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FOUNDATIONS OF 5 ELEMENT NUTRITION 

 

The 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine offers a framework to understand functional food ingredients & nutrition.

In this Foundations course begin your journey learning about the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food therapy, studying at your own pace from anywhere in the world.

This Foundations course is the first 5 modules of our 3-month Immersion and full 5 Element Nutrition program.

Register here

TCM Food Therapy is based upon traditions of food and healing inherent in Chinese medicine which is based upon the observation of nature. To be healthy means to live in harmony with our environment, nourish ourselves with in season foods prepared in ways that support our health and well being.

Long before our reductionist view of food & the body, a world of isolated ingredients, vitamins & minerals, and separation from the energetics of food, humans understood a holistic nature-based approach to nutrition.

The foundations of ancient traditions of food and medicine were an integral part of traditional food culture. The components of eating for health, cooking methods and food preparation with local foods, herbs and plants were key. Five Element Theory emerged from the foundations of Chinese medicine as a way of understanding change. Change through the seasons, change in our body’s functioning.

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Do you want to learn about the foundations of nourishment from a perspective grounded in ancient medicine & wisdom?

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The Foundations of 5 Element Nutrition course will give you theoretical and practical foundations that support your capacity for observation. It can change you and support your vitality and be applied to whatever cultural tradition you are part of.

In the course we cover 5 Element theory, an introduction to TCM anatomy & physiology, foundations of nutritional healing, the Energetics of food, thermal nature, the 5 flavours, 4 directions, functional food groups, eating & cooking optimally for balance through the seasons and life stages.

This is not a Chinese or Asian cooking course. Whilst there are functional foods and ingredients introduced, the theory can be applied to all cultures, cuisines, foods, dietary preferences and kitchens.

Learn the foundations & applications of

5 Element theory

 

In this course we bring together our expert teachers to share the foundations and the application of 5 Element theory based on ancient teachings into modern life.

 

FOUNDATIONS OF 5 ELEMENT NUTRITION MODULES:

 

Module 1: Foundational Principles of Five Element Nutrition

Module 2: Traditions of Food & Healing

Module 3: Chinese Nutrition Theory & Energetics of Food

Module 4: Food Groups & Functional Properties

Module 5: Balance Through the Seasons

This course is for you if:

✓ You want to learn about nourishment to optimize health for yourself.

✓ You want to learn about food energetics and Asian traditions of food as medicine.

✓ You are a working professional in the field of nutrition, diet, health care, Chinese medicine or bodywork and want to learn more about food and nutrition from the perspective of East Asian medicine 

✓ You seek more balance and harmony in your everyday life and are interested in how food can help.

✓ You are interested in knowing more about the underlying principles that apply to food and nutrition that are in the modalities & practices that utilize 5 element wisdom such as Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Tuina massage, Shiatsu massage, Reflexology, Energy healing, Yin yoga, and Qigong.

✓ You are a chef, retreat chef or cook and would like to learn about 5 Element Nutrition, food therapy, medicinal cooking, functional foods and food energetics to add depth to your menu planning, meals & creations. 

✓ You want an in-depth course taught by experts and professionals well respected in the field of nutrition, Chinese medicine, health care and cooking.

Long before our reductionist view of food & the body, a world of isolated ingredients, vitamins & minerals, and separation from the energetics of food, humans understood a holistic nature-based approach to nutrition.

The foundations of ancient traditions of food and medicine were an integral part of traditional food culture. The components of eating for health, cooking methods and food preparation with local foods, herbs and plants were key. Five Element Theory emerged from the foundations of Chinese medicine as a way of understanding change. Change through the seasons, change in our body’s functioning.

In this course we bring together experts to teach foundations and the application of 5 Element Nutrition based on ancient teachings into modern life.

Our body can self regulate & knows how to heal.

