Spring into loving your Liver
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) each season has its own particular energy, Qi. Springtime is when the cold of winter and its hibernation is beginning to thaw, and nature’s new growth cycle is beginning to wake up. Within ourselves there is a similar cycle of vibrational energies following along with the shifting of the seasons. Fresh dynamic energies are beginning to percolate within us and like the pretty snow drops and crocuses that are pushing forth out of the ground with determination, we too are beginning to bustle with new urges of becoming more creative and active.
I’ve been enjoying my walks with friends. Today the sky swirled from sunshine, to dark clouds and then pounding hail, to make us turn around and head back, only to rush home to find sunshine again. These unpredictable transmuting energies that form during the change of season are nature’s way of clearing away the stagnancy that can pool after dormancy. Our energies synchronize with natures allowing us to magnify ourselves more out in the world again.
The Liver is most affected by emotions and stress. It is commonly associated with anger when it’s out of balance, and expansion when in balance. When we’re not aligned with what we’re doing, and not allowed to feel growth and expansion, we feel stuck. And this makes the liver energy feel stuck. A liver that is too stuck and rigid may have trouble going with the flow so to speak or being flexible enough to work around life’s obstacles. Holding onto anger energies also stagnates the liver qi. There are times in our life when it’s completely normal to feel angry but when we hold onto anger unnecessarily it will cause our liver energies to go out of balance. This can include behaviours like holding on to grudges, or even having a bit of an explosive temper. Anger is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
When our liver energy is not flowing smoothly throughout our body it can lead to feelings of stress, frustration, and anger, as well as physical symptoms like a tight neck and shoulders, PMS, menstrual problems, and even digestive problems. Every organ system has a time of day when the body’s energy especially moves through that organ system, referred to as its “high tide”. The liver’s high tide is between 1 am and 3 am. If your liver is out of balance or struggling, you will tend to wake up or struggle with insomnia at this time of day.
Much in the same way that many of us engage in an annual spring cleaning of our environment, our bodies yearn for the same thing physically, emotionally and energetically. Spring is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation. It’s also a good time to focus on releasing emotions that no longer serve us—specifically those rooted in anger, resentment, frustration, irritability, belligerence and lethargy. We can harness the power of spring to slough off the old and usher in a fresh, beautiful new experience of health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. The liver in balance brings about positive mental emotional attributes of compassion, patience, acceptance, benevolence and honesty.
How to help your liver make a smooth transition into Spring
Stay calm - Meditation, journalling, yoga, Tai Chi are all great ways to relax your mind, body and spirit. Going for a nice long walk or doing gentle exercises can help soothe the soul.
Rub – your Liver 3 acupoint. This is the liver meridian’s main source point, located between the big toe and the second toe. You can find it when you slide your finger up between the 1st and 2nd toe joints to the top of your foot gate about 2 inches past the web. The point is located in the depression before your finger touches the bone (metatarsal joint). Apply pressure and massage for 2-3 seconds. This holds a wellspring of energy to help boost this organ system.
Stretch – According to TCM the liver controls the muscle, nerves and tendons. The liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining flexibility and health. Make sure to incorporate a morning stretch in your day. It doesn’t have to be anything too intense; seated stretches, or even a short walk or a stretchy yoga class in the living room can really help get that energy flowing and making the liver feel a bit happier.
Eye exercises - The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do some simple eye exercises. Look up, look right, look, left, look down, circle all the way around to the right and then circle all the way to the left. Put your gaze on something in the distance for a bit before you have to go back to screen time.
Do more outdoor activities - If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity to smooth out that liver qi stagnation. Just being outside in the fresh air helps liver energy flow. Try hiking or take up golf. Sweating out the toxins is a great way to move out the cobwebs of the winter season. Springtime is known to give you an extra boost of energy so now is the perfect time to try and create a new active routine that helps you to feel alive and refreshed. Moving more also helps to stimulate our serotonin and dopamine, (happy hormones), in our brains supporting us to more easily let go of those frenetic, frenzied, frustrating emotions.
Blow out. When you find yourself struggling with frustration and impatience energies and notice you are being short and snippy with all those around you try the Eden method exercise called “Blowing out the Venom”. Grip your hands into fists and hold them out in front of your body. Circle your arms down to the sides of your thighs, backwards and then back up above your head and coming around to shoot your hands that open, as you visualize shooting energy out the ends of your fingertips. For emphasis you make the sharp sound of “shush”, like you are telling everyone to be quiet! Do this 3x’s and on the 4th time slow down bringing your hands, from above your head, drawing out the sound of shusssssssh, allowing your core to calm as you ground yourself into the earth.
Revitalize your energetic, blood and lymphatic circulation. Try the Eden Method exercise of rubbing your neurolymphatics. These are specific energy points on the body that message our lymphatic system to move.
Flush. Trace your liver meridian backwards, with the palms of your hands 1x and then trace your liver meridian forwards 3x.
Anger removal. Hold the liver, under the right ribs and deep breathe in through nose out through mouth while you slightly jiggle your palm of the hand. Think as you are breathing in and jiggling what you love about yourself and as you are breathing out you are letting go of all your frustrations and anger.
Soothe. Hold your temples, known as the Wood rhythm neurovasculars, for 3 minutes when you find yourself frustrated, angry or ruminating about something. Deep breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth will help bring back the blood to the forebrain allowing you to think more logically and helps you to release your agitating thoughts.
Eat green. Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young plants - fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses can help cleanse the liver and support a clear flow of its rising energy.
Taste sour. Foods and drinks with sour tastes are thought to stimulate the liver's energy. Use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing. Garnish your meals with Sauerkraut, fermented vegetables or a slice of dill pickle.
Simple detox. Have a slice of lemon in a glass of water daily and try letting go of stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, & tobacco. Milk thistle also helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.
Protect from the wind. When it comes to spring weather, when winds are gusty and strong keep yourself protected. Wind stirs up our liver energy, so protecting ourselves from the elements can be especially important in spring when we see the sun shining and are tempted to not take a sweater with us out of the house.
Liver balancing session. Book an Energy Medicine one-on-one to have all the acupoints on your liver meridians polarities checked and balanced by a certified practitioner to improve overall messaging system.
It’s a perfect time to start thinking about what you’d like to embody more of, and where you want to grow and expand on a physical, mental, and soul level. Liver is about vision, both literally and figuratively. The ability to see your path ahead, not get bogged down in the day-to-day stresses, and to have a vision for your future. Find things that help you clarify your vision — both day-to-day and your long-term goals. Things such as journaling, talking to a good friend, meditating, are all ways to keep your liver energy flowing and your vision strong and flexible. Now is the time to make new plans, set goals, and plant seeds
Love Becca