The 5 Body Types in TCM
When I was in school learning observation skills for the different kinds of TCM body type and TCM diagnosis, I would practice on celebrities and I still do; it’s so much fun, don’t you think? I remember watching Celine Dion belting out the Titanic song and saying to myself: “Oh my gosh, her tongue is so pale, she’s blood deficient! She needs TCM!”
She must have heard me through the screen. A few years later, after 5 failed IVF cycles, she decided to go through a 6th one, this time adding acupuncture to her treatment. And she got pregnant! Acupuncture rocks!
Celine could be my sister. She’s from Quebec and I’m from France, so we speak the same language of cheese, wine and pastries. She can freaking sing and I can freaking dance (I taught Hip-Hop for 15 years). We are born on the same day, month and year (Google it up if you want to know how old I am, or not!) She’s a Wood body type and I’m Earth. Well, LV & SP go together like carrots & peas. You see, we could be sisters!
Observing body types of celebrities is a lot of fun. What do you think is your TCM body type? We have all the TCM 5 body types and qualities within us, but there are always 2 DOMINANT ones. Which ones are yours?
WOOD TCM Body Type
The Wood Body Type: slender body, straight back.
Wood Qualities: goal setter, achiever, planner, visionary, go-getter, task-oriented, list maker.
Wood Downfalls: overachiever, control freak, “it’s my way or the highway” attitude. Impatient, irritable, and frustrated easily.
FIRE TCM Body Type
Fire Body Type: heart-shaped face, smaller hands & feet.
The Fire Qualities: fun, passionate, excited, loves to laugh, the clown and life of the party, team player.
Fire Downfalls: needs constant stimulation, easily distracted and bored, can’t focus, doesn’t follow through, doesn’t like to be alone.
EARTH TCM Body Type
The Earth Body Type: pear-shaped, rounded buttocks
Earth Qualities: nurturer, compassionate, great listener, homebody, caring.
The Earth Downfalls: takes care of everyone and puts herself last, very sensitive to criticism, often a doormat, worries, over thinks.
METAL TCM Body Type
Metal Body Type: broad squared shoulders, defined face features.
The Metal Qualities: trustworthy, dependable, very hard worker, will always finish a project, follows through, strong silent type.
Metal Downfalls: difficulties in having close relationships, constant self-preserving, not allowing himself to share his thoughts or feelings, feeling lonely and misunderstood, tendency to feel blue and sad.
WATER TCM Body Type
The Water Body Type: rounded baby face, soft skin.
Water Qualities: creative, self-reflective, dreamer, artistic, easygoing, works better alone.
The Water Downfalls: gets drained if around too many people for a long period of time, always late, no motivation, fear of failure, and self-doubts.
Tell me what your TCM body type is, in the comment section below. It’d be fun to see what is the most prevalent one in our profession!
Keep rocking it using TCM!
Clara
TCM Geek
PS: My aim is to provide you with great content, including fun Facebook posts, online courses and blog articles.
View this post on Instagram
Share this article
Fire
Of Course, you’re on Fire Lila 🙂
Earth and Metal
Earth And Water
Water it is.
Water is such a good one to have! 💙
Very cool 🙂
Earth and Water. Its interesting as I am earth and water (kapha) predominantly in ayurveda too.
How interesting!
TCM & Ayurveda are deeply interconnected so that makes sense.
If you want to learn more, check out Clara’s podcast episode all on that very subject!
Earth and water❤
💖
I am earth and fire, my husband is water.
great combo 🙂
Water 💦
Calm and deep 😍
Hi Clara
Wood and metal
Grtz
Jo
Such a strong combo you have, Segers jo! ✨
Earth mother
Yes., i am metel 👍
🙂
Water…. And I was a successful hairdresser for 20 years, and now I am in school to be a parent/ family counsellor AND I work part time as a barista and a bartender!!!!! Lmao this is SPOT ON!!!!
I think I’m Earth but I have done of the other qualities too… I’ve rounded buttocks tho
Water. I thick all the boxes.
Earth and water
Earth and water
I think I’m earth and wood….although could see a few other things on the other elements!
