Chinese Five Element Medicine: An Innovative Technique through the Skin at Conscious Body

For thousands of years the Chinese have lived according to Five Element Theory.  Medicine, decisions, decorating, diet, all have been based on the differences between Earth, Water, Metal, Fire and Wood.  At Conscious Body we utilize Five Element theory in our Decongestive Lymphatic Drainage and in the advice we provide in nutrition and lifestyle.  The blend of these elements, both at the time of our birth and throughout the seasons of each year, will determine which organs and glands are under stress, what our temperment will be like and even what our skin will express.  So it is only natural that the way you treat your body should be based on this ancient elemental system. 

We use our Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy of vibration, chromalight and gentle suction to encourage our topical medicinals to become energetically active, allowing them to create change and healing in the tissues under the skin. These essential oils, algaes and clays create a stregthening and harmonizing of your Birth Element with the Seasonal Element of the year. This helps to resolve blockages, inflammation issues and congestive disorders.

The Five Elements
of the Year

There are five elements in Chinese theory and during each shift in season, these elements will also change with one becoming more dominant than another.  The element of your birth month and year is your inherent trait and then this will react differently depending on the seasonal element that you are exposed to.  The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.  The solution to balancing the body and making healthier decisions lies in balancing your inherent element with the seasonal element at hand.

By understanding the interaction of your inherent birth element with the dominant element of the season, you can accurately predict complications before they happen and prevent illness from occurring year in and year out just as the Chinese have done since ancient times. Begin by finding out what your birth element is with our Elemental Chart.

Next you will want to accurately distinguish what elemental season we are in so you will know the dominant force in your environment.

Earth: The Element of the Inter-Season

The last element is Earth and this is a transitional element.  The time of Earth actually occurs in between each season, so there are four Earth periods in a year lasting about 2 1/2 weeks at the ends of January, April, July and October.  Earth is yellow and is related to the spleen, stomach and the menstrual cycle.  The lips are a good indicator of health.  Earth people are sympathetic, obsessive and stubborn.  Singers tend to be earth people and those with a strong speaking voice.  Earth people can manifest many things making fertility a strong characteristic of earth, thus connecting to the idea of Mother Earth.  

Earth skin requires detoxification, so common issues are acne, toxicity, cysts and cellulite.  There will be localized weight gain around the abdomen and legs and lymphatic circulation is essential to enhance the ability of the body to detoxify efficiently. 

Which Products Should You Choose?

We provide topical therapy through the skin of energetically activated organic blends for home use.  Each product works on two levels … the skin and symptoms of the skin, and more systemic symptoms of the deeper tissues and the body energy.  Once you know your Birth Element and the Element of the Season you can begin to see how your symptoms reflect this delicate balance.  Choose from these amazing medicinals for your healing protocol:

Phyt’Ether Serum - these are 100% organic essential oil blends that create an energetic vibration that creates change in the deeper tissues under the skin. They are most effective when massaged over the main energetic centers (chakras) of the body or over any organ in distress.

Clay Masks - these are designed with natural earth clays, essential oils and vitamin C to draw out impurities through the skin while also strengthening circulation, mineral density and detoxification.

Oligo 5 Mineral Spray - this an algae-based spray rich in omega 3 delivering five key minerals deeply into the tissues: manganese, cobalt, zinc, magnesium and copper. These are the key minerals your organs rely on as well as the determining factor in the appearance of aging of the skin overlay.

Extreme Hydrating Cream for Winter - blending sweet orange, ginger and vanilla with arctic berries, aloe, organic grains and Vitamin E in jojoba oil, this dense protective cream is incredible for protecting the skin from winter cold and wind. It does this by increasing water reserves in the skin and preventing water loss through the skin to the environment.

Violet Body Clay - this is a synergistic blend of cinnamon, lavender, ylang-ylang, lemon, thyme, cypress and sweet marjoram to stimulate and balance all five elemental energies. We recommend this for all of our seriously ill patients, those with chronic skin conditions and people with seasonal affective disorder.

Vegetal Oil Emulsion - many of our patients love this neutral organic lotion that we use with our Body Basic Decongestive Lymph Therapy. It is a blend of organic vegetal oils including jojoba and omegas 3, 6 & 9 with essential oils of each element/season. It is incredibly moisturizing and balancing for even those with skin sensitivity or skin allergies.

