Wood energy symbolizes growth and renewal. When balanced properly, its presence supports an open mind and body while when misapplied it can become stressful or cause frustration and irritation.
Growing seeds, opening blossoms and hearing birds sing are all signs of Wood energy’s presence. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this energy resides within our livers and gallbladders as an embodiment of this power.
Emotions
Balanced Wood energy can be defined by visionary views and an ability to formulate plans with their minds. People with this energy often take on more responsibilities than they can manage and can quickly feel overwhelmed. They possess strong drive, but also seek challenges or adventures and tend to prioritize tendon health over bone.
When functioning optimally, these organs support a smooth flow of emotions and Qi (energy). However, an excess of wood energy may manifest as anger or rage – something often witnessed among great leaders such as Martin Luther King or Barack Obama.
Emotionally, people with wood energy tend to be quick-tempered, and their tendency to react impulsively may lead them to develop digestive problems in the stomach area such as heartburn, bloating or gastritis due to excessive anger. Since livers play an essential role in clearing away toxins from our bodies through clearing agents such as detoxification systems like liver enzymes, when imbalanced due to excessive anger this could lead to toxic build-up within the stomach area leading to further digestive troubles.
As this happens, yin energy of the liver can become stagnant like springtime water, leading to emotional imbalance and accompanying diseases like high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis or sleep disorders. Due to how interdependent all five elements are with one another, an imbalance in one can often trigger illness in another – so by addressing its source by rebalancing liver energy these conditions can be resolved more successfully.
People with excessive wood energy must learn how to relax, stop rushing and take care of both their mental and emotional wellbeing. Positive visualisation techniques may be useful here as well, and negative emotions such as anger should be transformed into love by practicing positive visualisation techniques and reframing. Herbal medicine can also play an invaluable role here by supporting Liver health while soothing emotions allowing yang energy to return into balance.
Physical symptoms
As trees blossom and bloom with spring’s arrival, so too do our Wood energies. Representing birth, growth and renewal respectively, Wood represents our Liver and Gall Bladder systems and their role as representatives of birthing seeds, blooming flowers and strong tree branches that bend with the wind while remaining upright.
When Liver and Gall Bladder become overburdened, however, their natural flow of Wood energy becomes disrupted, leading to symptoms like irritability, frustration, indecisiveness and feelings of being stuck that manifest as physical signs such as headaches on either side of the head, eye strain and stiff neck and shoulders.
The Wood Element’s acupuncture meridians run along the lateral sides of the body, including the ribs, jaw, hips and shoulders; their tendon/ligament attachments connect bone to bone (ligament) or muscle/tendon connections (tendon). As such, migraine headaches typically occurring on one side are frequently related to disturbances within this meridian system.
Chinese Medicine Acupuncture aims to restore balance to the wood channel and restore proper flow of qi through your liver, gall bladder, eyes, tendons/sinews and joints of the body. A typical treatment involves inserting needles into specific points on your face, head, arms, ear and torso before also asking about your overall health and wellbeing to get an idea of how your wood channel is operating.
Though each of the Five Elements correspond to specific body areas or organs, they also interact and influence each other, prompting an acupuncturist to treat other regions connected with an affected area as part of an overall strategy for treatment. Acupuncture and herbal therapy treatments are highly customized – it depends on both individual presentations as well as seasonal influences – therefore your acupuncturist will discuss an initial treatment plan with you prior to commencing, then modify it as necessary during therapy. We welcome all inquiries; don’t hesitate to get in touch; we always look forward to helping!
Diet
Wood energy is most associated with springtime, when nature awakens to new life through seeds germination and renewal. Seeds sprout into shoots that grow into leaves; bulbs pop from their earthen homes; leaves return to branches that were previously barren, and birds waken to sing their song of renewal in the trees. People with Wood constitution often feel inspired and driven by life’s possibilities but when their energy gets out of balance it can manifest in stress, anger or irritability – organs associated with wood such as livers gall bladders as well as green colour hues such as springtime windy weather and blue hues all indicate wood energy being present within them.
Wood people tend to be flexible, adaptable and goal-oriented individuals. Additionally, they typically enjoy social interactions and good relationships. If balanced properly, Wood people can be assertive yet confident while becoming frustrated when challenged or misunderstood.
Diet is an integral component of health for Wood types. Fruit and vegetable consumption should focus heavily on leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables and berries; heavy meat consumption such as red meat is considered liver-inflaming; they should eat calmly while chewing food slowly to facilitate proper digestion; Acupuncture and herbs can be used to correct imbalances related to Wood element.
Exercise is an invaluable way of supporting the health of an energetic system like Wood. Wood types should strive to spend as much time outdoors and engage in recreational activities that promote healthy movement – competitive sports may not be ideal; cardiovascular exercises, yoga, tai chi and stretching (particularly stretching the tendons and sinews which fall under Wood’s purview) are ideal ways to maintain balance in this energetic type’s system. Breathing deeply, meditation or stress management techniques may also be useful tools in managing elevated cortisol levels.
Lifestyle
Wood symbolizes spring, the time when new growth emerges and begins to form. Qi that has been germinating during Winter element phase is given direction – giving birth! In TCM terms, its partner organs for this energetic phase include Liver and Gallbladder – ideal candidates to guide this energetic phase towards goal setting, setting objectives, and welcoming change.
People with wood types possess a vision of what they wish to achieve and are driven to pursue it. They are planners and self-directers with a strong sense of urgency about everything they do; yet this strong drive may cause pushiness with others when their goals don’t seem quickly being reached – an event which may cause anger and frustration which necessitates learning how to control emotions effectively.
If a person’s Wood chi is unbalanced, they are susceptible to liver and gallbladder problems that manifest as yellowish or greasy skin complexion, stiff joints and muscles and neck pain; additionally insomnia and digestive issues may also occur; when treated using acupuncture and herbal therapy these symptoms will likely disappear.
Persons who possess an excess of wood energy may experience stomach and spleen imbalances, so it’s essential for these individuals to regularly seek acupuncture treatments as well as consume a balanced diet that avoids alcohol, caffeine and stimulants as these substances deplete natural energy reserves in their body.
Additionally to acupuncture and herbal therapy, practicing mindfulness daily is another effective way of balancing wood energy. These simple yet intentional activities include breathing exercises, meditation and yoga – these practices provide a great foundation of health during springtime! Ultimately when seeking treatment for any imbalances it is wise to consult a licensed acupuncturist as this method provides healing through stimulation of key points on the body which promote healing while making sure everything functions at its optimum.
