Monica Yan Wang
Acupuncture has its roots in ancient China, dating back over 2,500 years. Chinese ancestors closely observed nature’s rhythms and discovered a repeating cycle of energy that governs all living things. This vital energy, known as Qi, is perhaps most visibly expressed in the seasonal shifts throughout the year. Five Element Acupuncture emerged from this deep awareness, recognizing that each phase of this natural cycle—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—embodies a unique aspect of Qi. Together, these five elements reflect the dynamic balance essential for harmony in both nature and human health.
Nora Franglen, founder and former principal of the School of Five Element Acupuncture (SOFEA) in London, and a lifelong ambassador of the tradition, once shared:
“What I love about Five Element Acupuncture is that it touches the deepest part of us.”
As a registered acupuncturist in British Columbia, I practice Five Element Acupuncture with great reverence—and have witnessed firsthand how this ancient art can bring profound transformation, not only to the body but to the spirit as well.
Allow me to share the story of my very first Five Element Acupuncture patient—one I remember with vivid clarity.
He was a perfectionist to the extreme—meticulous, relentless, constantly striving for flawlessness in his work. Over more than three decades of high-pressure labor, his spirit had grown anxious beyond measure, and his body was utterly drained.
He would wake suddenly, eight or nine times a night, jolted by waves of anxiety. A short walk—barely ten minutes—became impossible due to his profound physical exhaustion. The mere thought of work brought on nausea, acid reflux, and even vomiting. His muscles were perpetually tense, his body unable to relax. Even holding a conversation felt exhausting—his eyelids so heavy with fatigue that he could barely keep them open, let alone meet another’s gaze.
Each morning, he awoke as though he had never slept at all—mentally depleted, emotionally numb. Eventually, he saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. He was given prescriptions for both. But he refused the medications. Instead, he chose to try acupuncture.
We were fortunate to have found one another.
From the beginning, we made a silent pact—to trust each other completely. Based on his physical and emotional patterns, I diagnosed his dominant element as Metal. After his first Five Element acupuncture session, we agreed to begin weekly treatments.
On his second visit, he surprised me with a hand-drawn anxiety curve he had created himself. The line sloped clearly downward. “It’s working,” he beamed, eager for the next session.
By the third treatment, he told me that although the anxiety still fluctuated, he now had enough strength to walk to the clinic. He had even attended a full company meeting with 20 to 30 people—something unimaginable to him before. Previously, he would’ve made any excuse to avoid it. As he spoke, I noticed something new: he could now lift his eyelids and meet my gaze.
On his fourth visit, he said he had played tennis the week before—and had picked up painting again, a childhood passion long buried. “I used to feel numb every day,” he said. “Just going through the motions of being a father and a husband. But now… now I’m starting to feel the desire to try all the things I once dreamed of.”
Five Element Acupuncture didn’t just ease his symptoms—it transformed him, body and soul. He became stronger, healthier, and happier.
Isn’t that, after all, what every one of us is seeking in this brief life? To not only survive—but to live, fully?
