Ancient Remedies

by Dr. Josh Axe

  My advice for her was simple: To nurture her earth element, I recommended that she and her husband create a cozy environment in their home. As much as possible, I wanted them to read, snuggle under blankets, sit by the fire, and drink herbal tea. I also suggested that they stop actively trying to get pregnant and just have intercourse when they felt like it. To heal Nancy’s adrenals, I suggested she take stress-easing herbs, like astragalus, rehmannia, and ashwagandha. Diet-wise, I suggested she cut back on the fats, nuts, and seeds and add some nourishing sweetness (she’d been strictly avoiding all carbohydrates) to her diet by eating pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and cinnamon.

  Six months later Nancy called me. She was pregnant. Soon after, she had a healthy baby, and not long ago she and her husband had their second child. By seeing her pregnancy difficulties through the lens of the five elements, I was able to offer her advice that targeted the emotional and physical issues underlying her fertility problems—and ultimately help her and her husband fulfill their dream of starting a family.

  Conception is just one of hundreds of health goals the five elements paradigm can help you achieve, which is why I believe it’s important for you to understand more about it and discover where you fit in the five elements system.

  Which element are you?

  While the five elements model offers a new way of thinking about well-being in general, finding your dominant elements will give you specific insight into yourself and yield new strategies for taking care of your health. Each element has its own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. None is better or more important than another.

  Take this quick quiz to identify your ancient element. For each item, choose the one answer that best describes you. When you’re finished, tally the number of a’s, b’s, c’s, d’s, and e’s, then read about the emotional characteristics of the ancient element or two you most resemble, along with lifestyle habits and activities that can keep you happily balanced. You may find that, instead of being dominant in one or two elements, you straddle multiple domains.

  I tend to…

  a. be the peacekeeper in friends’ or family members’ disagreements

  b. be independent and self-sufficient

  c. be super social and the life of the party

  d. be reliable—I’m someone people can count on to get things done the right way

  e. be forward-thinking and visionary, and make plans and decisions quickly

  I would rather…

  a. work in a group than on my own

  b. think things through by myself instead of consulting with a friend or colleague

  c. be open, real, and vulnerable than put up a façade

  d. abide strictly by the rules—even if it means missing out on something fun

  e. be the first in my friend group to try a new restaurant rather than learn about it from someone else

  I struggle with…

  a. worry, and I don’t like change

  b. trusting other people

  c. being overly passionate and dramatic

  d. being critical and perfectionistic

  e. working too hard, and I’m prone to frustration when things take too long

  My idea of fun is…

  a. gathering my whole family for a home-cooked meal

  b. curling up with a good book

  c. going to a party or connecting with other people in a meaningful way

  d. fighting for a just cause; my principles are important, and often come before pleasure (but I do like to have a good time)

  e. starting new projects, creating a vision board, and goal-setting

  I rarely…

  a. put my needs ahead of someone else’s

  b. brag about my accomplishments, even on social media

  c. feel pessimistic or down

  d. have days when I’m not disciplined and productive

  e. am shy about voicing my opinion

  I’m particularly good at…

  a. supporting other people in fulfilling their dreams and encouraging them

  b. seeing the bigger picture in most situations

  c. understanding other people’s emotions and feeling empathy

  d. maintaining focus, staying on task, and working hard to make sure things are done right

  e. seeing what needs to be done, envisioning a plan, and taking action

  Physically, I have…

  a. a shortish thick-set or curvy body with strong legs, as well as a short neck, a squarish or oval face, and full lips

  b. a long torso with shorter legs, an oval or heart-shaped face with big eyes, a large forehead, and a dark complexion

  c. a slightly plump body, a pointy nose and chin, and a reddish complexion

  d. a strong, muscular body, a rectangular or round face, thin lips, prominent cheekbones, and a pale complexion, especially compared to others in my family

  e. a tree-like body with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, as well as a long, thin face, thin nose, and long fingers

  Scoring:

  Mostly a’s: You’re an earth type, which means you’re nurturing and tend to be a stabilizing force in the world. You tend to be on the short side, with short fingers and neck and a squarish face. People like Oprah Winfrey, Fred Rogers, Dwayne Johnson, and Adam Sandler exemplify this type—thoughtful, responsible, compassionate, grounded, practical, and cheerful. Relationships are key for earth elements. You crave a sense of connection above all else and tend to focus your attention on others rather than yourself, which makes you a good listener, friend, parent, and spouse. It’s important to you to create a safe, cozy home where everyone feels loved and cared for, and you’re happiest when your relationships and the world at large feels harmonious. Through your compassion and empathy, you bring balance to people around you, whether it’s helping to solve disputes or maintaining the status quo. You like doing things for others and enjoy feeling needed. The earth element is closely connected with being a mother. In fact, when women become pregnant and start mothering, their earth element tends to become more pronounced as they love, nurture, and care for their children.

