Core Pillars of Emotional Clearing with 5 Element Theory and TCM
when utilizing the 5 phases in TCM and Chinese 5 Element theory we can make shifts in various ways. These shifts help move & clear energetic pathology and stagnation.
Below are the core pillars of healing in TCM that translate to how you can move emotional energy. When doing an emotional/energetic clearing journey we will work with these pillars.
1. Moving Qi and Blood
Qi stagnation = pain or stuck emotions.
Blood stagnation = physical degeneration or deep emotional bruising.
Example: Gentle movement (Tai Chi, Qi Gong), acupuncture, herbs like Dan Shen, or releasing pent-up anger to move Liver Qi.
Key Insight:
“Where there is free flow, there is no pain. Where there is pain, there is no free flow.” — Ancient TCM proverb.
2. Balancing and Strengthening the Organs (Zang-Fu)
Each organ has a physical, emotional, and spiritual role.
Example:
Tonify Spleen if digestion or overthinking is an issue.
Soothe Liver if anger and frustration dominate.
Nourish Kidneys if fear or fatigue are present.
Key Insight:
“You heal the spirit by healing the organ; you heal the organ by healing the spirit.”
3. Harmonizing Yin and Yang
Yin = Cooling, nourishing, moistening.
Yang = Warming, activating, protecting.
Example:
Someone burned out? Boost Yin (rest, herbs like rehmannia).
- Someone sluggish? Boost Yang (movement, warming foods).
Key Insight:
True health is the dance between rest and action.
4. Clearing Pathogens and Toxins (External + Internal)
External Pathogens = Wind, Dampness, Cold, Heat, Dryness.
Internal Pathogens = Emotional build-up like anger (Heat), worry (Dampness).
Example: Clearing Dampness with herbs like Poria, or clearing emotional “damp” like mental fog with meditation.
Key Insight:
“External evils enter when internal strength is low.”
5. Emotional Flow and Release
Emotions are energetic climates that move Qi or block Qi.
Example:
Grief (Metal/Lungs) can literally cause breathlessness.
Chronic worry (Earth/Spleen) weakens digestion and energy.
Practices like emotional clearing, forgiveness work, and sound healing help emotions flow naturally
Key Insight:
Emotions are meant to move, not to mold into the body.
6. Aligning with Nature and Seasons (5 Elements)
Spring: Cleanse Liver / Grow and plan.
Summer: Nourish Heart / Expand joy.
Late Summer: Stabilize Spleen / Integrate and harvest.
Autumn: Strengthen Lungs / Let go.
Winter: Deepen Kidneys / Rest and conserve.
Example: Eating foods, moving energy, and resting in ways that mirror the season.
Key Insight:
“Healing happens when we remember we are nature, not separate from it.”
7. Rooting the Spirit (Anchoring Shen)
Shen = Mind, spirit, consciousness that lives in the Heart.
Trauma, fear, loss can “scatter” Shen.
Example: Calming Shen through rituals, meditation, Heart tonics like Reishi, breathwork.
Key Insight:
The body is the temple. The spirit is the flame.
8. Tonifying Essence (Jing) and Preserving Vitality
Jing = Deep core energy stored in the Kidneys.
It’s inherited and also depleted by stress, poor habits, overwork.
Example: Sleep deeply, nourish with foods like black sesame, goji berries, minimize unnecessary energy drains (like drama or chronic fear).
Key Insight:
“Protecting Jing is protecting your future self.”
Summary Table
Deep Insight
Healing in TCM is not about “attacking” the sickness.
It’s about restoring rightful flow, rhythm, and harmony —
so that sickness has no ground to stand on.
Healing is a return to the Way (Dao).