Five Element Healing

Five Element Healing Five Element Healing is the practice of Jason Elias, L.Ac., noted healer and author of "The A to Z G

Jason's approach integrates Eastern and Western healing traditions within a system of complimentary medicine. He has studied extensively around the world and has been in private practice for over 3 decades. Check out his Integral Health Apothecary line of herbal formulas at fiveelementhealing.net or from select practitioners.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, arrives as summer gives way to autumn, inviting us to look back at what has been and...
09/15/2026

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, arrives as summer gives way to autumn, inviting us to look back at what has been and consider what we want to carry with us into the year ahead.

A new beginning asks us to make room for it. For me, that means being willing to die a little to the past so we can be more fully alive to the present. It may mean releasing an old grudge, forgiving someone, asking for forgiveness ourselves, or letting go of something we have carried far too long.

New beginnings also carry responsibility. We plant seeds without knowing exactly what will grow from them or when the first shoots will appear. So, what are we planting now, in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the larger world? What might we nurture through the autumn and winter so it will flower in the spring?

Those questions have particular meaning for me this year because I am preparing to bring something new into the world. My newest book, "Diving Into the Unknown: An Explorer's Guide to Conscious Dying and Vibrant Living," is scheduled for release this spring.
The title speaks to something I have thought about for much of my life: dying is not only something that happens at the end of life. We can allow some things to die along the way: old hurts, old resentments, old ways of seeing ourselves and one another. In letting some of them go, we make more room for the vibrant living available to us right now.

As we enter a new year and a new season, may we plant our seeds thoughtfully, tend our relationships with care, forgive when we can, and remain open to whatever may bloom.

L'Shanah Tovah. May it be a sweet new year.

As late summer begins its quiet transition, the days grow a little shorter, the evenings arrive a little sooner, and we'...
07/29/2026

As late summer begins its quiet transition, the days grow a little shorter, the evenings arrive a little sooner, and we're reminded that life's sweetest moments are never meant to be held too tightly. They are meant to be noticed, appreciated, and shared.

As William Blake wrote:

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise

Perhaps this is the season to pause a little more often. To tell someone you love them. To offer kindness where it's needed. To cherish the people who make your life richer and the simple moments that so often pass unnoticed.

And where there is hurt, perhaps there is also room for forgiveness. Not because it's easy, but because carrying peace is lighter than carrying resentment.

May you continue to find warmth in the season, gratitude in the present moment, and joy in the connections that nourish your heart.

07/13/2026

Many of us are carrying a quiet exhaustion right now.

Not only from busy schedules or poor sleep, but from months of uncertainty, constant noise, difficult headlines, and the feeling that the world rarely settles long enough for the body to fully exhale.
Summer can magnify that strain. Heat. Travel. Crowds. Allergies. Viruses. Tick exposure. Long days that tempt us to keep pushing when what we may need most is restoration.

In Chinese medicine, health is not simply the absence of illness. It is resilience. Adaptability. The body’s ability to recover its balance.
This summer, be a little gentler with yourself.

Sleep a little longer.
Take an evening walk.
Eat foods that come from the earth.
Put your feet in the grass (but check for ticks!).
Step away from the headlines.

Let your nervous system remember that it belongs to the natural world, too.

The body is always listening. Thankfully, it is also always trying to heal.

07/13/2026

Extreme heat asks something different of us. Some parts of the country are already enduring record-breaking temperatures, and now another heatwave is settling over the East Coast.

In traditional Chinese medicine, summer is the season of the Fire and the Heart. When heat becomes excessive, it can leave us feeling depleted, restless, irritable, mentally foggy, and unable to sleep well. Sometimes the first signs of overheating aren't physical. They're emotional.

As the heat climbs and persists, move a little more gently. Rest when you can. Choose cooling, water-rich foods. Spend time in the shade and in air conditioning if you can. And although exercise is important, be mindful. Even going for a short walk or run can be dangerous. Listen to your body and let it set the pace.

We're not the only ones feeling the heat. Pets, birds, pollinators, and wildlife are searching for water and cooler places too. If it's safe to do so, leave out fresh water for wildlife, make sure your pets have plenty of shade and water, and never, ever leave an animal in a parked car, even for a few minutes. And remember that with heat comes hot sidewalks. Dogs’ paws are very sensitive. You may have to forgo the walk around the neighborhood and drive to a nearby park or grassy area instead.

Finally, check in on the people around you. A quick phone call or knock on the door can make a real difference for an older neighbor, someone living alone, or anyone whose health makes this weather especially difficult.

Take good care of your Heart, and of one another.

The light is lingering a little longer each evening. Nature does not hesitate when it is time to return to life, and per...
05/19/2026

The light is lingering a little longer each evening. Nature does not hesitate when it is time to return to life, and perhaps there is wisdom in that for us, too.

Many people have carried a quiet exhaustion this winter. Not just from the weather, but from the heaviness of the world itself. Spring asks something gentle of us: step outside anyway. Walk. Breathe deeper. Let fresh air and green things work on you a little.

