In the history of Chinese medicine, Five Elements was one of the major doctrines influencing not only acupuncture but all aspects of society. Through the system of correspondences, Five Element acupuncture provides a unique understanding of the connections between body, mind, and spirit in health and disease. Today the practice of Five Element acupuncture in the West has been further refined and differs in substantial ways from what is known as traditional Chinese medicine. The clinical application of the Five Element system provides an understanding of how the Taoist concept of the Laws of Nature can be used in modern society.

In the practice of Five Element Acupuncture the practitioner attempts to understand the state of each of the five elements within the patient. The practioner will also determine which of the five elements is the patients constitutional type and much of the treatment will be directed at this element regardless of the patients presenting symptoms. The theory suggests that treatment aimed at the constitutional weakness will have a more profound effect on the patient and lead to long lasting improvements in the patients overall health as well as improving the presenting symptoms. The practitioner diagnoses the patients constitutional type during an in depth consultation in which the practioner will take note of both verbal and non verbal clues. The patients presenting symptoms may or may not be related to the constitutional type. 

Fire       

Within each element there are organs which are sometimes referred to as officials. Officials are described as being defined not by physical properties, but by specific roles in the processing, storage, and distribution of vital energy and therefore the maintenance of life.

The fire element houses two pairs of officials unlike the other elements which each house one pair. The first pair of officials housed in the fire element consists of the Heart, "the supreme controller", and the Small Intestine, "the separator of pure from impure". The Heart or supreme controller holds the office of lord and sovereign and it governs every other organ. The Small Intestine official is responsible for separating the pure from the unpure on both a physical and mental level. The second pair of fire officials consists of the Pericardium or "Heart Protector" and the Triple Burner, "the official of balance and harmony".

Organs: Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, Triple Burner

Physical: Heart and cardiovacular function, autonomic nervous system, digestisve function, peripheral circulation

Psychological: Sorting and separating, boundaries, self-expression, joy and happiness, love, warmth, relationships, affection, sexuality, excitement, animation, enthusiasm, activity and passion

Physical Pathology: Cardiac disease, circulatory disease, arrhythmias, irritable bowel syndrome, small bowel disease, insomnia, environmental illness, dysatonomias, fatigue, neck and upper back pain

Psychological Pathology: Relationship difficulties, self-protective but wants intimacy, depression and absence of joy, dysphoria, unhappiness, anxiety, insomnia, doubt and hesitation, confusion and inhibition, shy and withdrawn, no enthusiasm, pessimistic

Earth   

The two Earth officials are the Stomach which is the controller of rottening and ripening and the Spleen which is the is the controller of transforming and transporting.

Organs: Spleen, Stomach

Physical: Upper digestive tract, blood formation, immune system, metabolism of food, gynecological function, fertility, mouth, sinuses, subcutaneous tissue

Psychological: Nourishment, contentment, stability, security, mothering, centerdness, fulfillment, groundedness, empathy and caring

Physical Pathology: Sinusitis, frontal headaches, all gynecological problems, infertility, fluid retention, fatigue, diabetes, hypoglycemia, ulcer disease, functional dyspepsia, malabsorption, obesity, malnourished

Psychological Pathology: Eating disorders, selfishness, obsessive compulsive disorders, opinionated, stubborn, insecure, craves attention and understanding, excessive worry, feels deprived

Metal

In the metal element the officials are, the Lung  which is the controller of receiving pure chi from the heavens and the Colon or Large Intestines which is the controller of drainage and dregs.

Organs: Lungs, Large Intestine

Physical: Skin, nose, resistance to infections, perspiration, circadian rhythms

Psychological: Resilience, strength, endurance, self-worth, capacity to grieve, elimination and letting go, inspiration, values, spirituality, father, meaningfulness, purpose

Physical Pathology: Asthma, bronchitis, recurrent respiratory infections, all lung disorders, rhinitis, ulcerativve colitis, diarrhea, constipation, eczema and all skin disorders, poor endurance and fatigue

Psychological Pathology: Perfectionist, withdrawn and cut off, needs companionship, cruel, wants revenge, lacks inspiration, regrets, rigid, grief, depression, inflexible

Water

In the water element, the officials are the Bladder which is the controller of the storage of water and the Kidney official which is the controller of water.

Organs: Kidney, Bladder

Physical: Bones, teeth, all secretions, endocrine system, brain, urinary tract, kidneys, hearing, head hair, DNA, procreation

Psychological: Reserves and resources, trust and faith, ability to overcome, will power, self-actualization, intelligence and cleverness, capacities, self-preservation, power, survival and persistence, setting limits, taking risks

Physical Pathology: All urinary tract disorders, interstitial cystitis, adrenal insufficiency, all pituitary disorders, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, aging, lumbar and cervical spine, most back pain syndromes, hypertension, fatigue, constitutional weakness, poor libido

Psychological Pathology: Mistrust, fear, paranoia, overwhelmed, surrenders, lack of faith, lack of reserves, poor flow and movement, withdraws and isolates, needs reassurance

Wood 

In the wood element the organ/official the gall bladder is the official of decision-making and wise judgment. In the wood element the organ/official the liver is the controller of planning.

Organs: Gall Bladder, Liver

Physical: Muscles and tendons, eyes and visual system, biliary tract

Psychological: Planning, organization, decisions, direction, coordination, transformation and change, emotional expression, flexibility

Physical Pathology: Migraine, headaches, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal problems, PMS, biliary disease, digestive disorders, eye diseases

Psychological Pathology: Anger, anxiety, insomnia, indecision and paralysis, drug abuse, need for control, frustration, needs to challenge