EARTH

The ground beneath our feet, from where we get nourishment and fertility, the giver of all life. Earth is special as its the source of all other elements. To be in balance with earth is to be grounded, balanced, connected, centered in oneself, being at home with oneself. It governs the cycles of life - breathing, sleep, menstrual flow, thought flow. Ulcers, anorexia, indigestion, obesity, vomiting abdominal edema (swelling), hyperacidity and epigastric pain spasms are signs of earth in distress. Nervousness, flightiness, instability, loss of balance, feeling unearthed, disconnected, alone = earth in distress. A person who talks about “I” a lot is asking for someone to pay attention to earth. Many weight problems come from a bad distribution of energy in earth. Sterility, problems conceiving, in birth - earth is not prepared and nourished properly.

Colour: Yellow. A love or hate of the colour = imbalance

Season: Late Summer

Organs: Stomach, Spleen (and Pancreas). The stomach is the official of rotting and ripening. It receives and integrates nourishment passing it to the spleen. If this function is sick whatever is taken in - physically or mentally, will not be utilized properly. Lethargy, weakness and debilitation may indicates low energy in earth and therefore all 5 elements. Many digestive problems are associated with an earth imbalance. The Spleen (and pancreas) is spoken of as the distributor of secretions. Imbalances might show as deadness of feeling, mal co-ordination in the system, lack of proper sexual function.

Time: Stomach: 7AM - 9AM, Spleen: 9AM - 11AM. Take breakfast before 9, then the spleen can distribute to the 4 corners of earth.

Taste: Sweet

Orifice: Mouth (and throat). Poor breathing habits can be a cause of bad health just as a poor diet can. The lips show clearly the state of the energy with the stomach and spleen.

Fluid Secretion: Saliva. Too much or too little, problems swallowing point to earth.

Emotion: Sympathy and compassion. A person who can’t receive sympathy or who asks for it constantly are both stuck and do not flow easily in and out of the emotion. Harder to spot is the over compassionate person - look for problems in others, not a natural flow either.

Sound: Singing

Power: Capacity to belch. A lack or excess belching = an imbalance in earth.

Taken from Traditional Acupuncture - The law of the 5 elements by Dianne M. Connelly, PhD