 

5 Element Nutrition is nutritional wisdom aligned with mother nature, natural law, cycles and energy. It is not a prescription for what to eat, more an encouragement to learn, feel, intuit and resonate with where you are in terms of your health, energy levels and stage in life. There is no need to feel stressed or obsessed with rules, diets, labels or boxes, 5 Element nutrition is about energy and giving your body, mind & spirit what it needs to thrive.

It offers information, tools & principles that can be applied to all food cultures and kitchens around the world, for life.

Core Teachers

Ellen Goldsmith

Ellen Goldsmith, MSOM, LAc, DipCH, is an educator, speaker, as well as a board certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist practicing Chinese medicine and nutritional therapy. She is author of "Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine: +175 Seasonal Recipes for Optimal Health," a book for practitioners, nutritionists and anyone interested in bringing the healing power of food into their everyday lives.

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Mindi K. Counts

Mindi K. Counts, MA, LAc., is a wilderness and rites of passage guide, Five-Element acupuncturist, Somatic practitioner, and East-West folk herbalist. Founder of the Inner Ocean Center for Healing, Mindi is a keynote speaker, retreat leader and teacher. She is the author of Everyday Chinese Medicine, Tending Your Roots, and a contributing author to The Trauma Toolkit and Singing Our Heart’s Song.

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FOUNDATIONS OF 5 ELEMENT NUTRITION MODULES:

FOUNDATIONS OF
5 ELEMENT NUTRITION MODULES:

Course Overview

This introductory level course includes:

✓ 5 modules of self-paced video classes with core teachers Ellen Goldsmith & Mindi K. Counts

✓ over 15 hours of on-demand video classes

✓ downloadable PDF copies of slides/teaching materials 

✓ 1 year access to all content in the learning portal

✓ discounted tuition if you decide to continue on and join the full three month 5 Element  Nutrition course at a later date

* The full 5 Element nutrition course is offered annually in March-June or September- December.

** This Foundations course is the first 5 modules of our 3-month immersion and full 5 Element Nutrition program.

More details for that program can be found here: 5ENC

 

TUITION: US$299

Register here

Course Overview

This introductory level course includes:

âś“ 5 modules of self-paced video classes with core teachers Ellen Goldsmith & Mindi K. Counts

âś“ approximately 15 hours of on-demand video classes

✓ downloadable PDF copies of slides/teaching materials 

âś“ 1 year access to all content in the learning portal

✓ discounted tuition if you decide to continue on and join the full three month 5 Element  Nutrition course at a later date

* The full 5 Element nutrition course is offered annually in March-June or September- December.

** This Foundations course is the first 5 modules of our 3-month full 5 Element Nutrition program

Price: USD$299

Module 10:
Women's health (constitution & nutrition, pre/post-natal food, perimenopause & menopause, PMS, fertility, cycle regulation, blood nourishment, living a more supportive Yin lifestyle)

Module 12:
Creating sustainable changes

Timing

Weekly live Q&A sessions will be Thursdays 2/3pm PT (Pacific Time) which is Fridays 7/8am AEST (Australian eastern standard time). Depending on where students are located internationally there may be additional live Q&A times added per semester.

All sessions will be or are recorded and available at any time for student access in the learning portal.

Learning Platform

Upon registering for the 5 Element Nutrition course you will create your own login and receive access to the online learning platform 2 weeks before semester begins.

Students will receive a schedule for live-stream classes on zoom. Recordings of the live sessions which will be available within 24 hours after each live class concludes.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? 

BALANCING LIFE ENERGIES

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

  • Anyone interested in the 5 Elements & Chinese medicine
  • People interested in the power of the 5 Elements in transforming health & nutrition 
  • Doctors & Integrative health practitioners
  • Nutritionists, Dieticians & Nutrition professionals
  • Holistic healers, Energy medicine practitioners & students, Natural health & traditional medicine practitioners
  • Kinesiologists, TCM or Acupuncture students & practitioners
  • Physiotherapists, Chiropractors & Osteopaths
  • Health coaches
  • Fitness, Yoga or Qigong students & practitioners
  • Shiatsu & massage therapists
  • Commercial chefs, retreat chefs & cooks
  • Natural medicine seekers
  • Anyone who wants to optimize their health, friends & family’s health and clients or people around them
  • Health & wellness enthusiasts
  • Home cooks
  • Nature lovers
Yes, I am interested!
Yes, I am interested!

