Shiatsu Madera

TCM and Five Elements

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the Five Element Cycle, which consists of the elements Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. These elements form the foundation of all life on Earth. Every organism moves through the cycle of the five elements, from birth to death, and also through the seasons year after year. It is a continuous process that repeats itself.

The five elements, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal, make life on Earth possible. Each element is essential; without water, there is no growth of wood; without wood, no fire; without the ashes of fire, no new earth; without earth, no minerals; and without water, the minerals cannot be distributed.

A powerful and vivid illustration of the Five Element Cycle is the transformation of a seed into a plant. A seed needs water, nutrients (minerals), oxygen, warmth, and light in order to grow into a plant, to bloom, and to bear fruit. Over time, (part of) the plant dies and becomes nourishment for other organisms. In this way, each cycle of the seasons, and of life, is completed and renewed.

In essence, humans go through the same cycle as a plant. A person also needs the elements in order to grow and develop oneself on different levels. Each human being is here on earth to realize their full potential, the essence contained within the seed, and to share it with the world. For this to happen, it is essential that energy can flow freely through the cycle and within the body, without obstruction or blockages such as fears or limiting beliefs. Only then can someone live an energetic and fulfilling life, in full balance.

When energy is unable to flow freely over an extended period of time, for exemple by suppressing one´s feelings or emotions or by adapting oneself to other people, one or more blockages can form in the energy cycle within the body. These are often experienced as symptoms such as a tense or restless feeling, fatigue, pain or stiffness of muscles or joints, digestive issues, eczema, low mood or depression, anxiety.