Which Chinese Medicine Element am I? Here’s how you can find out

When looking up info about Traditional Chinese Medicine, have you asked yourself ‘Which Chinese Medicine Element am I?’ Because there is an answer to your question. Yes, just like you heard. Every one of us belongs to one Element.

So like a horoscope? Not quite.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Five Elements Theory is used to analyze people according to their features and place them within one of the Five Elements. Although everyone has all the elements within them, some characteristics stand out more than others and this defines their Element. This gives people a better scope of their health tendencies to spot early indications of unhealthy behavior or the onset of disease.

Although it might sound like a horoscope when I tell you everyone belongs to an element, I’m referring to applying the Five Elements Theory to human physiology and psychology. Being a specific element is a reflection of the characteristics you show both physically and psychologically.

This is called Typology and uses the Five Elements Theory to place you in one of the Five Elements according to your specific conditions. Some tools like questionnaires help you see where you land. This allows you to make better decisions regarding diet, exercise, lifestyle, and overall health.

This summary is mainly based on the book ‘Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine’ by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold.

Quick note: Chinese horoscope does use the Five Elements Theory but that’s a whole different issue from this one I’m talking about.

Also, read The Chinese Medicine Five Elements Theory Simply Explained.

Which Chinese Medicine Element am I? Chinese Medicine Typology Explained:

How does it work then?

Each element is a recollection of related characteristics, from the season, the Zang Fu organs, to the taste linked to that organ. The same logic applies to body compositions and psychological features.

When I tell you that your element is Wood, it is because you are someone who by nature is very forward-driven, and very entrepreneurial, but also someone prone to frustration when things don’t get your way, you may struggle with menstrual issues, and so on.

According to how you are physically and psychologically and your tendencies, you will find yourself belonging to one of the Elements.

How to use this post

• Save it so you don’t lose it.
• Read along and find out which element you belong to, be honest.
• Learn the dietary and behavioral tips for better health.
• Please share it with your family so you can help them too.

Keep in mind that everyone has all the Five Elements in them. However, some characteristics stand out and point to a prevalence of one Element over the others which determines the one you belong to.

Healthy and Unhealthy Elements

While in this article you will learn about the main traces of each element, I’m focusing on the main aspects of a healthy individual belonging to the Elements. There also exist unhealthy relationships between the Elements which create a new clinical landscape.

Now, off to the Elements:

Wood

Wood represents Spring, the beginning of the life process, everything that is expanding, adventuring to the unknown like a tree that grows towards the sky. Wood is associated with the Liver which stores and regulates the flow of Blood, and the Gallbladder.

The Liver governs Blood flow, Blood is the medium of the mind and psyche, so adequate blood flow is vital for a healthy psyche.

The basic features of this type are Foresight, Decision, and Implementation.

People under this Element are known for their love of challenge. These are those who thrive under pressure and are always looking for another mountain to climb.

Wood types are willpower in a bottle.

They are assertive and can wield control and influence pretty easily. They are the ones who commit to a goal and then attack it like a predator to its prey, you can almost always find them pursuing a goal: starting a company from scratch, doing extensive workouts, always doing something.

You can spot a Wood-type person because they are the ones who walk into a room as they own it, immediately demanding or getting everyone’s attention.

They abhor boredom and have a hard time winding down and relaxing, the level of unrest can be significant to the point of almost being in vibration mode when sitting still.

Wood types are prone to extremes because of their lack of sense of balance. They either go all in or don’t go at all. Most of the time this extremism can lead to tyranny and physical and mental harm to others. Oftentimes preferring not listening to others who might have criticism of their way of doing things.

Being the Liver their Type organ, Wood types are prone to suffer from vascular diseases like hypertension, Temporomandibular Junction Syndrome (TMJ Syndrome), headaches, and muscle spasms when in Excess. And also hypoglycemia, blurry vision, cystitis, sensitivity to light and sound, and chronic tension in the neck and shoulders. Disturbances in the flow of Blood also cause entities like frustration, anger, and psychological issues when critical.

How to Spot a Wood Type

• Always looking for challenges and pushing limits.
• Thrives under pressure
• Admires speed, novelty, and skill
• Forward center of mass
• Likes to be first, best, and only
• Extremely busy, maybe an entrepreneur

Typical Features

• A muscular and square physique.
• Sinewy hands and feet
• Thick and coarse skin
• Assertive
• Confident
• Committed

Typical HealthProblems

• Intolerance and impatience
• Volatile emotions
• Frustration and anger bursts
• Eyesight ailments
• Extremism: impulsive or overdisciplined self-indulgent or self-punishing
• Vascular headaches, muscle spasms, high blood pressure, nerve inflammations, migratory pain
• Menstrual issues
• Abuse of stimulants and sedatives

Useful Tips

• Learn to be flexible with your pursuits.
• Learn how to be OK with doing nothing, learn to wind down. Do Tai Chi.
• Carbohydrates like bread and pasta for quick energy must be replaced by more complex carbohydrates like rice, protein-rich legumes, and also eat fat-free animal foods.
• Avoid greasy, spicy, and creamy foods.

