What is Five-Element
Acupuncture?
What is Classical Five-Element Acupuncture?
Acupuncture originated in Ancient China more than 2,000 years ago and is the oldest continuously practiced medical system in the world. It is based on the laws of Nature, which flow from one season to the next, year in and year out, like clock work. As humans, our energy is also designed to “flow” and is referred to as “Chi” (Ki or Qi) in Eastern Medicine. Chi is our vital “life force”. It is what runs through our being and allows us to live in the world with vitality and purpose.
Classical Five-Element Acupuncture is rooted in this ancient wisdom and adapted by Professor J.R. Worsley for the modern world, and is a proven, effective system of medicine that diagnoses and treats the root cause of disease.
We humans are not separate from Nature, which means, like Nature, we are designed to heal, rejuvenate and recover. After a flood or a fire, Nature begins to recover in time on its own. Green sprouts quickly begin to take over a scorched landscape, an impossible miracle out of devastation. This is a Law of Nature that we can count on with our own healing potential.
When we are in a balanced state of energy flow, like nature, we naturally experience harmony, joy, inner peace and health. Our chi flow can be impeded by life circumstances like disease, trauma, emotions, pain, lifestyle, and stress. Energy flow disruption may cause internal imbalance, dis-ease and dis-harmony. This is when we begin to experience physical/mental/emotional symptoms.
Like water flowing through a creek bed, acupuncture treatments creates balance in our energy channels (the meridians), restoring a smooth, vital flow which eases symptoms. Once our chi flow is balanced, authentic healing begins.
Dr. Worsley understood the need to connect to the laws of nature, honing and re-introducing this method of acupuncture to the West in the mid-20th century, developed after years of studying under several Eastern masters. Dr. Worsley called this standard of acupuncture ‘Traditional Acupuncture’ until visiting Chinese dignitaries came to his college in the 1980s and told him what he was doing was really “Classical 5 Element acupuncture” or CFEA.
The 5 elements correspond with the 5 seasons. Like Nature, Classical Five-Element Acupuncture is holistic and addresses the Mind, Body and Spirit. As humans, we cannot separate our bodies and minds from our spirit. Our ability to connect to the Heavens and the Earth determine our health. When one’s spirit is in “good health,” the mind and body follow. When our spirit is not vital and purposeful, our minds and bodies will show signs of imbalance in order to gain our attention. But, many of us don’t listen to or notice our bodies’ early warning signs.
Acupuncture is best used as a preventative medicine for this reason. Our bodies exhibit internal imbalances long before they become disease/pain.
"very calming, beneficial, and sometimes life changing."
“Nature Does Not Hurry And Yet Everything is Accomplished” -Lao Tsu