5 Five Element Theory helps assess clients’ natural tendencies and identify any imbalances and offers the many ways that we can remedy these. I share the Five Elements characteristics below and include example of how homeopathic remedies correspond to this schema:

Wood Element

WOOD represents growth, creativity and ambition. Clients with dominant Wood energy seek action, innovation, development and direction and is challenged by impatience, frustration and poorly defined boundaries and/or ability to assert these.

• Organs: Liver and Gall Bladder

• Colour: Green

• Season: Spring

  Wood element in homeopathy: remedies that support emotional balance and alleviate frustration or irritability, such as Sulphur, Nux Vomica or Lycopodium align with the Wood element's focus on smooth energy flow and detoxification processes.

Fire Element

FIRE relates to passion, joy, receive and give love as well as leadership. Fire energy fuels enthusiasm but may lead to impulsiveness or burnout, hurt, abandonment when not balanced.

• Organs: Heart, Pericardium and Small Intestine

• Season: Summer

• Colour: Red

Fire element in homeopathy: Fire also represents warmth, transformation, and vitality. Remedies like Ignatia, Cactus Grandiflorus, Aurum can help address emotional stress and heart-related symptoms (palpitations, anxiety) and heart’s warmth.

Earth Element

EARTH symbolises stability, nourishing, nurturing, and support. Earth types focus on relationships and responsibility, yet can sometimes become overly cautious or stuck, develop issues related to nourishment.

• Organs: Stomach and Spleen (includes Pancreas)

• Season: Late summer

• Colour: Yellow

Earth element in homeopathy: Earth takes care of nourishment, stability, and digestion. Homeopathic remedies such as Calc, Carbo Veg, Ceanothus or China support gastrointestinal strength and enhance energy assimilation, reflecting the Earth element’s focus on digestion and physical grounding.

Metal Element

METAL stands for structure, discipline, precision and clarity. Individuals with strong Metal energy value organisation, integrity, beauty and recognition. When out of balance we may see poor self worth, seeking external recognition and praise.

• Organs: Lungs and Large Intestine

• Season: Autumn

• Colour: Black, dark navy or white

Metal element in homeopathy: Remedies like Kali Bichromicum, Palladium, Arsenicum Album aid with respiratory issues and detoxification, mirroring the Metal element’s role in regulating breathing, skin, and elimination pathways.

Water Element

WATER embodies adaptability, intuition, and reflection. Water energy encourages deep thinking and calmness but may result in indecisiveness or withdrawal.

• Organs: Kidneys and Bladder

• Colour: Black or dark blue

• Season: Winter

Water element in homeopathy: Water embodies fluidity, storage of vital essence. Homeopathic remedies such as Cantharis, Sarsaparilla, Nat mur to name just as a few, that intersect with Water by supporting kidney function, fluid balance, and addressing fears or anxiety related to this element.

Flow of energies

There is a dynamic energy flow between the five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. There are four main ways in which the elements interact. The first of these is the generating Generating (Sheng) cycle. This cycle describes the ways in which each element, serving as a mother, promotes the growth and development of the following (child) element.

Generating (Sheng) Cycle

The Generating cycle describes how each element nourishes the next, creating a continuous, supportive energy flow:

• Wood feeds Fire

• Fire produces Earth (ash)

• Earth bears Metal

• Metal enriches Water (through condensation)

• Water nourishes Wood

Overacting (Cheng) Cycle

The Overacting Cycle occurs when an element becomes excessively dominant, suppressing the element it should regulate. This disrupts the normal flow of energy and may cause health issues.

• Excess Wood overgrows and depletes Earth

• Excess Fire scorches Metal

• Excess Earth buries Water

• Excess Metal dominates Wood

• Excess Water floods Fire

The insulting cycle (wu) Cycle

is an imbalance within the controlling cycle where the grandchild insults or returns the controlling force generated by the grandmother. Using examples from nature you can see Fire burning up Water and Water washing away Earth and so on.

Application in Practice

By recognising these dynamics I am able to understand the source of the issue and integrate these insights into the treatment approach to optimise individual’s healing strategies that may include any of the following:

• Homeopathic and Flower Essence Remedies

• Acupressure points, meridian tracing, Qi gong exercises

• Somatic Embodiment

• Metaphor

• Mindset and lifestyle modifications

• Dietary tweaks

• Remedies such crystals, colour etc

• Apply it to work/business and relationship dynamics