Fire

Fire is associated with the Summer and it represents the period of highest vitality. Fire represents consummation, actualization, and fulfillment, it is Yang in all of its splendor. The Heart is the associated organ with Fire and Summer. This is the period where the Heart squeezes the blood through the vessels. Given that Blood is the medium of the mind, Summer represents the time when we are more mindful and experience everything in a better way.

Fire-type people are known for their charisma, excitement, and enthusiasm. They perform well as leaders as well as salespeople. Being able to take the mundane and common aspects of life and bring them to new dimensions by use of their oratory.

This type is the one that can tell you a story about a door in a way that will make you think it was the greatest door ever created. Being as talented with the word as they are, you can almost find a Fire-type person being a leader. They have a unique ability to unite several people under one common will and vision.

Unlike Wood, Fire-type people don’t need to demand attention because of their unborn magnetism.

They are very polite and loving people, with a great sense of humor, and they wear their hearts on their sleeves. Looking forward to new and rewarding experiences.

Always concerned about other people’s lives, Fire types can have a hard time with boundaries. Sometimes they cannot tell their thoughts and feelings from those around them which can cause them identity issues.

When he reaches the limit of his capacity, his Heart could suffer arrhythmia, cramps, and enlargement due to the exhausting demands made upon it. They can also suffer from anxiety, when burnt out they feel a sense of despair because they don’t know who they are.

Other health ailments they can suffer are psychological issues because of disturbances in the Blood, extreme and pathological euphoria when exaggerated, hot flashes, canker sores in the mouth and tongue, and cystitis.

How to Spot a Fire Type

• Charismatic and seductive people.
• Natural-born leaders or teachers.
• Concerned with other people’s happiness.
• Relishes excitement and delights in intimacy
• Highly intuitive and empathetic
• Loves sensation, drama, and sentiment
• Likes to be hot, bright, and vibrant

Typical Features

• Soft willowy physique.
• Graceful arms and legs
• Soft, warm, and stretchy skin
• Lively
• Optimistic

Typical HealthProblems

• Lack of a proper sense of self when their boundaries are not defined
• Hypertension
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Eczema, sores in the tongue, lips, and mouth.
• Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly) or Weak Heart (Heart Failure)
• Palpitations, sweating, hypoglycemia, rashes, palsy

Useful Tips

• Learn to define your boundaries and have a clear sense of self.
• Develop self-control, and don’t give in to every experience.
• Avoid hot, spicy foods.
• Reduce or avoid stimulants like coffee.
• You will benefit from juicy fruits and vegetables, warm soups, and adequate liquid intake.

Earth

Earth represents the pivot between Yin and Yang. It is associated with the late summer. That time when summer is vanishing and Autumn approaches, in that hiatus where there is still time to contemplate all the beauty that the summer brought, this is the season of Earth.

The organ associated with this season and Element is the Spleen, the organ in charge of Nutrition in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Spleen absorbs the Nutritive Essence from food and makes Qi and Blood from it. The Spleen is also the one in charge of Conscious thinking, Intent, deliberation,

Earth types are known for being great mediators and extremely attentive. People who belong to this type spend a lot of time trying to meet the needs of their relatives and the people in their circle. They are the natural peacemakers, the ones who can always seem to find the middle ground and the right agreement.

Highly empathetic, diplomacy is something they have mastered without any practice.

They value serenity and stability above everything else. They are very averse to change.

In group settings, this type is the glue that holds everyone together. They are the ones who want to be in control but don’t want to be in the spotlight. Because of their attentive and giving nature, Earth types have a hard time saying No to requests and many times they end up overwhelmed by the load of tasks. This then makes them slow down and get petrified.

The Earth type can have a hard time feeling fulfilled because they put everyone else’s needs before their own, and think that by meeting the needs of others they will feel full.

Earth people are prone to be overweight, their bodies are soft-edged and fleshy. Their most common health concerns are digestive issues like bloating, poor digestion, lack of energy because of poor nutrition, and extreme weight changes from overweight to skinny using potent weight loss regimes.

Patrys, bread, and excess sweet foods will harm their digestion, which is important to take into account as they tend to snack a lot.

How to Spot an Earth-Type

• Attentive and diplomatic.
• Wants stability above all.
• Eager to meet the needs of others.
• Agreeable.
• Highly intuitive and empathetic
• Loves sensation, drama, and sentiment
• Likes to be hot, bright, and vibrant

Typical Features

• Soft-edged physique, often round.
• Tends to accumulate fat.
• Hands and feet seem small
• Thick musculature.
• Wide hips and shoulders.

Typical HealthProblems

• Worry, Obsession, self-doubt
• Digestive issues.
• Overeating, over-snacking.
• Tend to be overweight.
• Water retention.
• Lethargy.
• Overly attached

Useful Tips

• Learn to also value yourself and do things for your fulfillment.
• Have a self-care routine. Find your worth within you.
• Avoid excessive sweets, pastry, bread, and alcohol.
• Avoid excessive fried and greasy foods.
• Eat warm, cooked foods for energy, and avoid snacking.