All of us have a little bit of every type, so that makes sense 🙂
Hi Clare
I’m look combo of earth and water.
That’s great 🙂
Je croyais que je suis bois, mais d’après ce texte je confirme que je suis type eau
C’est intéressant!
Defo fire and earth
Earth and a little Water
Una, you’re a TCM rock star! Thank you for your constant dedication to my Facebook page!
Earth: sensitive (You chose the right profession!)
Water: creative (That’s great!)
Wood
Definitely a Water body type. But I think I’m more of a Wood or Earth causative factor 🙂
A great combo! 🙂
Fire and Water !
It is normal as Yin and Yang !
You’re perfectly balanced George 🙂
Fire and Water !
It is normal as Yin and Yang !
I think Water and Earth
A bit of Wood & Earth!
Me too!
I am Earth type.
Me too 🙂
Earth
Oh my Clara, I would have to say I am Wood. Thank you for all you share, your emails make me so happy, I find them so interesting, thank you. XO
Thanks Kathy, you’ve made my day 🙂
Hugs ~ Clara
Body type Wood and Metal, but characteristics Metal, Earth and Fire. Earth and Fire create Metal and that’s the distinctive element in me, I suppose…
Earth. And dont know the other one
I used to be fire , when i was 20 years old ,now ,i think i belong more to water and spleen . Thanks Clara , you helped me out to figure out my personality type .
I used to be much more Earth, now Wood dominates me 🙂
It’s funny how we change overtime!
No doubt my most dominant part is Wood with a flame of Fire to complete me
I like that! Spicy 🙂
It is hard to judge ourselves (from a differentiation standpoint at least!), but I would say that I am a cross between Wood and Earth.
Me too 🙂
Earth or water
Metal I guess! 🙂
Im fire
Metal for sure 😉
Earth
Wood, Earth, Fire and Metal. All together are strong but also a dangerous recepy to get over your borders, mentaly and physicaly.
Earth and Water ?
Earthly metal.
Wood/ water combination
Metal and Wood
Earth without the buttocks ☮️❤️
Earth and fire
Water all the way!
More Wood and little Earth 😉 Thank you Clara, you are amazing. Your love for TCM and passion to share it with us is so motivating. The world need more people like you Clara <3
Awe! Thanks Pragna, YOU rock 🙂
Hi Clara definitely earth and water,I train in martial arts for many years and went to Malaysia in 1985 in a Chinese system called hap kune do,learn Taoist tai chi and practice yoga as well,I also learnt tui-na massage in 1997 with reflexology and Swedish massage
Wow, that sounds like an amazing journey. Thank you for sharing with everyone 💖
Wood, tick all the boxes:)
Hahaha Beata, I’d get along with you for sure then 🙂
Earth
I think that I am fire primarily then earth.
Water /Metal
I am wood with fire ?
Earth and Water
I think I’m Earth, caring, caring.
And Water, no doubt I work better alone, I love being alone, practically all people end up bothering me
EARTH but with “pan-like” (ie flat) buttocks 🙁
Metal and Water
Definitely metal:) auwch?…
Thank you dear Clara for your ever inspiring emails!!! Learned a lot and keeps me going!
Glad to hear that Kris 🙂
Earth and water
I´m a mix of Earth; Wood and Water…=P Can this be possible?! =)
Totally! You’re eclectic 🙂
I love it!
Wood
I am mixed of wood and metal
I am EARTH and WATER and I always suffer for not being able to impose myself. I always put other people first. I’m tired of being good.
I did that for years and then at 40, I decided to stop pleasing others and learn to say NO! It was tough at first but people treated me better and respected my time and my decisions. It was very freeing 🙂
So Christine, make your heart and your TCM spleen happy and put yourself 1st 🙂
It’s hard to know for sure, but I would say that Metal and Earth are my most dominant elements. 🙂
Not sure i like admitting I probably have control freak tendencies but I would say I am wood and a bit of earth mostly!
Metal
Water and a little bit of fire.
