The 4 Elements and Healing
Think of yourself as a beautiful, complex flower. As humans, we are part of nature. We are made up of and rely on the 4 elements for our survival and to be our most healthy selves. Essentially, we have the same basic needs as a plant.
Earth - The soil is the plants home. It’s the environment that surrounds and feeds the plant. In order to have a healthy plant you need rich, nutritious soil. The Earth also supports our well being as humans. Grounding, or Earthing, is when you put your feet directly on the Earth’s surface. It provides tons of wonderful health benefits for our physical bodies and energetic bodies (you can read more about that in this blog post). Connecting directly with the Earth is something we should do regurarly to rebalance, center and ground.
Another way to think about this element is to assess the environment and nutrients in your life. Is your physical environment supporting you? Is your home a place you can relax? Is your workspace conducive to a productive day? Are the people in your environment good for your health? Are you feeding yourself nutritious foods that create health for your body? Do you consume media content that feeds your well being? The list could go on and on. Considering the effects that our environment has on our wellbeing is a powerful practice to help us create a life we feel good about, and that makes us feel good.
Air - Plants need clean, fresh air and so do we! Without air filling our lungs we won’t survive long. Breathing is something we all do automatically but can actually be challenging to do correctly if we aren’t thinking about it. Most people have a tendency to “shallow breathe” or only breathe into the top of their lungs rather than filling more of their lung capacity. This results in short, quick breaths that cause less oxygenation in the body, leading to fatigue, brain fog, headaches, feelings of anxiety and generally less regulation of the body.
The antidote to this is simply to breathe more deeply. You can practice “belly breathing” by placing one hand on your abdomen just below your belly button, and one on your chest. As you breathe in you should feel the lower belly expand first, followed by the chest. The exhale should also start from the lower belly. Think about your ribcage expanding open in all directions, like an umbrella opening. Fill the lungs from the bottom up and savor the fullness of your lungs by holding for a moment at the top. Mmmmm, delicious, life-giving air. What a treat!
Water - All living being need water. Without enough water we become dehydrated and our bodies start to break down. Just like a plant needs a certain amount of water, so do you! Listen to your bodies nature cues and always have clean, micro-plastic-free water handy. Staying hydrated is health tip 101.
Aside from actually needing to consume water, water also represents our emotions. When we are in an emotionally regulated state we let our emotions flow without blocking them and without letting them turn into a destructive storm. Damming back your emotions creates internal pressure and is unsustainable in the long run. Letting all of your emotions come crashing down on you can lead to chaos and a mess to clean up. Emotions need to flow without restraint and without causing catastrophe. There are many ways to build a healthy relationship with your emotions. Get curious about where you are at and how your emotional wellbeing could be spilling into other areas of your health. Awareness is the first step.
Fire - Fire symbolizes heat, such as the sunshine providing warmth for the plants to grow. Sunshine is also extremely beneficial for us as humans, providing us valuable Vitamin D. Sun exposure in moderation is a critical part of a healthy life.
Fire can also symbolize transformation, change and expansion. When we exercise we create heat in our bodies. Feeling “fired up” is an expression that means we are ready to take action, we are motivated into motion. The heat from our personal growth provides us the energy to keep moving forward, through the discomfort and challenges that are unavoidable in life. There is no life without change. It is up to you whether you want to utilize that change for transformation or if you would rather play the helpless victim.
How does chiropractic play into this concept? Chiropractic enhances your nervous system’s ability to integrate the 4 elements and bring harmony into your life. It is hard to be proactive about your environment, remember to belly breathe, ride the waves of your emotions and use the fire of life as fuel for growth if your nervous system is dysregulated. The state of your nervous system determines your capacity for handling life. Nature is on our side, we are designed to be healthy and nourished by the 4 elements. However, we get stuck in our heads and stuck in our ways, leading us to feel stressed out and disconnected. Chiropractic care is a way to bring yourself back to yourself. Having a balanced, connected nervous system empowers you to live a balanced, connected life.