Metal

Metal is the Element of refinement, it is associated with Autumn/Fall and its main organs are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. Autumn is a season where everything is sorted out and refined, taking only what’s useful and saving it for the upcoming winter while ditching the useless. It is the time when the sap of the trees goes downwards and concentrates in the roots.

Just like the trees in Autumn, our lungs do the same. They take the Qi from the air and bring it downwards to nurture our body and create Qi, Essence, and Moisture.

People who belong to the Metal element are people who use and value their deep analysis and thinking to get to the solutions. They are the creators and the followers of rules, frameworks, methods, and so on.

Metal-type people stand out for being extremely organized, and impeccable, and for having a place for everything. They use their analytical and organized mind to make sure everything works as it must, taking special pleasure when everyone follows their directions and the work gets done.

This type has clear boundaries, they can differentiate themselves from everything else. Just like the sharp and straight edges of a sword, Metal types are a reflection of these characteristics. They have well-defined oftentimes slim and angular features and cut through the ambiguity.

This upright condition, however, tends to create problems because of their lack of flexibility. Some can experience extreme rigidity that leads to tyranny, or a sense of frustration because no one can get it perfectly, not even themselves.

Being as strict as they are, they can find themselves damaged by that rigidity, leading to diseases such as asthma, constipation, lack of perspiration, dryness of skin or mucous membranes, increased sensitivity to odors, and changes in temperature and humidity.

How to Spot a Metal Type

• Likes and needs structures, rules, discipline
• Small bones, compact muscles.
• Methodical, follow authorities.
• Dry, smooth skin
• Organized and analytical

Typical Features

• Angular features, oftentimes slim frame
• Tends to have respiratory diseases
• Emphasizes rules and methods
• Small bones and compact muscles

Typical HealthProblems

• Asthma
• Sinus infection
• Constipation
• Can become ritualistic and dogmatic
• Oftentimes victims of diseases by Dryness.

Useful Tips

• Learn to think and act out of the box
• Leverage your awareness so you can spot when you are becoming exaggerated or collapsed.
• Take regular massages for better skin elasticity
• Aerobic exercise, a high-fiber diet, and a moderate fluid intake
• Take time to cool down and relax

Water

Water is the Element associated with Winter and represents the Supreme Yin. It is the time of profound quietness, the calm before the storm. This is the time to rest and repair, to focus our energies on the inside, to heal, to improve our foundational health, that what is not seen but is important: our inner milieu.

The organs linked to Water are the Kidneys, they store the Essence, they are the governors of water, and within them lies the seed of Fire, just like Yin has the seed of Yang. Healthy Kidneys mean a good quality of life and longevity. According to the Chinese, the Kidneys are the most important organ of the body. What about the brain? Well, the Kidneys in Traditional Chinese Medicine include the brain.

People belonging to the water type are mostly known for their extreme introversion. They have such a rich inner world that they can spend hours just by themselves and thinking. They are visionaries, very thoughtful, and for being great thinkers.

They hold on to what they believe and won’t sacrifice or compromise their principles regardless of the situation.

If it were possible they would just live thinking. They are not at all into anything physical and therefore many can have a lack of proper body awareness.

Given that their inner lives are so rich, Water types often neglect outdoor activities and sometimes need someone else to go and take them to such activities. Even in social gatherings, this type tends to create a safe bubble which is their space. When taken to an extreme they can lead to apathy, a lack of desire for life that can expand to other areas and cause alterations like low libido.

Water-type people have a lean build, with long fingers and toes, narrow shoulders and wide hips, and large bones.

Being great thinkers as they are, they can be suspicious of almost everyone, they fear and despise people using their gifts as a way to take advantage.

How to Spot a Water Type

• Likes loneliness
• A rich inner world with little interest in the outer one
• Can become catatonic if being isolated for a long
• Lean build with narrower shoulders than hips
• Extremely thoughtful, analytical, great thinkers

Typical Features

• Lean build, often slim, narrow shoulders and wider hips, long fingers and toes
• If left alone for too long and they cannot bring themselves back to the world they can develop depression and apathy
• Seeks understanding and knowledge

Typical HealthProblems

• Isolation
• Kidney problems
• Low back pain
• Hardening of arteries
• Deterioration of teeth and gums

Useful Tips

• Gather courage and step out of the comfort of your mind and into the world
• Invest in some type of physical activity to balance your inward focus.
• Strengthen your Kidney with Fish, black beans, eggplants, somewhat salty foods, and regular acupuncture.

Final Thoughts

This is a summary intended to give you a generalized view of the Five Archetypes according to the Five Elements theory. You can use this as a tool to learn about your health tendencies and be more aware of your decisions.

Make sure to return to this post any time you need to refresh your knowledge.

Have something you want me to write about? Leave a comment below!

See you in the next post!