How To Show Our Liver Some Love

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the liver is viewed as the organ of storage and mobilization. Essentially it keeps things in the body moving, at a free and easy pace. Two things that can directly affect the liver's ability to do its job are; emotional stress and physical inactivity. From a Western viewpoint, it makes tangible sense that if we are not getting adequate movement our physical structures become tight or weak. However, due to Western culture's reductionist view, it may be more difficult for us to understand how emotional stress can affect our physical structures. In TCM there is no division between the mindbody, they cannot exist in separation. This means that feeling stuck emotionally will directly translate to physical stagnation, and being physically stagnant can make us cranky people. If you see a TCM practitioner regularly you may have heard them call this Liver Qi Stagnation.

Symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation can manifest as emotional upset, rib, chest or abdominal distension, a feeling of a lump in the throat; and frequent sighing. For those who menstruate it can also show up as PMS and menstrual irregularities.

So how do we keep our liver Qi moving smoothly? We can see our Chinese Medicine practitioner for acupuncture and herbal remedies. Outside the clinic, we can implement meditation or deep breathing into our daily routines. Deep breathing is wonderful as it allows the body's liver qi to become smooth over time and regulates the function of our nervous system. We can add more movement into our day by taking a short walk at lunch, playing a sport we enjoy or hitting the gym. We can also add foods to our diet that support the liver's function like leafy greens, fermented foods, and citrus fruits.

Additionally, we can moderate or limit things that disrupt the function of the liver. This can include things like alcohol, fried food, or unnecessary stress. Small changes to our daily lives paired with consistent effort is often the key to creating balance within our bodies over the long term. So, if you're feeling irritable, stuck or sore try choosing one small action and observe how that change ripples into other areas of your life.