Tips from the Acu: Love Your Liver

By supporting the whole person, whether with acupuncture and herbs or conversation, we allow space for healing and connection.

We move energy that is stagnant.

I am often asked what first made me interested in acupuncture. Twenty years ago, I was suffering from recurrent sinus infections that were not responding to antibiotics even after having surgery the year prior.  And so I made an appointment with an acupuncturist and found that my diet and underlying digestive issues were at the root of my imbalance and were not only affecting my sinus health, but were also contributing to my anxiety and menstrual irregularity. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it offers a holistic perspective and lens on the body and its connection to nature– a method of diagnosis and treatment that integrates body, mind, and spirit. This integration and interconnection of the pieces of ourselves is what drew me to becoming an acupuncturist AND is at the root of why we created the INTERWOVXN project.

By supporting the whole person, whether with acupuncture and herbs or conversation, we allow space for healing and connection. We move energy that is stagnant.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, each organ system in the body is associated with an emotion. Anger and irritability are associated with the liver. The liver is responsible for the movement of emotions through the body, supporting our system in detoxification, and is connected to the hormonal transitions we experience throughout our cycle as women. Whether premenstrual irritability or irritability triggered by the overwhelm of life’s demands or the hormonal shifts of perimenopause, the liver is most often involved.

Here is an example of how we might see a liver imbalance manifest in the body: A 42 year old woman presents with symptoms of irritability and mood swings that she used to experience right before her period, but seem to be lasting longer as of late. She also has headaches (and occasional migraines) around ovulation and before her period, breast tenderness, bloating and rib tenderness and lower abdominal cramping prior to her period. She has been clenching her jaw more at night and is now commonly waking around 2am and sometimes has trouble falling back to sleep. Stress has been higher with balancing family and work, her menstrual cycles have been more irregular, and she often feels stuck and lacks the time to care for herself. She finds that when she is able to exercise, get out in nature, or have a chat with one of her girlfriends, she feels better, but often defaults to wine at night as stress-relief. This a classic presentation of what we call Liver Qi Stagnation in Chinese medicine and when we use acupuncture points or herbs or diet and lifestyle to to free the flow of liver energy in the body, we often see improvements in the symptoms mentioned above.

Feeling like your liver could use some love? Try incorporating some of these:

 1. Drink warm lemon water first thing in the morning
Warm lemon water upon waking not only helps to hydrate your body after a night of sleep, but it also helps to stimulate the liver for the day and can support digestion and detoxification.

2. Eat greens daily and incorporate beets and berries into your week
Dark green vegetables , beets, and berries contain antioxidants that help to combat toxins in the body. Dark, leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, spinach, and dandelion greens are particularly good for the liver and can be added to salads, smoothies, and cooked. Beets and berries are also excellent choices to supporting your body in detoxification.

3. Reduce the burden on your liver by consuming fewer highly processed or fried foods, limiting alcohol, and avoiding chemicals and pesticides.
When possible, eat a whole food diet that includes nutrient dense vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean protein. Here is a link for the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen a a starting point to reduce toxins:  https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/ewg-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-lists

4. Get moving, but don’t overdo it
The liver loves movement-moderate exercise, walks in nature, stretching and breathing exercises are all great for supporting the liver in it’s function. BUT listen to your body. If you are exhausted and it feels like your foot is constantly on the gas pedal, take some time to rest.

 5. Work through any negative emotions you may be holding onto and prioritize yourself
Whether through journaling, talking to a friend or therapist, taking up boxing, or finding other healthy ways to release stress , address anger that may have been pushed down for too long. While it is not always comfortable to sit with those emotions, it can help to move through and past them, letting go of what no longer serves you. Prioritize your needs and ask for what you need and deserve.

6. Stimulate the point Liver 3 to support your flow
Liver 3 is a point that can be used through acupuncture or acupressure to release anger and resentement. Stimulate by using your thumb or index finger to massage the point with deep and steady pressure. Massage the point in a circular or up and down motion, maintaining constant pressure. Massage the point for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

In good health,

Rebecca