Roberta Weber Traditional Acupuncture

I utilise the Five Element form of acupuncture and moxibustion to support and develop each person’s unique and authentic energetic. When our energetic is fully supported, the patterns of ill health can loosen their grip and our expression of ourselves as unique human beings is realised. Acupuncture interacts with our energy/chi using very fine, solid needles at specific junctions on the body. Needling provides subtle manipulations of the energy that can then alter our physiology such that our physical and mental health can be changed.

Another option, instead of needles, is the use of an electrical point stimulator that utilises low frequency concentrated stimulation at the acupuncture points. I find this works very well, especially for children. Moxibustion is the burning of the herb mugwort over an acupuncture point (generally before needling). This provides heat and light – both forms of energy – at the point and creates a potency that is greater than needling alone. Moxibustion can also be used on its own depending on the situation.

The Five Elements correspond to the seasons: Wood/Spring, Fire/Summer, Earth/Late Summer, Metal/Autumn, and Water/Winter and have their own special energetic movement that correlates to the movement within each of us. To understand this better it can be helpful to consider a season - such as Spring. The natural world in Spring is expressing itself upwards and outwards with a determination that is powerful (think of the snowdrop bulbs that have had a rock placed upon them – they will push their way out and around, and almost through if necessary!).

Now think about the people in your life – do you know of anyone who expresses this energy all the time, almost in an intimidating way? The movement of the Wood Element energy is typified by that upward surge and the need to follow a plan, sometimes with the inability to understand why everyone else isn’t following that plan as well. That person may well have a large dose of the Wood Element within their natural energetic, and out of balance that can bring anger, tears, rigidity (especially to tendons and ligaments) and general ‘bull-headedness’.