Essential Oils and Chinese Five Elements

This series of articles is just a short and sweet glimpse of Chinese Medicine and some of what it entails. I have great respect for the 5 Element philosophy and have seen Chinese Medicine work for most health challenges. Aromatherapy can assist this modality and these articles are an exploration of how both systems come together.

Enjoy …

Summer – Heart/Small Intestine and Pericardium/Triple Warmer

Summer’s Fire Element is very complicated because it has 2 sets of yin/yang meridians associated with it. The dance that these meridians do with each other and with the other meridians in the body make for an intricate and complex relationship of balance, far too detailed for this article except as an overview. In summer,…

Autumn – Lung & Large Intestine

In Chinese Five Element Theory, the meridians that are associated with autumn are the *Lung* (Yin) and *Large Intestine* (Yang). The element is Metal and the emotion is sadness and grief. Autumn is a time when we settle back into routine. The summer’s ease and freedom give way to school schedules, more formal relationships and…

Winter – Kidney and Urinary Bladder

The Chinese Meridians that are associated with winter are the *Kidneys* (yin) and the *Urinary Bladder* (yang). The kidneys are responsible to filtering waste metabolites from the blood and sending the waste product down to the urinary bladder for elimination. The urinary bladder, in return, is responsible to collecting and holding the waste fluids and…

Spring – Liver and Gall Bladder

Spring is a time to cleanse and support the *Liver* (yin) and *Gall Bladder* (yang) since it is these organs and meridians that are highlighted during this time. The Liver/Gall Bladder meridians correspond to the Wood element, and relate to the eastern direction, to windy climates and to the color green. They control the sinews…

Late Summer – Stomach and Spleen

It is late summer and the Chinese believe that now the Earth Element, which is comprised of the *Stomach* (yang organ) and *Spleen* (yin organ) meridians, is highlighted. Late summer falls somewhere midway between June 21st and September 21; the solstice and the equinox. From what I understand, this season is more of a feeling…