Wood is the element of growth, expansion and upwards movement!
Just as in nature, wood is flexible, hard yet yielding and patient (think of how long trees take to grow!).
In the body and the mind, the Wood element is responsible for planning (Liver) and execution (Gall Bladder) as well as the storage of Blood, the free flow of Qi and the delivery of the Ming Men (Gate of the Fire of Life) energy to the whole body.
Thus, Wood is entrusted with the very fire of Life itself, arising from the Water element and the Kidneys to be smoothly delivered to the body via the vehicle of blood for growth and development.
As such, the Liver and the Wood element is an element of excess, easily stagnant, even when deficient and the emotion of frustration, irritability and unwarranted anger are signs of an imbalance in this system.
Wood easily overbears on Earth, responsible for digestion and therefore it is important to keep the expansive nature of Wood in Check with sufficient physical exercise to counteract its stagnation and sour foods to consolidate the fluids of the body to the Liver, keeping the balance of its expansive energy and the fluid and blood in which that energy travels in check, so as to avoid the pathological movement of the energy arising as wind.
Wind manifests as involuntary movement of the muscles, high blood pressure and – at its most extreme – stroke.
Given the possible consequences of an imbalance in the element of Wood, stay tuned as we explore this and discuss the ways in which you can help your Wood element be your best ally, without harming your body in the process!
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