Thanks Clara ☺
My body is made of which element i know today only with your help
Wood type and what you have described is perfect. Thanks
Earth and Water
Earth and some Water
Christine
Terra e algo de Agua
Fire and earth
Earth. You can’t find a much earthier earth than me ???
Metal
Earth and Water… A disaster!!!!!
Not bad at all!
Earth&water
?Love your emails and Facebook posts! So clear and efficient!
I’m wood, metal.
Thanks Monique 🙂
You rock!
Earth&water
Thank you, it was very informative. I love the web site. I am studying shiatsu shin tai and find the information easy to follow. This has been. Great help for my revisions. I think I am water and earth.
Thank you again
My pleasure Louisa 🙂
Hello acupro mam i just started reading this m very much interested in this and do acupuncture in a charitable dispensary with no charge i have a question ??
In which direction should we insert the needle ? in flow of meridian opposite flow or perpendicular ??
You need to learn each point’s function and angle of insertion…
Water and Earth
I think Metal and Wood
Metal and Wood
Hi Clara! Thank you so much for all of your posts! You Rock!
I’m wood with a little earth and water.
You’re so welcome 🙂
I love this clear explanation, it’s really helpful (I’m using this with horse riders and on horses too. Really cool to see how we can get the different types work together as a team – horse and rider). I’m definitely Metal, second type is a little more difficult. Only thing I hardly see in myself is Fire. Water and Earth are pretty equal.
So cool, you use this on horses 🙂
Water!!!
Metal
Wow that’s weird – earth and water too!
Is there a pattern….,,,
With practitioners, it’s often the case 🙂
Nurturer and self reflective!
May be water type
Hi. Clara,
Thanks for your mail. I think I am earth type and somewhat wood and metal combined. I am not sure.
Thanks for the opportunity to know myself.
Hi Clara! Thank you so much for your mails. Your skills and passionate on TCM is inspiring. I love to learn more from your posts. You really rock! ?
Thank you Santhoshi 🙂
Am earth mixed with wood and metal qualities
Earth and water – mud!
Hi Carla
Thank you for sharing valuable knowledge by video lecture.I have some quality of EARTH and METAL mixed personality.but i am not sure.
It’s sometimes easier to have someone else figure out what are your elements 🙂
Water
earth..getting better in respecting my limits though…
I’m somewhere between earth and wood
Earth
Wood and earth
Earth! Wood has me impatient side ??
I can’t say it in a word or two. It is a combination of three. What body type is that? Ha ha.
EARTH
Earth Body Type: rounded buttocks
Earth Qualities: nurturer, compassionate, great listener, home body, caring.
Earth Downfalls: takes care of everyone and puts herself last, often a door matt, worry, over thinks.
METAL
Metal Body Type: broad squared shoulders, defined face features.
Metal Qualities: trustworthy, dependable, very hard worker, will always finish a project, follows through, strong silent type.
Metal Downfalls: difficulties in having close relationships, constant self-preserving, not allowing himself to share his thoughts or feelings, tendency to feeling sad.
WATER
Water Qualities: creative, self-reflective, dreamer, artistic, easy going, works better alone.
Water Downfalls: gets drained if around too many people for a long period of time, self-doubts.
That’s a great combo Sue 🙂
Earth
Water for sure, I have a very soft skin, am creative, super self reflective, dreamer, can be easy going but also the other way around en and I work much better alone. All the downfalls I struggle with (time for acupuncture I gues but am scared of needles) but I love love love that it says, Always late hahahahah because that I am and have been all of my life but now I have a valid excuse I want this on a T-shirt lol
Hahaha That’s perfect! 🙂
Earth!
Earth and water ❤️ Loved the course, thank you! ???✨
Earth and water ❤️ Loved the course, thank you!! ???✨
My pleasure! SO happy you enjoyed it 🙂
I’m earth with water tendencies
Definitely Earth … nurturer , care for everyone and forget my self plus a massive over thinker
Love these resources
Thanks Julie, enjoy them all 🙂
All of them!!!!
Water with Earth
A combination exactelly but more watter, wood, metal
Earth and water
I am wood.
Interesting, in a family of five, we’ve covered all of the elements. My husband is wood, one of my daughters fire, the other water, my son metal and I’m earth.
