Copyright

Thorsons

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

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London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published by Thorsons 1999

Copyright © Angela Hicks and John Hicks 1999

Angela Hicks and John Hicks asserts the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Text illustrations by Su Eaton

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Source ISBN: 9780007326402

Ebook Edition © JANUARY 2017 ISBN: 9780007483266

Version: 2017-08-14

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Author’s Note

Introduction

Chapter 1. THE FIVE ELEMENTS, CONSTITUTIONAL TYPES AND THE EMOTIONS

Chinese medicine and disease

The Five Element ‘types’

What are the Five Elements?

How do the Five Element associations connect?

How did the Chinese use the Five Element theory?

A short history of Five Element types

Finding our Five Element type

Finding the underlying cause

The Organs and the Five Elements

How did our Elemental imbalance originate?

Our Elemental imbalance and our emotions in our early life

The Organs and the emotions

Core motivators – each person has a BIG one

What are the positive emotional capacities of each Element?

What emotional experiences does a constitutionally weak Element lead to?

What has being healthy got to do with our constitutional imbalance?

Is a type always based in weakness?

What is an emotion?

How do we know someone is angry?

What is the difference between feeling angry and being an angry person?

How do emotions cause disease?

So, again, what is an emotion?

The rest of the book

How to discover your type

I Relate to Many of the Elements as I Read This Book. What Should I Do?

Help, I Can’t Decide Between Two Types

I Think I Know my Type but I’d Also Like to Do Some of the Exercises for the Other Types

Chapter 2. THE WOOD TYPE – ASSERTING OURSELVES

Delia is a Wood type

The Wood Element in nature

The background to Wood in Chinese medicine

Introduction

The Organs of the Wood Element

The Liver and Gall Bladder and its Mental-Spiritual Aspect

Our Smoothly Flowing Qi

Storing the Blood

These symptoms may arise when the Liver and Gall Bladder are weak or obstructed

Observable Signs of a Wood Type

Posture, Gestures and Facial Expression

The emotional capacity of the Wood element

Rules, Structures and Boundaries

Flexible Boundaries and Assertiveness

Emotions we experience when the ability is impaired

Frustration and Anger

Some research about anger

Ambivalence and Indecision

Excessive anger and our health

Recognizing the Emotion of a Wood Type in Everyday Life

Big Issues and unanswered questions for the Wood type

How would you know your friend is a Wood type?

Responses to the Big Issues

Organizing, Structuring and Getting Things Right

Rebelling Against the Rules

Seeking Justice

Indirectness

Not Planning or Wanting Anything

Virtues and vices of a Wood type

A famous Wood type – Christabel Pankhurst

Some golden rules for Wood types

Chapter 3. EXERCISES FOR WOOD TYPES

Introduction

Using the exercises

The exercises for Wood types

Exercise 1 – Focusing

Exercise 2 – The other’s point of view

Exercise 3 – The objective point of view

Exercise 4 – Finding what I really want

Exercise 5 – Forgiveness

Exercise 5a – Protecting ourselves

Exercise 5b – Understanding the other person

Exercise 5c – Enacting forgiveness

Exercise 6 – Beating cushions

Qigong exercise for the Liver

Chapter 4. THE FIRE TYPE – LOVING OURSELVES

Nadine is a Fire type

The Fire element in nature

The background to Fire in Chinese Medicine

Introduction

The Organs of the Fire Element

The Heart and the Heart Protector

The Mental-Spiritual aspect of the Heart

The Small Intestines and Triple Burner

These symptoms may arise when the Heart and Pericardium are weak or obstructed

Observable Signs of a Fire Type

Postures, Gestures and Facial Expression

The emotional capacity of the Fire Element

A Fire Type and Relationships

Becoming Close to Others

Opening up our Heart Protectors

Emotions we experience when the ability is impaired

Feeling Miserable and Vulnerable

The importance of our emotional ties

Fluctuating Emotions

Feeling Muddled

The benefits of happiness and laughter

Recognizing the Emotion of a Fire Type in Everyday Life

Big Issues and unanswered questions for the Fire type

How would you know your friend is a Fire type?

Responses to the Big Issues

Being Cheerful

Clowning and Performing

Opening up Inappropriately

Becoming Isolated

Closely Relating

Virtues and vices of a Fire type

A famous Fire type – Marilyn Monroe

Golden rules for Fire types

Chapter 5. EXERCISES FOR FIRE TYPES

Introduction

Using the exercises

The exercises for Fire types

Exercise 1 – Discovering you are lovable

Exercise 2 – Building relationships with the people in your life

Exercise 3 – Entering an intimate relationship

Exercise 4 – In a relationship, ask for what you want!

