Acupuncture : How the imbalance of the elements affect us?
How the Five Elements are Manifested
Internally and Externally?
| Element | Winter | Spring |
| Wood | Growing, flourishing, rooted yet pushing upward | Striving, controlling, flexible strength, self-assured |
| Earth | Productive, fertile | Solid, stable, reliable, tenacious, grounded |
| Metal | Hard, structured, symmetric | Organized, substantial, strong, durable |
| Fire | Dry, hot, ascending | Dynamic, sparkling, enthusiastic |
| Water | Wet, cool, descending | Flowing, adaptable, pliant |
| Imbalance | Meaning | Symptoms |
| Too low fire - not warming the earth | Heart (fire) unable to warm spleen (earth) | Dislike of cold, cold in extremities, early morning diarrhea, urinary symptoms, edema, distended abdomen, fatigue, weakness |
| Too low metal - metal not producing water | Lungs (metal) not sending water to kidney | Shortness of breath, thirst, weak knees, lower back pain, scanty dark urine. |
| Too much wood - Wood overpowers the earth | Liver (wood) qi dominates spleen (earth) | Headache, sore eyes, gas, poor appetite, weakness, pain in flanks, vertigo, chest distress |
| Too much metal - Fire cannot control metal | Heart (fire) yang cannot control lung (metal) fluids | Frequent urination, shortness of breath, palpitation, insomnia |
