Five Elements Theory and Mechanism

Chemeia, the Greek root for alchemy, means mingling or infusion. Elemental Oils, a blend of almond and grapeseed oils, essential oils and Chinese herbs, infuse with us.

Based on the Five Element or Five Phase Theory of Chinese Medicine, Elemental Oils assist in balancing the body’s energy or qi. Five Element theory creates a method to organize reality, the microcosm of our body, and imbalances that occur. As it states in Between Heaven and Earth, “it is a basis for describing the development of forms, systems and events.” All that is created can be categorized within five phases. The elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood correspond Chinese Organ energy which runs in designated pathways through the body to emotion, season, scent, color, flavor and other properties. The phases transform into the next flowing continuously maintaining balance or homeostasis.

Cycle of Five Phases

The Creation Cycle Water creates Wood. Wood creates Fire. Fire generates Earth. Earth generates Metal. Metal creates Water. The Control Cycle Water controls Fire. Fire controls Metal. Metal controls Wood. Wood controls Earth. Earth controls Water.

The Creation and Control cycles interact constantly to maintain an overall balance in the system. The five elemental energies play a vital role in the Chinese herbal system. Each of the herbs contains one or more elemental energies, and is categorized according to the type of elemental energy that is predominant in the herb and how it influences the human energy system.

The body relies on homeostasis or balance. In Western Medicine, virtually every organ system plays a role in maintaining the constancy of the body’s internal environment despite the external influences. The control mechanism is communication within the body via electrical impulses between the nervous and endocrine systems which are carried by nerves and bloodborne hormones. Disease results from homeostatic imbalance. The body’s control systems weaken with age and taxation. Chinese Medicine assists re-establishing the balance of the organ systems (not the physical organ but the energy or qi associated with it). When one organ energy is imbalanced in excess, at least one of the remaining four will be conversely imbalanced to deficit. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, imbalance is identified within the body before disease manifests.

The five basic Elemental Oils combine herbs and essential oils which have a controlling, regulating, or engendering affinity for a phase or organ system or related scent or taste to balance one of the Elements or Phases. I can personalize oils with a consultation to adjust one or more phases.

Subtle yet powerful modalities of homeopathy, flower essences, and essential oils readjust physical, emotional, and energetic conditions. Formulated similarly, Elemental Oils work subtly, slowly on imbalances yet are not a replacement for Chinese herbal teas or tablets. Long standing physical issues benefit from the latter whereas the oils work well on emotional and energetic imbalance.

Apply Elemental Oil over the corresponding organ or pathway, apply on the soles of feet, or during a therapeutic massage or reflexology. Once or twice daily application provides the best results.