Elemental Body Gel - the elemental gels all contain rose hip oil as well as vitamin C, with each focusing on the symptoms most common for each element. These are easy to apply, disappear into the skin and are both cooling and warming depending on the season.

Contouring Serum - this patented product has won awards in Europe as the natural alternative to face lifting. With organic green tea, laminaria algae and vitamin E, it stimulates microcirculation, hydrates, softens, mineralizes and nourishes. It has been proven to increase lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) in cells and tissues common in cellulite while also protecting the DNA of skin cells with antioxidants.

Selextrême - this is organic micronized mountain salt infused with essential oil blends for each element. It can be used to exfoliate the face and body in the shower or poured into a hot bath for soaking.

The Effects of Each Element

Wood: The Element of Spring 

Wood is the element of Spring and wood people are prone to gallbladder and liver weakness as well as arthritis.  The color of the wood element is green and color is also an important feature.  Green promotes balance and the sense of smell.  It is antiseptic and has a beneficial effect on balancing situations of cancer.  Wood is the element associated with the East and is the element of cleansing.  A typical Wood will be very focused, make plans and decisions easily, rise early and be a great organizer.  They are "idea" people.  Sight is the dominant sense so in Chinese medicine sight is linked to liver health.  This means that a weakening of the wood elemental will create problems with vision, including tear production.  Wood people will tend to prefer sour or vinegary foods and shouting is a common indication of loss of wood.  

The body of Wood people expresses stress.  Their skin may tend to be oily with blackheads and hyperpigmentation.  Their muscles will be tight, leading to tendon and ligament issues.  It is the circulation of energy that is the core of Wood health.

Wood is dominant in the spring from the beginning of February until mid-April. 

Fire: The Element of Summer

Fire is the element of Summer  with the focus on the heart, small intestine and the regulation of body temperature and circulation.  A weakness of fire can create a sensation of coolness in the chest, solar plexus or umbilicus.  Fire people are heart-based and thus the color red is the color for Fire.  Fire is the ability to rule, to understand, to perceive, which may explain the small intestine link since this organ of the body sorts the "good" from the "bad".  Fire gives enthusiasm and vitality, the ability to laugh and the ability to accept change well.  It is the element of the South and is associated with joy.  Too much fire can create excess heat in the body including inflammation and a craving for bitter flavors.  

Fire is balanced by the element Water, just as the color blue balances the color red.  The skin of fire people tends to be couperose, red and blotchy.  It can be easily irritated and sensitive including rosacea.  Fire people will have excessive perspiration or a lack of fire will produce no perspiration at all.  

Fire is dominant in the summer from the beginning of May until mid-July.

Metal: The Element of Autumn

Metal is the time of Autumn and the focus is on structure and communication.  The color for metal is white and it is related to the West.  Autumn begins the dark yin cycle and so mental well-being, sinus, colds are all indicative of the organs that are affected which are the large intestines and the lungs.  Emotions are strong in metal people with worry, grief and sorrow always strong forces.  The sound of crying provides a great release to metal people.  

Metal skin may have excessive whiteness and the cheeks may be pale.  Metal skin depends on lymphatic health and mineralization.  Typical metal symptoms are mineral deficiency disorders, heavy legs and hips, dull and lifeless skin. 

Metal is dominant from the beginning of August through mid-October. 

Water: The Element of Winter

Water is the element of Winter and the direction is North.  It is a deep yin element affecting the bladder, kidneys and the tone of the body.  Water people are always trying to conserve energy and resources and because of the cold climate preference, they can experience back pain and stiffness as a result of dehydration.  They prefer salty foods and fear is the emotion they experience most, even to the point of trembling.  Hearing is the dominant sense and it is interesting that the ears and the kidneys have the same shape.  They tend to have fertility issues including impotence and are strongly related to the moon cycles.  Their health can be seen in their head hair, around the eyes and in the health of their teeth and bones.  They are compassionate, understanding and responsive.  

The color for water is blue, but can also be black as the deepest waters are.  The color blue relates to insomnia and palpitations, often common symptoms of excessive fear.  Water skin can be dehydrated and lacking in tone.  There can be edema and water retention with black circles around the eyes and puffiness. 

Water is dominant from early November through mid-January.