Explore every episode of the podcast Demystifying Five Element Acupuncture Podcast

CSEO

Colour: GreenSound: Shouting (or an absence of shouting)Emotion: Anger (or a lack of anger)Odour: Rancid

When the Wood Element is balanced, it supports our ability to:

Assert ourselves appropriately in the world

Hold a clear vision of our unique path in life

Create structures and boundaries so that our path can unfold

Make plans, choices, and decisions with confidence

When Wood is imbalanced, common struggles can include:

Boundary difficulties

Power struggles (or feeling powerless)

A strong need to be right or correct

Frustration around growth and development

Feeling blocked from getting what you want

Common questions Wood CFs may ask themselves:

Why don’t I have the power I need to do things want to do?

Why can I organise some things but not others?

Why have I been blocked or stopped like this?

What do I really want?

Behavioural patterns that can show up with a Wood imbalance:

Assertive and direct ↔ Passive and indirect

Seeking justice ↔ Apathetic

Rigid ↔ Over-flexible

Excessively organised ↔ Disorganised

Frustrated and defiant ↔ over-obedient and compliant.

The Water Personality

CSEO

Colour: BlueSound: Groaning (or an absence of groaning)Emotion: Fear (or a lack of fear)Odour: Putrid

When the Water Element is balanced, it supports our ability to:

Recognise danger and accurately assess the level of risk

Reassure ourselves and feel safe

Take appropriate action to manage or reduce risk

When Water is imbalanced, common struggles can include:

A strong need to feel safe

Difficulty trusting (others, life, or self)

Problems with drive and motivation

Not being easily reassured

Either craving danger/excitement, or avoiding it

Common questions Water CFs may ask themselves:

How can I deal with danger?

Who can I trust?

Where will I be safe?

How can I be reassured?

Behavioural patterns that can show up with a Water imbalance:

Risk-taking ↔ Fearing the worst / over-cautiousness

Distrusting ↔ Over-trusting

Intimidating ↔ Reassuring

Driven ↔ No drive

Agitation ↔ Paralysis

The Metal Personality

CSEO

Colour: WhiteSound: Weeping (or an absence of weeping)Emotion: Grief (or a lack of grief)Odour: Rotten

When the Metal Element is balanced, it supports our ability to:

Process loss and move forward

Take in the richness and beauty of life

Accept endings, and let go

When Metal is imbalanced, common struggles can include:

Seeking recognition

Needing approval

Not feeling complete

Feeling inadequate in the world

Difficulty accessing inspiration

Common questions Metal CFs may ask themselves:

What will give my life meaning?

Am I really OK?

What do I need to feel complete?

How can I connect to the world?

Where can I find inspiration and meaning?

Behavioural patterns that can show up with a Metal imbalance:

Fragile ↔ Unyielding

Cut-off ↔ Seeking connection

Resigned or inert ↔ Over-working and achieving

Craving quality and purity ↔ Feeling messy and polluted

Deeply moved ↔ Nonchalant

The Earth Personality

CSEO

Colour: YellowSound: Singing (or an absence of singing)Emotion: Worry (or a lack of worry)Odour: Fragrant

When the Earth Element is balanced, it supports our ability to:

Offer genuine support and nourishment to others

Ask for help, and receive care when it’s available

Know when to prioritise our own needs, and when it’s right to care for others

When Earth is imbalanced, common struggles can include:

Not feeling supported

Difficulty receiving help from others

Feeling uncentered or unstable

Reduced mental clarity

Not feeling understood

Common questions Earth CFs may ask themselves:

Who will support me?

How can I get nourished?

How can I become centred?

How can I get what I need?

How can I feel that I belong?

Who truly understands me?

Behavioural patterns that can show up with an Earth imbalance:

Smothering ↔ Withholding support

Feeling needy ↔ Repressing needs

Excessive dependency ↔ Over-independence

Uncentred and dispersed ↔ Stuck and heavy

Over-dependent on the security of home ↔ Struggling to put down roots

The Fire Personality

CSEO

Colour: RedSound: Laughter (or an absence of laughter)Emotion: Joy (or a lack of joy)Odour: Scorched

When the Fire Element is balanced, it supports our ability to:

Give and receive love with appropriate emotional distance

Know when it’s appropriate to open up, and when it’s wise to hold back

Choose how much to share in different kinds of relationships

When Fire is imbalanced, common struggles can include:

Difficulty giving or receiving love and warmth

Emotional highs and lows (volatility)

Challenges with closeness and intimacy

A reduced sense of happiness or ease

Clarity of thought

Common questions Fire CFs may ask themselves:

Am I lovable?

Why do my emotions swing so much?

How do I genuinely connect with others?

How do I find real happiness?

Behavioural patterns that can show up with a Fire imbalance:

Compulsively cheerful ↔ Miserable

Open and overly sociable ↔ Closed and isolated

Clowning ↔ Earnest

Vulnerable ↔ Over-protective

Volatile ↔ Flat

The importance of looking after oneself

Purpose and functions of the emotions