In Thai Traditional Medicine, one of the main causes of illness is an imbalance of the four elements in the body: Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Each person may have one element that is more dominant, similar to the doshas in Ayurveda.
The Earth Element
The Earth element represents the solid and stable parts of the body, such as flesh, bones, heart, lungs, kidneys, and intestines. People with a strong Earth element are often solid and sturdy, thick hair, large bones, and a loud voice and stubborn. They tend to be healthy and rarely get sick. However, when they do fall ill, it can be serious—often because they delay treatment due to their high pain tolerance.
The Earth element does not go out of balance on its own but is influenced by the Water, Wind, and Fire elements. Common issues for Earth-dominant individuals include digestive problems, heart conditions, and waste buildup in the large intestine.
They benefit from eating astringent, sweet, oily, and salty foods in moderation, such as coconut, nuts, pumpkin, banana, potatoes, and bael fruit.
The Water Element
The Water element refers to fluids in the body, such as blood, phlegm, mucus, and joint (synovial) fluid.
People with a dominant Water element usually have a well-proportioned body, smooth skin, stable posture, expressive eyes, and thick, healthy hair. They move slowly, tolerate hunger and temperature changes well, and tend to have a melodic voice and strong sexual energy.
They are more prone to problems involving body fluids—such as those affecting the blood, lymph, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems. They benefit from sour and bitter foods in moderation, like lime, lemon, tomato, roselle, and pineapple.
From birth to about age 16, they may frequently suffer from colds, runny noses, and watery eyes, especially in colder seasons.
The Wind Element
The Wind element relates to movement and energy in the body, including breathing, blood circulation, the nervous system, and emotions.
People with a dominant Wind element are often slim, with rough, dry skin, and may experience joint cracking during movement. They may also have a tendency toward moodiness, and restlessness, but also creative and quick. They often get bored easily, struggle with cold weather, have sleep issues because they can’t stop thinking, speak softly and unclearly, and tend to have a lower sexual drive.
Wind-dominant individuals often experience problems related to circulation, the nervous system, and emotional balance. They benefit from hot and spicy foods like ginger, galangal, lemongrass, black pepper, and cumin.
After the age of 32, they may become more prone to dizziness, especially during the rainy season.
The Fire Element
The Fire element represents heat and transformation in the body—such as digestion, metabolism, and oxidation.
People with a dominant Fire element may show signs like early gray hair, a receding hairline, low heat tolerance, a strong appetite, soft hair and beard, flexible joints, impatience, a quick temper, and noticeable body odor.
They benefit from eating bitter, cooling, and bland-tasting foods in moderation, such as cucumber, watermelon, apple, moringa, and morning glory.
Between the ages of 16 and 32, Fire-dominant individuals are often more irritable, experience mood swings, and are hot-tempered. During hot weather, they are more prone to heat-related illnesses.
Elemental Balance and Health
All four elements are connected and work together in the body:
Earth needs Water to stay moist, Wind to move, and Fire to activate energy.
Water needs Earth for stability and Wind to circulate.
Wind needs Water and Earth to carry energy.
Fire needs Water for digestion, Wind to move, and in turn, Fire increases Wind.
When these elements fall out of balance, the body can become unwell.
Each of us has a unique blend of the four elements. Understanding your elemental makeup can help you maintain balance and prevent common health issues related to each element.
