According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is responsible for ensuring that blood and Qi (energy) circulate evenly through the body, as well as storing and regulating tendons.
If Qi becomes stuck or stagnant, physical and emotional symptoms such as rib pain, neck tension and PMS may emerge. Acupuncture and herbal formulas can be used to facilitate energy flow and clear stagnation.
Functions of the Liver
The liver is an indispensable organ responsible for ensuring an uninterrupted flow of Qi throughout the body. It filters blood as it leaves the digestive tract, passing it on to other organs such as spleen and stomach before breaking down carbohydrates for energy production. It also metabolizes proteins and plays an integral part in controlling blood sugar, storing iron and producing clotting factors, while being an emotional powerhouse. When your liver’s energy is flowing freely and you feel calm and at peace, this can bring happiness. But if qi becomes stagnant it can lead to feelings of anger, irritability, depression or feeling overwhelmed – physical symptoms include abdominal distention or feeling of a lump in throat as well as hypochondriac pain (just below the ribs on both sides), while women may also experience premenstrual tension or menstrual cramps.
Chinese medicine considers the liver to be associated with the wood element and spring time. When spring arrives, its energy stimulates and expands the liver’s energy, encouraging movement and expansion within the body and dispelling any stagnation-inducing blockages that might otherwise restrict it. Acupuncture points related to liver can also help promote such movement by opening any blocks that might otherwise prevent expansion and movement within it.
Acupuncture helps support the function of both liver and gallbladder; it unblocks stagnation to allow qi (energy) to flow freely and decreases feelings such as anger or sadness that have been suppressed, encouraging healthy metabolism as a result. Acupuncture also aids storage of nutrients like folac acid, vitamin K and fats for later use; proteins which contribute to blood clotting are made here, along with glucose production from stored carbohydrates as well as processing haemoglobin production from stored carbohydrate stores – supporting multiple functions within our bodies!
The liver secretes bile, a yellow or orange liquid used for digestion of fats and to absorb iron in food. Bile also plays a vital role in blood detoxification by breaking down ammonia into urea that can be excreted via urine; and can store and release carbohydrates to regulate blood sugar levels while providing quick bursts of energy when necessary.
Springtime brings with it increased digestive needs for both the spleen and stomach, so the liver has an expanded role to play in providing support. Hepatitis virus infections can have devastating effects on livers and gallbladders.
Storage of Blood
The liver stores blood and regulates sinews – tendons, cartilages and ligaments in the body – in addition to controlling menstruation cycles for women. When there is enough blood in your liver stores it will send it directly to where it’s most needed, like eyes for vision or muscles to allow movement. When women menstruate when there is enough blood available from their liver this period should last an adequate duration with no pain or clots appearing and start and finish on time whereas insufficient quantities could result in irregular or scanty periods beginning or ending unexpectedly early or later than expected.
Stress has an adverse impact on our livers. When under stress for extended periods, Qi can quickly become knotted and stuck within its energy systems; most quickly in our liver energy system. Once stagnant Qi develops in us, many issues such as digestive, headaches, eye disorders, gynaecological and heart conditions arise from it – as well as digestive problems themselves.
Liver Qi, or vital energy, plays an integral part in supporting emotional resilience and enabling us to plan ahead for future goals. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles often impede its smooth flow; unhealthy diets, prolonged sitting times and emotional hold-over can disrupt its balance, leading to imbalanced system functioning.
If the Liver energy system becomes imbalanced or stagnant, this may result in feelings of frustration, repressed anger or hypochondria as well as constricted chest or stomach space, throat lumps or hypochondriac pain below both ribs.
Acupuncturists can easily recognize these symptoms and treat them using herbs that nourish and support the liver, including Cyperus Rhizome (Xiang Fu), which directly spreads and regulates Liver Qi, and Field Mint (Bo He) which releases exterior heat while being an effective herb for PMS and abdominal pain relief. Furthermore, simple everyday activities like eating regular meals and drinking herbal teas may help support liver health as well.
Movement of the Sinews
The liver is essential in controlling blood circulation and managing our energetic engagement with the world, enabling us to be flexible, adaptable, creative and compassionate when healthy; when imbalanced it can become anxiety inducing. Now is an excellent time for us to focus on revitalizing the Liver and its sinews as spring arrives!
The Liver is responsible for storing and regulating our blood circulation throughout our bodies, similar to how the heart manages it. Stressful situations can wreak havoc with its energy system, creating feelings of stuckness which could eventually lead to neck pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, indigestion or chronic wet colds if left untreated.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist the liver in untangling itself from any knots it might be harboring, and keep its function smooth. We can support our liver energy through eating plenty of green veggies, avoiding heavy or salty foods, eating food with sour flavors such as citrus fruits thought to stimulate it further, stretching our bodies with good posture or massaging between the ribs or pressing on Liver 3 (on top of foot between first and second toe).
Experience nature is an excellent way to stimulate our muscles and improve qi flow, and finding a rhythm of relaxation that allows us to recharge. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be great tools for keeping Liver energy moving smoothly throughout spring season if it feels stuck; consult our Chinese Herbalist at Tauranga Acupuncture who can recommend herbs that can alleviate discomfort or lifestyle suggestions that could ease it all away.
Nails
TCM views nails as an indicator of liver health. This is due to their role as the liver is responsible for providing nourishment to muscles through circulation of blood. When this circulation becomes stagnant or weak, nails will appear pale, flaky or brittle and this is one organ where liver meridians (along with eyes) express themselves; so their appearance provides valuable insight into internal imbalances within the liver.
Chinese Medicine considers pale, brittle or ridged nails an indicator that the blood stored in the liver has become deficient, not necessarily as a result of anemia but due to an ineffective liver regulation system that cannot effectively manage blood flow throughout the body. This pattern of disharmony can manifest as fatigue, headaches or migraines, poor memory retention or heavy menstrual bleeding and irregular uterine cycles in women.
if liver qi becomes too strong it can cause the tendons to contract and spasm resulting in pain or tension around wrists and joints as well as arthritis, tendonitis or rheumatoid arthritis that is difficult to treat with conventional medicine. Furthermore, overactive Liver Qi can also result in swollen and tender tendons as a result.
To address this problem, a herbal practitioner can recommend herbs that balance liver chi and move blood. Bupleurum root (known as Chai Hu) can often help balance these properties. Bupleurum has long been recognized for its ability to treat fevers with its cooling energy and benefits for treating fever. A number of formulas containing this herb are prescribed for harmonizing liver and spleen functions as well as stimulating qi movement – these ‘harmonizing’ formulas are some of the most widely utilized herbs clinically. Acupuncturists are specially trained to identify patterns of imbalance and the root causes of illness so that treatment is effective rather than just masking symptoms.
