Liver Qi Stagnation--what is it and what can I do for it?

What’s wrong with my Liver Cheese?

I have to laugh every time I treat someone with Liver Qi Stagnation (which is every day!). As I attempt to explain what this condition is, I can’t help remembering hearing this question from one of my witty patients several months ago: “What’s wrong with my Liver Cheese?”

“No,” I say, “not Liver Cheese, your Liver Qi!”
“Oh, good, because I’ve had liver cheese, and it’s not that good,” she replies. “So what is liver qi?”
Exactly. What is it?

If you recall from the previous post, I discussed how the body is considered to be a microsystem of the larger universe, comprised of the different elements of nature which interrelate with one another. The language of these “elements” becomes the framework which gives meaning to the patterns of imbalance in Chinese medicine.

The body is thought to consist of 5 different functioning elemental systems: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. Breaking it down further, our 12 energetic pathways, or meridians, are grouped according to which element rules their function. These 12 meridians are named after the organ system that is its primary influence. For instance, the Heart meridian is named such because of its relationship to the corresponding physical organ—and it also encompasses the energetic function of the Heart (capitalized when discussing the organ system or meridian in Chinese medicine, and not the physical organ itself). What this means is that when your Heart meridian is treated in an acupuncture session, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that there is a physical problem with your heart. The energy of the Heart in Chinese medicine governs the emotions and influences sleep. Imbalances can give rise to anxiety, depression, palpitations, insomnia, etc.

So, let’s carry this thought over to Liver Qi Stagnation. The Liver meridian/organ system is part of the Wood element. It is not just an organ of filtration as we know it in Western science. The Liver, in Chinese medicine, is in charge of many things: it keeps the eyes bright, it keeps the sinews supple, it motivates the self into creative and focused action (to name just a few of its functions). But one of its most significant functions is to ensure the smooth flow of qi throughout the entire body. The Liver thrives in harmonious surroundings—a peaceful mind, a relaxed body. When it is confronted with obstacles or stress (major factors in our harried Western culture) the Liver becomes irritated and its ability to maintain the free flow of qi throughout our body becomes thwarted. This is called “Liver qi stagnation.”

Liver qi stagnation alone can cause a myriad of complaints: PMS, irritability, impatience, depression, headaches, menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularity, difficulty conceiving, neck and shoulder tension, muscle cramps, etc. However, imbalance in the liver rarely exists alone. Because of the interplay between the 5 elements, liver qi stagnation can wreak havoc on its neighboring meridians, particularly the Spleen and Stomach, which are part of the Earth element.

Let’s look at the above chart for an example:

There is a relationship of production, called the sheng cycle. That is when the energy of one element (and its organs/meridians) naturally feeds into and lends to the creation of the following element (going clockwise). Then there is a relationship of control, called the ko cycle. This is when an element (and its organs/meridians) exert control over a neighboring element in order to keep it in check. For instance, wood keeps earth in check (imagine a forest—the trees keep the soil from becoming too dense or compacted). Now--this is where it gets interesting--imagine that your Liver is all jacked up from going ninety-to-nothing for weeks or months on end. Your work is demanding, you don’t have enough down-time, and you haven’t had time to exercise. Your Liver qi is stagnant to the nth degree! If we could juxtapose a gauge on the diagram at the Wood element, it would show overflowing excess of energy in the Liver due to this stagnation. Now, let’s take a peek at the Earth element, made up of the Spleen and Stomach. We can basically equate the Earth element to “digestion.” It’s over there, tending the soil, feeding the body its basic nourishment. Then, BAM! The Liver, being all pent-up, has nowhere to vent except over to the element it controls—the Earth. Poor little Spleen/Stomach! It’s now overly controlled and it can’t perform its basic functions. Now in addition to the symptoms we had from the liver qi stagnation, there is also indigestion, gas and bloating after eating, abdominal distention, irregular stools. The body is very unhappy indeed, and the more uncomfortable it feels, the more stagnant it becomes. We now no longer have plain old Liver Qi Stagnation. This has become Liver Overacting on Spleen/Stomach.

So, what can you do to restore harmony between these two? Fortunately, it is a relationship that can be very easily corrected. Since the Liver loves free flow and becomes irritable with stagnation, one of the best things you can do is exercise. A regular cardiovascular workout with gentle stretching or yoga can do wonders to soften the edges of a cranky Liver. Other helpful practices include breathing exercises, meditation, and creative expression. Gardening is great, too—it can be a nice escape from the daily grind while also getting you in touch with the earth.

Acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbs are powerful tools to correct a Wood/Earth imbalance as well. Your acupuncturist will needle points that encourage the qi to flow harmoniously, while also treating points to help with the accompanying symptoms. Massage is a great addition to the treatment because it can help loosen stiffness and help you feel immediate relaxation. The main Chinese herb formula for this condition is called “Free and Easy Wanderer” (nice, huh?)—if your acupuncturist dispenses custom formulas, it can be infinitely modified to treat accompanying symptoms of poor digestion, fertility or menstrual problems, pain, etc.

So, that’s it in a nutshell! Leave the Liver Cheese in the cupboard and head out on a walk. Get some acupuncture and herbs to correct the imbalance. You’ll be feeling great in no time!

Why Does Chinese Medicine Work?

While Chinese medicine increases in popularity in Western societies, it remains misunderstood by most of its new devotees as well as to the scientific community. Centuries-old and complex in its theories, it is often relegated to the category of "voodoo medicine." However, to gain a greater comprehension of the magic within the mystique, it is important to explore its origins.

Chinese medicine has its roots in Taoism, which holds a naturalistic view of the universe. By observing the natural world around them, the ancient Taoist sages determined that elements found in nature had a harmonizing and regulating effect on one another (for instance, earthen dams could contain water to prevent flooding, while wood could bind earth to prevent soil erosion.) In keeping with their universalistic view, the human body was seen as a smaller representation of the surrounding ecosystem, with the same "elemental" language applied to its functions and processes. As in nature, harmony and order was the goal, while disease indicated a breakdown in the relationship between the elements of nature. Thus, terms such as “blazing fire,” “dampness,” and “wind” became working descriptions of physical malfunctions in the body.

These terms carry over today, thousands of years after their inception. Practitioners of Chinese medicine regularly talk about their patients maladies as if they were giving a weather forecast. But rather than just forecast the condition, acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists actually work to restore balance to the patient’s internal environment. Using needles to access the energy within an acupuncture point or herbal formulas to alter the relationship of the “vital substances” of the body, Chinese medicine practitioners are able to effect change on the entire system. They do this by viewing the body as a whole comprised of intricately connected parts. Rather than seeing the body as a system of parts that make up a whole, it is the whole being—along with the interrelationship of individual parts (organs, muscles, nerve pathways, etc.)—that is assessed and treated in Chinese medicine.

But what is the unifying force for these different “parts”? What brings them together into one “whole”? In Chinese medicine, it is the “qi” or energy of the being that enlivens and connects the different systems of the body. It is also this qi that connects the body to the mind and spirit of the being. And THIS is what makes Chinese medicine so mystical to our Western minds. We don’t have an equivalent understanding of the body in our culture. We don’t have a relationship to the unseen and immeasurable. We are a society of science—and our science (with the exception of quantum physics), is deeply committed to the seen and measurable. “Energy” just does not fit into our paradigm.

So how do you explain a science based on “qi” to the Western mind? It is challenging, to say the least. Many attempts have been made to come to rational, plausible conclusions—countless studies have been performed to determine just how acupuncture works. Some say that it is because of the effect on nerve pathways and impulses to the brain. And these studies may well be correct. We must not assume, however, that just because “qi” is an unseen force, that it is not measurable. Certainly, it cannot be evaluated by ultrasound and its levels cannot be determined from a blood draw. But practitioners of Chinese medicine have relied on specific methods of observation to ascertain the quality of a patient’s qi for thousands of years. Observation of the tongue (its color, coat, and shape) and of the patient’s pulse (felt in 3 positions at 3 different levels, on each wrist, with the rate, rhythm, shape, and quality all bearing significance) are time-tested methods for evaluation that have guided Chinese medicine to correctly diagnose and treat its patient’s throughout the centuries. We should consider this valuable history before assuming that Chinese medicine is immeasurable and, therefore, invalid, but recognize instead that it’s mechanisms for measurement are simply different from our own. The future success of Chinese medicine in Western society does not lie in our being able to identify the mechanics of its functions. It lies in our ability to humble ourselves before its wisdom, to cease our efforts to explain why it works and simply accept the fact that it continues to effectively heal our bodies and minds like so many generations of people that have relied on it for the thousands of years before Western medicine was conceived.

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