  Earth types do best when life is stable and predictable. Change can throw you off, making you feel unbalanced and triggering serious bouts of worry, which is your most defining emotional challenge. When something unexpected happens—you lose your job or someone you love dies or there’s conflict in your relationships—it’s easy for you to get caught up in circular, ruminative thinking. That type of toxic worry can derail you. If you get stuck in that mindset for too long, your qi can stagnate, putting you at risk for digestive disorders and weight gain. Another challenge for earth types: making too many commitments. People who need support will be drawn to your empathy—your defining positive emotion. But providing all that emotional support can be exhausting, and when you get tired you can become resentful and start wondering why you’re the one doing all the giving. You’ll be happier and healthier if you learn to set boundaries and say no when you feel your emotional tank running low. Setting boundaries can bolster your sense of self-worth as well, which is important since your tendency to give, give, give may stem from a deep-seated sense of being unworthy. To stay balanced and strong, spend time with people who are upbeat and supportive (you thrive when you have a community of loyal, caring friends); do things that bring you joy, whether it’s exercising outside (nature can be particularly calming and reassuring to you) or working on an art or craft project; and accept help from others. That last one might not come naturally, but remember: the nurturer needs nurturing, too. The earth element is linked to the spleen and digestive system, which means you’re prone to gut problems, bloating, and food allergies. Using gut-friendly herbs and foods, staying away from sugar, reducing stress, and keeping yourself centered and grounded will help you thrive.

  Mostly b’s: You’re a water type, with a round face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a slightly more rounded body. Just as all life comes from water, you have the gift of giving birth to creative
ideas, thanks to your ability to think outside the box. Your best ideas are most likely to bloom in solitude, which you probably crave. Like many innovators in science, the arts, or business—think Bill Gates, Robert Downey Jr., Alicia Keys, Ed Sheeran, and Emily Dickinson (who didn’t leave her family’s property for the last twenty years of her life)—you’re a nonconformist who would prefer to live life on your own terms. You have a strong need to be in charge of your own time and schedule—to flow at your own rate, as water does—and may prefer to move more slowly than most. You’re generally calm and peaceful—your most defining positive emotions. Similarly, you’re probably on the quiet, introverted, and contemplative side—all wonderful gifts in our extrovert-obsessed world—and you prefer deep, meaningful conversations with a close friend or two to parties and lighthearted, social banter. Wisdom is a water trait, and people probably look to you for guidance, since you’re a deep thinker. You flourish when you find a small tribe of people who enjoy solving the problems of the world, too.

  But you need to watch out for becoming too withdrawn and aloof. For instance, you might find yourself being in a group of people and still feeling lonely, left out, or different, and that sense of alienation can bring out your fearful side, your most challenging negative emotion. Likewise, the fluid-related organs, the kidney and bladder, are dominant in your life—and a sign they’re out of balance is fear. Be warned: If you allow fear to take over and wall yourself off from others, it can mushroom into suspicion and distrust and even paranoia. Your tendency to keep your private thoughts and feelings to yourself can make your sense of “otherness” worse, inadvertently creating a rift with those who are close to you. So make an effort to open up in close relationships. Find friends who value your quiet creativity and innate wisdom, and balance spending time with them with nourishing alone time. You’re prone to exhaustion, so avoid stress as best you can by adopting daily relaxing lifestyle habits like yoga or swimming (both have a waterlike flow, so they’re particularly restorative), taking warm baths or showers, or walking—particularly near a lake, river, stream, or ocean. The organs related to water are the kidneys, adrenals, and bladder, so you may be prone to swelling and urinary tract infections; to stay healthy, drink plenty of fluids and build downtime in your day so you can go with the flow and limit stress.

  Mostly c’s: You’re a fire type—and you have the spark that marks this lively element, as well as flamelike physical characteristics, with a pointier nose, chin, and head, narrow hips, and slightly rounder center. You’re passionate, charismatic, warm, lively, and sociable, like Muhammad Ali, Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, or Ellen DeGeneres. In other words, you’re fun to be around. And thanks to your natural enthusiasm, you’re adept at rallying people to a cause. When you get excited about a project, you can spur others to action. Joy is the emotion most closely associated with the fire element, which makes people want to be around you. You tend to light up a room. You’re a pleasure seeker, so late nights, adventurous activities, cities, crowds, and new experiences fuel you—but you also love making deep emotional connections with others. You love to talk—and speak eloquently. You’re in touch with your emotions and need to be able to share them. Not surprisingly, the heart is associated with the fire element. You do best when you have a strong community of friends.

