About Classical Five Element Acupuncture


Understanding Classical Five Element Acupuncture



At our practice, we specialize in Classical Five Element Acupuncture (CFEA)- a profound, holistic system of medicine that differs from other acupuncture modalities, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Rooted in ancient wisdom and adapted for the modern world by Professor J.R. Worsley, this approach helps individuals heal not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually.


What is Classical Five Element Acupuncture?


Classical Five Element Acupuncture is an oral tradition passed down from teacher to student. Different from other acupuncture systems, CFEA emphasizes individual diagnosis and treatment based on the five elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.


This system views each person as being composed of all five elements, but with one element typically in imbalance. This core imbalance, known as the Causative Factor (CF), is the root of illness, specific to a patient.


Treatment focuses on restoring harmony (balance) to the CF, allowing the body to heal itself naturally over time. Diagnosis is based on subtle yet distinct indicators: color, sound, emotion, and odor- each corresponding to one of the five elements.


CFEA practitioners address all three levels of health:


  • Body (physical symptoms)
  • Mind (emotional and psychological well-being)
  • Spirit (sense of purpose, connection, and vitality)


In CFEA, healing works to bring all three levels into balance.




How CFEA Differs from Other Acupuncture Systems



Physical-Level-Imbalances


Many modern acupuncture systems, including TCM, tend to focus primarily on physical symptoms. These treatments can be very effective for issues such as pain, headaches, digestive problems, skin conditions and etc. However, they often overlook deeper causes rooted in emotional or spiritual imbalance and not all illness is the result of physical imbalances.


CFEA stands apart by treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. It seeks the root cause of the issue, often beyond the physical, and restores harmony at the level where the imbalance began.


Mental-Level Imbalances


Symptoms like depression, anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, or persistent negative thoughts are often signs of imbalance at the mental level. While other acupuncture methods can treat these symptoms, CFEA is specifically designed to diagnose and treat them at their root.


Spirit-Level Imbalances


In the U.S., spirit-level health is still a growing area of awareness. This level relates to one's sense of purpose, drive, joy, and connection to life. A spirit-level imbalance might manifest as a feeling of being lost, disconnected, or devoid of meaning- often leading eventually to physical illness if left unaddressed.


CFEA is one of the few acupuncture systems that works directly to restore balance at the spirit level. Addressing this core level often resolves symptoms throughout the entire system- body, mind, and spirit.



What Makes CFEA Unique?


  • Individualized Diagnosis: Every person is unique. No two people are treated the same, even if they have identical symptoms.
  • Whole-Person Healing: Treatment aims to restore vitality on all three levels- body, mind, and spirit.
  • Prevention-Focused: CFEA is not only effective for treating illness but is also a powerful tool for preventing future disease by maintaining balance and well-being.


You don’t need to “believe” in it for it to work. The body instinctively responds when balance is restored.



Real-World Examples


A Case of Chronic Pain – Success Story


A 56-year-old woman came to us with decades of neck pain, stemming from a childhood auto accident. Despite years of seeing specialists and trying various treatments, nothing provided relief. Her condition even led to opioid dependence and addiction treatment.


During her initial CFEA visit, we diagnosed an energetic block known as Aggressive Energy (AE)- often linked to unresolved emotional trauma. Without directly treating her neck, we first addressed and released the AE energy block and then treated her on all three levels.


After the second treatment, there was still no change. But by her third visit (about 3 weeks later), she was basically pain-free for the first time in decades. As you might imagine, she was emotionally moved by the transformation. We continued to treat her over the years focusing on other issues.


While not everyone experiences such rapid results, this case illustrates the deep potential of CFEA to address root causes that conventional approaches may overlook.


A Cautionary Example – When Expectations Clash


A 65-year-old man, skeptical of CFEA, but curious because his daughter just started studying it, came to our clinic after dropping a weight on his foot. He wanted to see if CFEA worked and, I suspect, to create an opinion about his daughter’s choice.  I explained that we don't specialize in sports injuries, but agreed to treat him after he insisted.


After diagnosing a Wood imbalance (often associated with anger and frustration), I gave him his first treatment- without directly addressing the foot. I strongly reminded him that healing would take time and require more than one session.


The following week, we received an angry voicemail- his foot hadn’t healed after one treatment, and he canceled his next appointment. I left a follow-up message, but he never responded. While disappointing, it highlights the importance of clear expectations and the patient’s willingness to engage in the healing process.



Final Thoughts


I approach all healing methods with skepticism until proven effective through personal experience. Since 2005, I’ve received regular CFEA treatments myself- and continue to do so. I’ve seen firsthand, in myself and others, the powerful transformation this medicine can provide.


Whether you're facing physical illness, emotional imbalance, or simply feel “off,” Classical Five Element Acupuncture offers a natural, individualized path to wellness. The time to start treatment is now even if you consider yourself healthy.  Its real strength lies not only in treating illness- but in restoring vitality, clarity, and connection to life.



Contact us for a   free   initial consultation to find out more about this wonderful system and how it might help you.