory” is based on the premise that there are 5 elements that govern

the body and maintains balance within. It is one of the main systems of thought within

traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for over 2000 years to diagnose and

treat the body. The 5 elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These elements

and their corresponding organs, directions, colors, etc. are reviewed in times of

imbalance to determine the cause of same. The aforementioned will be important to

know as we begin discussing each individual element in the coming weeks.

"The supernatural forces of spring create wind in heaven and wood upon the earth.

Within the body they create the liver and tendons, they create the green color, and give

the voice the ability to make a shouting sound. They create the eyes, the sour flavor,

and the emotion anger." - The Inner Classics.

The wood element also rules the eyes, nails, ligaments and the tendons. The

representative organs of the wood element are the liver and gall bladder. These organs

have many functions but are mainly responsible for filtering the blood, storing and

moving the blood, and breaking down fats from the diet. The energetic function of the

liver and gall bladder is to move and store the Qi and blood in the body as well as to

help guide us as we make decisions in our lives. When the wood element is out of

balance a person may experience emotions related to anger or frustration like

impatience, resentment, violence, edginess, stubbornness, aggression or have an

impulsive personality. There are many physical conditions that can arise from an

imbalance in the wood element ranging in symptoms from the benign and superficial

(such as red and irritated eyes) to the obvious (cirrhosis). Most conditions are excess in

nature and include stagnation, liver heat and over reaction on other organs. If a person

is having any trouble in these areas the liver is the first organ that should be treated.

The representative season for the wood element is spring when it is most active. It is

during the spring when a healthy person should naturally have a decrease in appetite

which is the liver’s way of detoxifying itself. During this time a person should rise early

with the sun and get cardiovascular exercise. The wood element has been explained

further by Paul Pitchford, a 5 Element practitioner, as "The heavy veil of winter is lifting

and vision and thoughts may become clearer."

Also during this season it is advised that a person should eat more raw or “young foods”

such as sprouts. The cooking of food should be kept to a minimum (or not at all) and

should mainly be lightly steamed or sautéed.

Foods and Spices that Compliment the Wood Element: raw foods, sprouts, dark green

leafy vegetables, spirulina, seaweed, chlorophyll, "baby" starchy vegetables such as

beets and carrots, basil, fennel, rosemary, dill, bay leaf, cumin, ginger, horseradish,

honey, vinegar, asparagus, quinoa, radish, citrus peel, cucumber, parsley and kale.

Foods to Avoid: large meals, processed saturated fats, processed and refined foods,

excess nuts and seeds, pesticides, intoxicants and prescription drugs.

The time of the wood element is from 11pm to 3am. During these hours it is most

important for a healthy body to be sleeping so the ethereal soul can rest. The body and

spirit will not be fully nourished if the liver and gall bladder cannot function properly

during this time. The mind may feel scattered and frustration may arise the day after

staying up in the night during these hours.

Wind is the climactic force associated with the wood element and the liver. During a

windy season you may notice a disturbance in sleep patterns and an increase in anger

and frustration, if the liver becomes agitated. Another source of imbalance for the liver

and wood element is having to many desires. Weather for sex, fame, power, security,

money, rich foods or alcohol these desires can blind proper judgment causing

inappropriate actions and dietary choices.

A typical wood element individual will be tall, thin and/or sinewy. They normally have a

darkish complexion and very defined facial features such as pronounced cheek bones

and a chiseled jaw. Often times you will see a protruding anti-helix in the ear. They are

known for their strong bones and connective tissue and have straight strong backs.

This person can be the jokester and will stand out in the crowd as one of the louder

people in the room. “Wood types” are hard workers but tend to worry.

Common Wood Imbalances: nervous disorders, allergies, lumps, swelling, mastitis,

distended abdomen and/or breasts, indigestion, menstrual problems, stress, neck and

back tension, fatigue, rigidity, inflexibility, eye problems, impure blood, skin conditions,

nail problems, muscle or tendon pain, emotional attachments, headaches, insomnia, red

face and eyes, dizziness, night blindness, cramps, twitches, clenching the jaw, tremors,

ringing in the ears, numbness, dry and/or pale skin.

A general overview of the 5 Elements can be found at http://

www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/fiveelementtheory.php. The information in this posting

is derived from a lecture given by Dr. Randi. Feel free to contact Dr. Randi directly via

the website with questions or comments. Pura Vida!