Exercise 5 – Resolving our feelings of shame

Exercise 6 – Taking pleasure from the world

Exercise 7 – Releasing sad feelings

Exercise 8 – The inner smile

Qigong exercise for the Heart

Chapter 6. THE EARTH TYPE – NOURISHING OURSELVES

Martine is an Earth type

The Earth Element in nature

The background to Earth in Chinese medicine

Introduction

The Organs of the Earth Element

The Stomach

The Spleen

The Mental-Spiritual Aspect of Earth

These symptoms may arise when the Stomach and Spleen are weak or obstructed

Observable signs of an Earth type

Posture, Gestures and Facial Expression

The emotional capacity of the Earth Element

Taking in Support and Nourishment

Giving Support and Nourishment

Emotions we experience when the ability is impaired

Cravings for Support, Sympathy and Understanding

The power of emotional support

Struggling to Assimilate

Empathy in our early life

Worry and Over-Thinking

Assessing the Earth type’s sympathy

Big Issues and unanswered questions for the Earth type

How would you know your friend is an Earth type?

Responses to the Big Issues

Mothering and Caring

Not Asking but Expecting

Expressing Needs a Lot

Searching for a Centre

Homemaking

Virtues and vices of an Earth type

A famous Earth type – Diana, Princess of Wales

Golden rules for Earth types

Chapter 7. EXERCISES FOR EARTH TYPES

Introduction

Using the exercises

The exercises for Earth types

Exercise 1 – Points of view – objective, other and self

Exercise 1a – The objective point of view

Exercise 1b – Experiencing another person’s point of view

Exercise 1c – My own point of view

Exercise 2 – Creating a balanced point of view

Exercise 3 – The people I care for

Exercise 4 – Dissolving your worries

Qigong exercises for earth types

Qigong exercise for reaching heaven and earth

Qigong exercise for grounding ourselves

Chapter 8. THE METAL TYPE – RESPECTING OURSELVES

Joan is a Metal type

The Metal Element in nature

The background to Metal in Chinese medicine

Introduction

The Lung

The Lung and Defensive Qi

The Mental-Spiritual Aspect of the Lungs

The Large Intestine

These symptoms may arise when the Lungs and Large Intestine are weak or obstructed

Observable Signs of a Metal Type

Posture, Gestures and Facial Expression

The Emotional Capacity of the Metal Element

Qi and Heaven

Receiving Richness and Quality

Receiving Acknowledgement and Recognition

Emotions we experience when the ability is impaired

Bereft, Grief-Stricken, Incomplete or Inadequate

Bereavement and our immune system

Not Recognized or Misunderstood

Loss and diabetes

Recognizing the Emotion of a Metal Type in Everyday Life

Big Issues and unanswered questions for the Metal type

How would you know that your friend is a Metal type?

Responses to the Big Issues

Distancing and Protecting

Doing Well and Doing More

Resignation and Cynicism

Seeking Quality

Relating to the Father

Virtues and vices of a Metal type

A famous Metal type – Richard Feynman

Golden rules for Metal types

Chapter 9. EXERCISES FOR METAL TYPES

Introduction

Using the exercises

The exercises for Metal types

Exercise 1 – Giving gifts

Exercise 2 – Receiving gifts

Exercise 3 – Educating others

Exercise 4 – Checking out my standards

Exercise 5 – Dealing with loss

Qigong exercise for moving energy through the chest

Qigong exercise for breathing fully

Chapter 10. THE WATER TYPE – REASSURING OURSELVES

Frank is a Water type

The Water Element in nature

The background to Water in Chinese medicine

Introduction

The Kidneys

The Mental-Spiritual aspect of Water

The Bladder

These symptoms may arise when the Kidneys and Bladder are weak or obstructed

Observable Signs of a Water Type

Posture, Gestures and Facial Expression

The emotional capacity of the Water Element

Assessing Risks

Protecting Ourselves Appropriately

Emotions we experience when the ability is impaired

Anxiety and Panic

Reassurance and recovery

Paralysis

Fear, Apprehension and Dread

Fear and our health

Phobias

Recognizing the Emotion of a Water Type in Everyday Life

Big Issues and unanswered questions for the Water type

How would you know that your friend is a Water type?