You’re 5 elements family! I love it 💜
I think I’m a wood
Great 🙂
Wood+Metal. And they made me so much problems. I`m working administrative-finance-area.
I can see how that would be 🌷
Could be Earth
Could be Earth plus some Metal: a hard worker and difficulties in having close relationships. Thanks Clara
You’re welcome Avan 🥰
Zemlja/voda. Više zemlja.
Obožavam Vaše objave i način na koji predstavljate kinesku tradicionalnu medicinu. Mnogo Vam hvala!
Definitely Earth with some metal flaws
I thinkI have traits of the wood and. Earth elements and maybe nave a few drops of the water element
Metal
Earth and wood
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Earth and water. And toooo much overthinking and feeling
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Metal is mine!
Thank you for sharing!
Mainly Metal ✨️😍✨️
Fantastic! ✨
I am 100% predominantly WOOD! Followed by a very close 2nd of METAL.
If I had continued down the elements. It would trickle down with EARTH being the 3rd, WATER being the 4th, & FIRE finally out my combo masterpiece as the 5th.
Thank you for sharing, Noah. GREAT combo! 💫
Only two? That isn’t easy….I’m definitely a Fire CF but can’t work out if I’m a Water or Earth body type…Argh!!!
Hahaha 🙂 Not easy for sure!
I am a combination of Wood and Earth, but I think Earth is more dominant
Love that combination 😍
I’m earth and water
Fantastic 😍
Mostly Earth and a bit of everything else.
Fantastic! There’s lots of Earth in this field 👏🏻
I am Earth&Water (Mother&grandson 😉)
Thank you Clara, you are amazing. Your love for TCM and passion to share it with us is so motivating. ✌️💐
Awesome 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
I am earth and water
Such a fantastic combo for the field 🤩
I am earth and can relate to the metal qualities for sure!
That’s a lovely combination! 🌎🪨
Wood
Very nice, Camilla! 👏🏼
Thank you for sharing 🩷
Water and Wood
and thank you for the way you so generously share what you know, and for your creative depictions of all the information! It’s wonderful!
The way she explains Chinese Medicine is 👌🏼
So glad you are enjoying the content! 💜
Earth metal and wood
That’s a fantastic combo, Terri! Thanks for sharing with us 🩷 There are so many Earths in this profession!
Earth and water
Such a good combination 💕
Wood and earth
Wonderful combination, Sven 🌟
WOOD – I’m a natural medicine practitioner, energy healer.
Your work is needed 🙏🏼
FIRE & WATER !!!
Greetings from a young MD and a TCM student :=)
Ooo, love this!👏🏼
Wow. How do you get things done as a FIRE WATER is my sincere question. I have struggled so much with the ambition being trumped by these two elements!
Great question! It’s all about finding your balance ☯️
Check out Clara’s podcast all on the 5 archetypes if you want to keep exploring them 😊
Water and Metal i think 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Fenia 🌻
Water and Earth for sure KD/SP dominant although, LV – Wood is lurking closely by too 😀
Fantastic, you’re more balanced than most 🙂
Wood and fire…. Is that possible ….seems self destructive 😂 im actually not at all but funny
Absolutely that’s possible, and quite funny! Thank you for sharing 🙏🏼
eeek I am FIRE WATER. No wonder I have experienced so much loss and frustration ….I have ambition from the other signs but these two trump it and I am left hardly achieving! How do I get control of this or work WITH it to save my life, literally….that is my honest question!
Keep learning about the 5 archetypes is a great place to start 😊
Check out Clara’s podcast and YouTube too–she talks more about these, specifically the 5 archetypes and how we treat them in clinical practice.
I’d also recommend you see a TCM practitioner for tailored guidance and for balance if you aren’t already 🙏🏼
Remember we all have a bit of each element in us ✨
I am earth.🌍
Thank you for sharing, Maryam! So many students and practitioners are Earths! 🥰
Hello from Denmark.
I’m Wood and metal 🤘
Love to follow AcuPro Academy.
Best Regards
Anja Lene
Thank you for sharing, Anja! 🌻