5 Ways to Cultivate Your Liver Energy
In modern medicine, the liver’s primary function is to filter the blood, pass it to the rest of the body, metabolize and detoxify food and medication.
In Chinese Medicine, the liver is one of the primary organs that transform, regulate, and store energy and blood. The liver is almost like an army general, for it mediates essential brain functions, such as execution, judgment, decision-making, planning, etc. It provides vision, strategy, and tactics to our mental functioning.
“(Liver) houses Hun-the ethereal soul…that travels beyond matter, time, and dimension and enables us to reach a higher consciousness. When your liver is healthy, you will be relaxed, wise, creative, compassionate and visionary. “, wrote Dr. Yang in his book: Facing East – Ancient Health + Beauty Secrets for the Modern Age.
Liver Energy and Emotion
Emotion is a form of energy. In Chinese medicine, each primary organ is sensitive to specific feelings. Liver energy is associated with the emotion of anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, and depression.
There is a Chinese saying, “Anger hurts the liver energy.”
When someone develops anger or is sensitive to other people’s anger, it hurts the liver’s function. One may experience migraine, acid reflux, neck pain, chest pain, irritable bowels, and deep tissue pain.
If people suffer from liver disease or dysfunction, they tend to be angry, irritable, or depressed.
The Harm of Repressed Anger
Anger is the most difficult emotion to deal with. Usually, people choose to repress their anger. Anger is a kind of energy that can accumulate in the body and obstruct energy flows. It affects the energy circulation and function of the liver and gallbladder. PTSD, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, and depression are commonly seen together because they are energetic diseases involving the Liver and Gallbladder.
5 Ways for a Better Liver Energy and Mood
Sleep before 11 PM
Ancient Chinese medicine states that 11 PM to 3 AM is the most important four hours of sleep because the body’s blood and energy will be concentrated in the Liver and Gallbladder. Starting at 11 PM, people should lie down, close their eyes and relax, preferably fall asleep. It is the best way to get the Liver and gallbladder detoxed, repaired, restored, and rejuvenated.
Eat green leafy vegetables
Green is the color that energetically resonates in the Liver per Chinese medicine. You should make sure to eat balanced food that includes green leafy vegetables. Other foods that are good for the Liver include wild-caught fatty fish and nuts and seeds. It is important to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and eliminate processed food and drinks.
Drink herbal tea
There are some Chinese medicinal herbs and herbal formulas that support the health of the Liver. For example, you can make tea with goji berry and chrysanthemum.
Practice meditation
Practicing meditation does not have to be fancy. When you close your eyes, count your breath; pay attention to the sound and breeze around you; scan your body, or focus on whatever you are doing and feeling, you are meditating! It is easy!
Cultivate compassion
Anger is a powerful negative energy that is either released or suppressed. Either way, it is not very healthy. We shouldn’t develop anger in the first place. When we look at life events and relationships from a positive perspective, we cultivate more compassion instead. Compassion nourishes the liver energy while anger hurts it.