Responses to the Big Issues

Taking Risks

Anticipating Risks

Questioning

Fearing the Worst

Reassuring Others

Virtues and vices of a Water type

A famous Water type – President John F Kennedy

Golden rules for Water types

Chapter 11. EXERCISES FOR WATER TYPES

Introduction

Using the exercises

The exercises for Water types

Exercise 1 – Dissociating from our fears

Exercise 2 – Transforming our fear

Exercise 3 – Reclaiming our lost sensations of fear

Exercise 4 – Reassuring ourselves

Exercise 5 – Dealing with one-off fears and phobias

Qigong Dragon swimming exercise

Qigong exercise – the hula hoop

Chapter 12. THE FIVE TYPES – WHICH TYPE AM I?

Introduction

Using the questionnaire

If all else fails

Questionnaire

Appendix – Five Element type and acupuncture

Notes

Bibliography

Useful addresses

About the Authors

About the Publisher

AUTHORS’ NOTE

We have capitalized all Chinese medical terminology in this book in order to differentiate it from standard English terms.

Our thanks to all of the people who have helped us with this book, especially:

Mark Allan; Marguerite Beckerlegge; Gill Black; Janice Booth; Heather Bovey; Mark Bovey; Sally Blades; Judith Clark; Tony Connor; Di Cook; Ian Dixon; Di Eckersley; Jane Ford; Julia Funk; Rosemarie Gallagher; Gaby Hock; Sue Horne; Lizzie Hubbard; David James; Mary Kaspar; Chris Kear; Lawerence Kershen; Stella King; Magda Koc; Madelaine Molder; Carey Morgan; Keith Murray; Ilana Pearlman; Barbara Pickett; Fiona Reynoldson; Jane Robinson; Jo Rochford; Sandy Sandaver; Marcus Senior; Kath Simmonds; Deborah Thomson; Carmel Twomey; Penny Wilson; Julie Wisbey.

We would also like to thank all of the people who have come to our ‘Oral Tradition’ workshops which we set up to deepen understanding of the Five Element types.

All names have been changed for confidentiality.

Secondly, we would also like to thank the people who have taken the time to read through this book and comment on it. Especially Judith Clark, Jane Grossfeld, Sophie Hayes, Gaby Hock, Helen Knotts and Peter Mole.

Thirdly, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to our learning of NLP, especially Eileen Seymour-Watkins, Graham Dawes, Gene Early and Robert Dilts. We would also like to thank Richard Bandler, one of the co-creators of NLP.

Finally, we wish to thank all the people who have enabled us to learn this style of Chinese Medicine. Most of all we wish to thank JR Worsley who originally taught us acupuncture and demonstrated the skills of Five Element diagnosis with such elegance. We would also like to thank all of our friends and colleagues who we worked with at the Oxford Acupuncture Clinic in Farmoor including Judy Becker-Worsley Meriel Derby, Julia Measures, Peter Mole and Allegra Wint. We learned so much with you over those years. We would also like to thank all those who make the college function so well, including Helen, Wanda, Sean and Julian. Also everyone on the faculty of the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine who by their teaching give support for the development of the acupuncture and herbal medicine professions.

INTRODUCTION
WHY WE WROTE THIS BOOK AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM IT

Alex, a friend of ours, went to a Chinese doctor for some herbs — she had a number of ailments — digestive problems, headaches and insomnia. The doctor asked her questions about her health then took some minutes to carefully feel the 12 pulses on her wrist — an important part of Chinese Traditional diagnosis.

Finally the doctor sat back, his diagnosis completed. He looked her straight in the eye and told her, ‘Your problem is that you worry too much. You must stop worrying.’ Alex was — unusually — stunned to silence by the doctor’s directness. She merely nodded and said, ‘Yes I’ll stop worrying’. Later that day as we talked on the phone we all laughed as she started to worry about how to stop worrying!

This book is all about your emotions and your health. It will provide you with many important tools. One of these is to help you to identify the main emotions which repeatedly stop you from becoming healthy. For Alex this was worry. She later recognized that the wise Chinese doctor was very accurate in diagnosing this as the cause of her problems. She then set about discovering how to stop worrying. Do you think Alex could immediately stop worrying? The answer is no, of course she couldn’t.

Alex realized very quickly that it is one thing to know that our emotions are adversely affecting our health but quite another to know what to do about it. So the other tool this book will provide is many practical exercises to deal with those emotions so that we can become healthier. We hope the result will be that you feel better in every way — physically, mentally and spiritually.

