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We talked about looking at the trees and how they related last newsletter. Today we are going to dive deeper into spring and the element of wood. Springtime brings the power back into the world! Creation and new beginnings are seen everywhere we look! The element of wood infuses vital qi energy into the world to bring life, growth, and new beginnings!
The organs that make up the element of wood are liver and gallbladder. The liver takes up the role as General in traditional Asian medicine. The General on the battlefield must make good decisions and have good judgment. The paired organ is the gallbladder. The gallbladder must take those decisions and follow through on them. Planning is truly the main gallbladder function.
The time of day that is associated with the wood element is 11pm-1am for the Gallbladder and 1am-3am for the liver. This is when the energy of the organ is at its strongest.
The direction of wood is east. It is said that the east wind belongs to the wood element and can make wood imbalances worse.
The eyes are the orifice and sense organ of the wood element. You need good vision to successfully execute plans. The Fluid of wood is tears. Tears are essential for healthy vision.
The Emotion and sound associated with the wood element is anger and shouting. Every disease has an emotion attached to it. Disharmonies in the wood element create either excess anger or the inability to express one’s anger. Most likely there is a component of feeling stuck, frustrated, and/or inner conflict. Shouting is the perfect expression of anger. You can hear the anger in regular conversation. Important to remember that anger and shouting are symptoms of an imbalance and that they are really asking for help. This is way easier said than done when you’re living with an imbalanced wood person. If you can recognize this maybe, you can direct them to an acupuncturist. The acupuncturist can help with bringing balance back into the wood element while dissipating the anger! In traditional medicine disease can cause emotions and emotions can cause disease.
The tendons and ligaments are associated with the wood element. They create structure and hold the bones together. If you are fatigued, we look to the wood element first. The wood element is in charge of free coursing qi and when the qi doesn’t move correctly you become extremely tired and weary.
The wood element is also associated with Nails, hands, and feet. Nails are usually the easiest to see, and one of the 1st symptoms to appear with a wood disharmony. They may have all kinds of changes- they all lead back to the wood element.
Wood is associated with the ability to control oneself and one’s body. When in control wood is balanced, when lack of control, coordination, weakness, etc. exist you have a wood disharmony.
Rancid/sweet sour is the smell associated with the wood element. This smell is difficult to describe in English language, it is not a favorable smell.
As we stated previously wind is the climate associated with wood. Especially eastward wind. Traditionally wind is said to be the mother of a thousand diseases. Wind helps drive pathogens, etc. into our bodies.
The Ethereal Soul (HUN) is the spirit/soul of the wood element. It is said to reside in the liver. It The Hun leaves the body upon death and is returned. There are 5 souls of the body per traditional medicine. I’ll leave it at that not to step on any religious toes.
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