The Earth Type
Do you live for taking care of others? Do your friends come to you with all their problems? Do your family and friends always come first? If so, you must be an Earth type!
In East Asian medicine, the universe is made up of 5 elements, also called phases. These elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, are the building blocks of our environment, including us. We are each a unique mix of all the elements, but one of them is primary. Learning your primary element can give you personalized tools for managing stress and living a healthier, happier life. Instead of doing ALL THE THINGS, or getting overwhelmed and doing nothing, you’ll learn which lifestyle hacks will give you the most bang for your buck.
Earth people are caring, thoughtful, and selfless. You have a naturally curvy, soft body and a sweet, melodious voice. You can build muscle when you really work at it, but it takes consistent effort. The archetypical mother, you gravitate towards caring work like nursing, teaching or social work.
But all that caring comes with a price. Spending so much time taking care of others, you neglect your own self-care. Once you are stressed and depleted you have a tendency to worry and get stuck in ruminating, circular thoughts. Your body reacts with digestive issues like reflux, nausea, bloating, diarrhea or constipation. You can also suffer from muscle pain and cramping.
Your automatic reaction to stress is emotional eating. You crave sweets as a source of calm and safety, in the same way an infant craves mother’s milk. I promise that your sugar cravings aren’t a personality flaw, they don’t mean you’re weak or have no willpower, it’s just how you’re wired. Instead of going straight for the cupcakes, ice cream and chocolate when you’re stressed, do something that engages your senses. Take a hike somewhere beautiful, get a massage, or listen to your favorite music. Using your other senses, like vision, hearing, or feeling, instead of leaning solely on taste, will ground you in a healthier way.
In general, the best foods for Earth types are naturally sweet foods like sweet potatoes, winter squashes, legumes, and whole grains. Make sure to work these foods into your daily diet to keep you calm. You are more susceptible than other types to what Chinese medicine calls dampness and phlegm. To combat this, stay away from added sugar and dairy.
Because your relationships are the most important thing to you, spending time with family and friends can also be calming and grounding. Cook up a healthy, nourishing meal for a few friends and just enjoy their company. Make sure not to step up into that mothering role too much, even if you are technically someone’s mother, and appreciate the important people in your life without needing to take care of them.
Sweet, centering Frankincense essential oil is the perfect companion for Earth folks. Diffuse it into the air or mix a few drops into a carrier oil and rub it into your belly or any sore muscles.
The more often you do all of this, the better you’ll feel.