  Like all flames, however, if you scatter in too many directions you have a tendency to burn out. For instance, you may love getting involved with many projects at once, but struggle to stick with them through the less exciting phases and fail to see them through to the end—which means you run the risk of letting people down, including yourself. In order to get things done, you need to rein in your tendency to get distracted and continually remind yourself what excited you about the project in the first place. Stress can be particularly problematic for you, causing you to panic and focus on worst-case scenarios. Underneath your usually joyful demeanor lurks a tendency to feel anxious, depressed, lonely, and restless—all signs your heart is out of balance. To stay grounded and healthy, avoid becoming overheated (you run hot, so heat can exhaust you); adopt stress-relief tactics that suit your personality, like dancing, cardiovascular exercise, walking meditation (sitting might be too challenging), or power yoga; indulge your innate need for adventure, whether it’s by taking a rock-climbing class or going on a philanthropic mission to a developing country; get plenty of sleep and try to stick with a regular sleeping and eating routine; keep a journal, where you can download your daily thoughts; and maintain a strong connection with a few key friends you know you can turn to when you’re feeling anxious and out of sorts. Since fire is related to the heart, you’re most prone to circulatory problems; staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, and curbing stress will be especially beneficial.

  Mostly d’s: You’re a metal type, which means you’re strong, period. Like metal, you’re thin, with thin lips and skin, particularly on the back of your hands, and you may have a rectangular face and pale skin. You have qualities we all wish we possessed in our distraction-filled world: focus, discipline, organization, precision, attention to detail. In today’s language, you’re Type A—think Margaret Thatcher, Angelina Jolie, LeBron James, or Arnold Schwarzenegger. You feel personally responsible not only for getting things right (whether it’s reorganizing the garage or creating a presentation for work), but also for doing the right thing. Those qualities give you a unique ability to create order out of chaos—an invaluable gift. Colleagues and friends know they can count on you to not only get the job done, but to do it well. In the larger scheme, you crave a sense of purpose and want to feel like your work has meaning, so you’re drawn to humanitarian and environmental projects—and you probably have a deep sense of spirituality, lofty principles, and a strong sense of right and wrong. The metal element is what gives any person a sense of justice, righteousness, and determination.

  That said, be careful that your need to do things correctly doesn’t alienate people close to you. Taken too far, that tendency can become perfectionistic, rigid, and judgmental, which can put you at risk for depression (perfectionism is a key cause). You have a tendency to dwell on the past, so it’s easy for you to be thrown off balance by grief, regret, or shame over things that have happened. When you feel the tug of that downward spiral, it’s a sign your lungs, your dominant organ, are out of balance. To keep your lofty goals and desire for order and accuracy at a healthy level, get in the habit of doing daily diaphragmatic breathing exercises, which calms the nervous system and helps you keep things in perspective. Also, consider trying qi gong. This ancient practice combines slow, flowing movements with deep rhythmic breathing (which will appeal to your controlled, methodical side), along with mindfulness (which will bolster your self-awareness and help you recognize when you’re going overboard). Yoga, with its focus on mindfulness, can be beneficial, too. Gaining moment-by-moment awareness will help you stay calm, humble, and accepting of the people in your life, flaws and all. Metal is associated with the lungs, so you’re prone to respiratory issues, like asthma, and will benefit more than most people from aerobic exercise and avoiding smoke, smog, and other airborne toxins.

  Mostly e’s: You’re a wood type—like a tree, you’re rooted in the earth but reaching for the sun, with the clear vision and goal-oriented drive that makes you a natural leader. You’re even shaped like a tree, with long fingers, a long face, a long trunk, broad shoulders, and a narrower waist. People like Taylor Swift, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, and Michael Jordan are strong in the wood element. You’re a doer—adept at transforming ideas into reality. In fact, instead of shying away from challenges, you seek them out and push yourself to the limit to accomplish them. You understand strategy, see the bigger picture, have a knack for finding solutions, and work as well with others as by yourself, which makes you an asset to any group, team, or company. You don’t like dilly-dallying, so you’re the person who keeps ideas and projects moving forward. You also have a curious mind and you love learning new things and growing as
a person, which makes you fascinating to be around. At your best, you’re filled with hope, faith, and optimism—your strongest positive emotions. Some people may find you intimidating because you’re decisive, direct (to the point of bluntness), determined, self-assured, and don’t mind arguing to get your point across. But you’re actually kind and fair-minded, so long as you keep yourself healthy.

  The wood element is related to the liver, and if your liver is out of balance you can become resistant to change, an inflexibility that can lead to anger, your biggest emotional challenge. You have a strong desire to feel like a winner, so when projects stall, you have a tendency to become frustrated and stressed out. You’re also prone to overdo it in a variety of areas, including work, shopping, and drinking. Underneath your drive to get things done can lie a simmering impatience that flares into anger when you’re tired, stressed, overworked, or underappreciated. As a result, it’s important for you to have supportive people in your life who acknowledge and appreciate your efforts. In addition, to stay in balance, you need to build restorative activities into your daily schedule. Take a walk outside among the trees (as a wood type, you have a particular affinity for them), do yoga (tree pose may be particularly calming), plant a garden (watching other things take root and grow is deeply healing for you), and force yourself to laze around the house. Just sit and listen to music or read a book or look out the window. Slowing down is difficult for you, which is precisely why it’s important that you do so to maintain your equilibrium. The organ most related to the wood element is the liver, so cleanses that rid the body of toxins can be particularly helpful for you.

  Each element is associated with particular traits. Here are the most common.