Meet the 25 Classic personalities that could visit your practice

Each of the five elements or transformations is connected to a musical note, or frequency: Wood: Jue, Fire: Zhi, Earth: Gong, Metal: Shang, and Water: Yu. These frequencies correspond to the nature of our bodily features, mindset, emotions, and personality. Each element’s unique frequency is connected to our inner (Yin) being and has four branches (Yang) connecting to the arms and legs. Participants will learn about each of these frequencies, as well as suggestions for acupuncture treatments to balance each of these emotional and behavioral personalities.

The key to understanding the resulting 25 personalities (Yin Yang Er Shi Wu Ren) is to understand the nature of the 5 elements. This will be simplified during the course and can easily be integrated into clinical practice.

Taking your knowledge a step further

By combining this knowledge with the readings of Ling Shu Chapter 72 or Chapter 64, participants can deepen their understanding of TCM. Chapter 64 discusses the importance of the pulse in TCM diagnosis and provides a detailed description of how to assess the pulse to identify imbalances or illnesses in the body. Chapter 72 discusses the four types of man: Shaoyang, Shaoyin, Taiyang, and Taiyin types, and how their constitutions influence their health and well-being.

Taking these understandings a combining step further, participants can gain insight into interesting similarities and questions arising from these ancient texts. For instance, the Shaoyang meridian is considered a combination of the Wood and Fire element, and when these elements become imbalanced, it can lead to a specific range of physical and emotional symptoms. A therapist who understands the energetic balance between the Wood and Fire element in a patient with a specific personality can treat this meridian more effectively.

You will also understand how personalities with opposing elements such as Metal/Fire and Wood/Water find a harmonious balance with each other, and why some element combinations are more prone to imbalances and have to work harder to achieve balance (lovers, parents/children, friendships, colleagues, etc.). A therapist who comprehends the energetics behind the personalities can make a significant difference in treating patients by also taking the patient's personal circumstances into consideration.