About This Book

This book brings together two areas of knowledge — one Eastern and one Western. The Eastern one comes from the ancient theory of the Five Elements. The theory of the Five Elements is discussed in greater detail in the first chapter. A system of ‘constitutional types’ is derived from this theory.

This system of constitutional types describes five types of people. For each type there is a shared set of core beliefs, values and concerns, and ways of expressing ourselves emotionally. By understanding these types we can gain a head start in the process of knowing where to work on ourselves.

The Western area of knowledge comes mainly from Neuro-linguistic Programming. We are both trained as practitioners in this therapy. We also draw from other therapies such as Gestalt and a system called ‘Focusing’.

Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) has created methods which enable people to work on their deepest mental or emotional processes. These include their beliefs, attitudes, values and patterns of emotional expression. By changing these processes, people can start to experience themselves more positively and constructively. If we believe, for instance, that people like to help each other and that, generally, we can learn and grow, we will be more likely to be helped, learn and grow. If, on the other hand, we believe people are generally selfish and don’t want to help each other and that we are no good at learning and growing, then we are less likely to get help and learn and grow.¹

As well as the therapies mentioned above we have added Qigong exercises which help the Organs. The Chinese have carefully researched and proved the effectiveness of these exercises for many specific diseases. In fact, Qi Gong exercises are taught in Chinese medical colleges as a method of treatment. As well as including a relevant exercise for each type we will also refer you to sources to find further ones.²

This book puts the Five Element constitutional types and therapeutic exercises together. Once we have determined our Five Element constitutional type, we have a pathway to our significant values, attitudes and patterns of emotional expression. Then, using the exercises designed for each constitutional type, we can work on the very structure which creates our world. This will in turn allow us to become more balanced. Ultimately this means smoother, more positive and more enjoyable emotions and, in the end, greater health.

How This Book Came About

As authors, we both have over 20 years of experience as practitioners of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine teaches that healthy emotions are a natural part of living but also that certain types of emotion can cause disease. It also states that some emotions are symptoms of an illness.

We have found that Chinese medicine frequently helps people with emotional problems — even when the emotional issues are not the presenting complaint. Often a change results from treating the Organ associated with the person’s underlying constitutional type. As the person’s energy becomes stronger this in turn gives her or him a better emotional balance. This is an advantageous spiral — the more healthy we are, the easier it is to have ‘normal’ emotions which in turn helps us to be healthy.

Of course, the opposite also happens. The less healthy we are, the harder it is to balance our emotions which, in turn, can make us less well. This is a negative and downward spiral as opposed to a beneficial and upward one. For example, one patient said it was clear that the more stressed she was and the angrier she got, the worse her irritable bowel syndrome became. Of course, the cause and effect went both ways — the worse her irritable bowel syndrome, the more stressed, depressed and angry she became. When she came for treatment, she had rectal bleeding and was already on cortico-steroid drugs. The doctor said the next step would be surgery and the removal of some of her colon.

Fortunately for this woman, Chinese medicine treatments cleared her problems. She also felt more balanced emotionally. Having had Chinese medicine treatment she found that she was able effortlessly to deal with previously difficult situations. This is an example of the positive effect Chinese medicine often has on the emotions.

With other cases, we have found that treatment has helped patients to feel better in many ways but they then get stuck in recurring negative mental or emotional states. These can neutralize the previous positive effects of the treatment. If this is the case, we have found that it is helpful, as well as using Chinese medicine, to work with exercises appropriate to the person’s type. A change of beliefs, values, attitudes and mental habits can release us from these recurring negative states and thus create better health. So when, as practitioners, we wanted to say ‘Stop worrying and your energy will be more balanced’, we found there are ways to put such a recommendation into practice.

This book is not just for you to read. You will also need to engage with it. After reading it, please ponder and make some guesses as to your constitutional type. Then, you can embark on the set of exercises for your type. These exercises are not onerous or difficult and many are easy. For other exercises you may need to use your mind in new ways which may seem different or even awkward at first.

By reading about the different types and working through the relevant exercises we hope you will gain some useful insights into your internal world and thus create change in your life. Please note, however, that this book is not aimed at replacing treatment by a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine or a trained therapist or counsellor — in fact we hope that by reading it you will feel like exploring Chinese medicine, or therapies such as NLP.

If you use these exercises, please do so with commitment, and do them gradually and repetitively. Results accumulate. We believe that you will definitely find the exercises much easier than simply stopping whatever emotions are helping to make you less well. We wish you the best of luck and would be happy to hear from you via our publisher.