The Elemental Family

wood fire earth metal water

The Elemental Family Center for Chinese Medicine Brooke Fries, Founder A family wellness clinic in Los Angeles, focusing on: •  Pediatrics •  Women’s Health ~ Fertility ~ Pregnancy •  Stress and Pain Management

©brookefries2014


•  A psycho-emotional and behavioral model that celebrates our differences

•  Identifies five adaptive styles: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water

•  Tool for gaining self-awareness

•  Optimistic and flexible model for supporting children’s diverse developmental paths •  Ultimate therapeutic goal is to help you cultivate a mindful and focused quality of attention

Elemental Assessment

©brookefries2014

•  Full medical system

•  Holistic philosophy based on the natural world

•  Mind and body are viewed as one interconnected entity and relate in a bi-directional manner

What is Chinese Medicine?

wood fire earth metal water ©brookefries2014

•  Stress in Chinese medicine = stagnation, contraction

•  Stagnation à pain or improper functioning

•  Effect of acupuncture on stress:

1.  Down-regulates the sympathetic nervous system 2.  Activates the parasympathetic nervous system à A calm, grounded, relaxed state that allows for healing and repair of all systems in the body (immune, reproductive, digestive, mental-emotional, etc.)

Stress from the Chinese Medicine POV


•  An illustration of what stress looks like as expressed by five different temperaments

•  Asks the question, “What is right with you?”

•  Emphasis on diversity and uniqueness, thereby celebrating our differences and strengths

ELEMENTS QUIZ...

Elemental Assessment


•  Human being are a microcosm of the natural world

•  Each Element corresponds to a season and has the attributes and “power” of that season:

Wood ~ Spring ~ Liver Fire ~ Summer ~ Heart Earth ~ Harvest/Late Summer ~ Spleen Metal ~ Autumn ~ Lung Water ~ Winter ~ Kidney

The Elements in Nature


1.  Your gifts, powers and strengths – emerge from a confident, attentive state = core self ~ parasympathetic aspect

2.  An exaggerated, fragmented version of the above – emerges with stress and insecurity = a call for help ~ sympathetic aspect

The Two Aspects of Each Element



wood GROUNDED STATE EXAGGERATED STATE

“The True Hero” “The Wild One” Heroic perseverance Distracted by stillness Attracted to movement Fights constraint Ambitious Easily frustrated Loves exploring Hostile Goal-driven Shouting Learns by pushing boundaries Paranoid Decisive “In the Flow” Tension headaches

Muscle twitching Restlessness

©brookefries2014

fire GROUNDED STATE EXAGGERATED STATE “The True Leader” “The Class Clown” Compassionate humor Distracted by boredom Attracted to novelty Sensory overloaded Sensation Impulsive Charismatic Dramatic meltdowns Loves drama Over-stimulated Learns by intuition Panicky “High Engagement”

Hypoglycemia Reflux Sensory issues


©brookefries2014


earth GROUNDED STATE EXAGGERATED

STATE “The True Caregiver” “The Worrier” Mediators Group workers

Distracted by separation

Accommodating to relationships Anxious Loves pleasing others Confused Loyal Disorganized Learns by context Indecisive Diplomatic Obsessive thinking “Being Present” Meddlesome

Stomachaches Easy Bruising Unruly appetite

©brookefries2014


metal GROUNDED STATE EXAGGERATED

STATE “The True Judge” “The Stuck Child” Ethical judgment High expectations

Distracted by disorder

Attracted to detail and order Rigid, perfectionism Discriminating and disciplined Hyper-focused Loves logic, rational thinking Self-Righteous Learns by patterns and cause Compulsive “Precision” Disappointed

Sadness

Constipation Eczema, asthma Tics

©brookefries2014


water GROUNDED STATE EXAGGERATED STATE “The True Sage” “The Daydreamer” Deep self-reflection Distracted by ideas Attracted to meaning Slow Introspective Withdrawn, isolated Loves theory Apathetic Imaginative Stubborn Learns by contemplation Dread “Immersion”

Malaise, fatigue Back pain Hypochondria

©brookefries2014

•  Acceptance and appreciation – for who you are and what makes you unique and different

•  Compassion – for your triggers and insecurities

•  Insight – into the path you must follow to fulfill your inherent nature and impulses in this life

Elemental Assessment provides a detailed set of strategies for cultivating a present, focused quality of attention. This is the same mindful quality of attention that is achieved Through meditation, yoga and breathing exercises.

Lessons of the Elements


The Elemental Family

Education

Transcript of The Elemental Family