As you head back into the woods, gardens, and tall grass, please also be mindful that tick populations are especially high this season across the Northeast. A few simple precautions can make a meaningful difference.

We are seeing unprecedented demand for support with seasonal allergies and tick-related concerns, and we are fully stocked with two of our most requested formulas: TickedOff! and AllergEase.

Go gently into the green. The season is blooming, and so, quietly, are we.

And as always, we are here for you. Reach out with questions for and more information about our herbal formulas.

Spring is finally here. It’s wonderful to have the windows and doors open and to listen to the birds returning from thei...
04/19/2026

Spring is finally here. It’s wonderful to have the windows and doors open and to listen to the birds returning from their winter roosts. Do you know who else has returned? Ticks. Once the ground thawed, they did, too.

Even though it’s the year of the mighty Fire Horse, according to recent reports, it’s also going to be the year of the mighty tick and the nasty illnesses it carries.

But don’t lose heart. We should all spend as much time as we can on the outdoor activities we love, like gardening, hiking, picnicking, and simply enjoying outdoor living with family and friends. We just need to be mindful and remember a few simple steps to keep us safe while enjoying the great outdoors:

✅ Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks more easily.
✅ Tuck long pants into your socks (hey, you may not start a fashion trend, but it works!).
✅ Tie back long hair and put on a hat.
✅ Use a non-toxic tick repellent on your clothes and skin. There are several safe, effective options.
✅ Before heading inside, brush off your clothes as if you're shaking off a bad dream.
✅ Take a shower and do a full tick check (yes, all the nooks and crannies).

And if a tick does latch on? Remove it with tweezers (don’t forget the head), and keep an eye out for a rash, especially one that looks like a bullseye. If you see it, call your doctor ASAP!

💚 Bonus tip: Keep a bottle or two of Jason’s Ticked-Off formula on hand and take it as directed if you’ve been bitten. It’s a great natural support to help your body stay one step ahead of the little menaces. And of course, if you have any questions, we’re always here to help you stay healthy!

Here’s to safe, healthy, and tick-free sunny adventures!

In Chinese medicine, the passage from late Winter into early Spring is often the most challenging time of year.Under the...
03/06/2026

In Chinese medicine, the passage from late Winter into early Spring is often the most challenging time of year.

Under the frozen ground, there is a tremendous gathering of energy beneath the surface as life prepares to push upward, crack the hardened earth, and reach for the light.

It’s not a quiet process. It’s a time that creates pressure as bound-up energy begins to release.

We feel this in our own bodies and minds as well. At this time of year, people often notice feeling more irritable, restless, and a sense of unease that can easily be mistaken for anxiety or fear. Part of that feeling is simply the energy of the season rising within us.

Add to this the current volatility and suffering raging throughout the world, and the 24-hour news cycle, overwhelming us with terrifying and heartbreaking images and information that lead to true fear and anxiety. It is a perfect storm of emotion that makes many want to pull the covers over their heads and retreat.

When these feelings arise, it can help to remember that some of what you are feeling may be the season's natural energy stirring within, asking you to move. Early Spring invites us to clear space. To open the windows. To let go of what has become stagnant over the long winter months. To listen for where our own energy wants to flow next.

Just as plants instinctively move toward the light, so must we.

This awareness may not erase the anxiety we all feel during these volatile times, but I hope that it brings a small measure of comfort and hope.

And as the venerable monks who inspired us every day as they walked for peace, pray, let us also ask each day:

“May today be our peaceful day. May all beings everywhere be well, happy, and at peace.”

As a wise teacher once told me, “One voice alone may go unheard. A million voices (and prayers) raised together can change the world.”

As we say goodbye to the Year of the Wood Snake and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, I’ve been thinking about what it...
02/21/2026

As we say goodbye to the Year of the Wood Snake and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to stand at a threshold.

In Chinese medicine and philosophy, the Snake teaches us about rebirth. But rebirth is rarely graceful. A snake doesn’t simply glide into new skin. It presses, strains, rubs against rough surfaces until what no longer fits finally gives way. It is a vulnerable, exposed process.

Many of us are in that place right now. Outgrowing old identities. Old systems. Old stories about who we are and how the world works. It can feel tight, uncomfortable, even frightening. When something is ready to change but hasn’t fully released, there is tension. Heat. Restlessness. The discomfort is not a mistake. It is movement.

And now the Fire Horse gallops in, carrying the new year.
The Fire Horse carries a very different spirit. Bold. Untamed. Vibrant. It does not creep forward. It runs free, heart afire, longing for open fields and clear horizons.

But we cannot ride that freedom if we are still clinging to old skin.
So, if this season feels raw, tender, and uncertain, know that it is also sacred. There is still shedding to do. There is still work in the dark before the gallop begins.

Let this be our prayer: that we emerge from this time of struggle with more love, more humility, more warmth and compassion for one another and for the world we share.

May the Fire Horse carry us forward into a freer, more awakened way of being.

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