STUDY MATERIAL

Students will receive copies of the slides and learning material from lectures by our core and guest teachers.

Upon registration and before each semester begins students will receive a suggested reading list of books, texts and resources, we will be referring to these during the training course.

BONUSES

• 14 x weekly live calls with Ellen Goldsmith, Mindi K. Counts & Kimberly Ashton (with replays available to watch on-demand)
• lifetime access to the private 5 Element Nutrition online FB community
• 1 year access to all of the course content, including the following semester/group's live Q&As
• BONUS webinar on "5 Element retreat cooking" for chefs & caterers of Yoga & Qigong retreats (new in 2025!)
• BONUS masterclasses on topics including; Quantum Biology & the elements, Qigong & the Spirit of the Yi.
• FREE guide to Acupoints for Menstrual health by Jun Negoro, Kanpobliss
• FREE Blood Nourishing e-book by Kimberly Ashton 
• Discounts on the Qi Food Therapy TCM e-book collection, TCM products, goodies, tonic herbs & much more!

BONUSES

• 14 x weekly live calls with Ellen Goldsmith, Mindi K. Counts & Kimberly Ashton (with replays available to watch on-demand)
• Access to the private 5 Element Nutrition online community
• One year access to all of the course content, including the following semester/group's live Q&As
• BONUS access to the Qi Food Therapy TCM e-book collection; 6 e-books & 12 intro videos.
• BONUS webinar on "5 Element retreat cooking" for chefs & caterers of Yoga & Qigong retreats (new in 2025!)
• BONUS masterclasses on fabulous topics including; Quantum Biology & the elements, Qigong & the Spirit of the Yi, and Sea vegetables (new in 2025!)
• FREE guide to Acupoints for Menstrual health by Jun Negoro, Kanpobliss
• FREE Blood Nourishing e-book by Kimberly Ashton 
• Discounts on TCM products, goodies, tonic herbs & much more!

WAITLIST SPECIAL

Waitlist discounted enrollment from January 2025. (for those on the waitlist only)

Full tuition enrollment begins February 2025.

JOIN US FOR MARCH 2025 SEMESTER

JOIN US FOR MARCH 2025 SEMESTER

Enrollment USD$1599
Payment Plan USD$533 x3

Study 5 Element Nutrition in 2025.

This course is offered twice per year, if you can’t join us this semester get on the waitlist and be first to know when we open for enrollment again.

September 2025 waitlist

ENROLLMENTS CLOSED- JOIN US NEXT YEAR!

We have a limited number of partial course scholarships available.

Applications close on July 31, 2025.

Apply for scholarship here:

APPLY

We have a limited number of partial course scholarships available.

Applications close on July 31, 2025.

Apply for scholarship here:

APPLY

We welcome support in spreading the word about 5 Element Nutrition with more people.

Become an Affiliate today!

JOIN US
We welcome support in spreading the word about 5 Element Nutrition.

Become an affiliate today!
JOIN US

5 ELEMENT NUTRITION COURSE FAQ

*Disclaimer:
The course information is for educational and informational purposes only, and does not constitute nor substitute medical advice. Always check with your physician or health care professional before starting any 5 Element nutrition protocols or recommendations discussed in this course. It also specifies that use of the site content does not establish any patient-client relationships.
Please note this course does not replace nor allow you to offer medical advice, prescription or diagnosis. It is only intended to support alongside your personal care & treatment plan from your licensed TCM practitioner, GP, doctor or healthcare provider. It offers Food Therapy & Nutrition suggestions within a 5 element food therapy framework. Please consult your physician or acupuncturist before using any information in this course.