When people use the term five element acupuncture it often causes confusion and controversy. The theoretical principle of the five elements is only one part of Chinese Medicine theory. But actually different schools and colleges have used different theories and modified and adapted them in different ways throughout the history of acupuncture. The 5 element theory/model is used a lot in Korea and Japan for example. In the 1960's an Englishman J.R.Worsley travelled to the East and when he returned he used the 5 element theory to develop his own style in the UK. Therefore, what most people call five element acupuncture today might better be described as Worsleypuncture.
Worsley's contribution was important partly because he was one of the pioneers of acupuncture in the UK, but also because he developed and taught acupuncture in a language which resonated with European people. Five element acupuncture is interesting and inspiring and relevant to Europeans because it uses our own language and this is probably its greatest asset.
So Five element acupuncture is essentially a translation of Eastern principles which has then been modified to suit the particular needs of Western people in their own language. It can therefore be argued that 5 element acupuncture is quite unlike Chinese Acupuncture.