Chinese Medicine & the Seven Emotions: Anger
In Chinese Medicine, emotions are correlated to specific Organ systems.
Anger: Liver
Excitement & Joy: Heart
Worry & Overthinking: Spleen
Sadness & Grief: Lung
Fear: Kidneys
Today we’ll be focusing on Anger & The Liver.
The Liver is considered “The General” and is in charge of having foresight, overview, and planning (type A personality, anyone?).
When one’s Liver energy is healthy and balanced, there is an ease in going with life’s flow. Adaptability and flexibility are keywords here.
However, when one’s Liver energy is imbalanced - things that go out of control and don’t go according to our plans can lead to anger, irritability, and frustration.
Some may blow up and shout; some will “stuff” their feelings inside and forego expressing what they truly feel in order to “save peace”. After all, it’s not socially acceptable to throw temper tantrums like when we were children!
This unexpressed anger can show up as resentment, frustration, or depression if suppressed for too long.
Furthermore, suppressing these volatile emotions eventually manifest in other ways: tension, rigidity, high blood pressure, headaches, digestive problems, menstrual problems, a weakened immune system, stroke & other cardiovascular problems, and skin flare-ups, to name a few.
It’s important to understand and respect anger as an emotion that we all experience. How we manage it can and will directly impact our physical and mental health.
If you find yourself angry, irritable, frustrated, and/or depressed often, a Chinese medical practitioner may suspect a possible Liver pattern imbalance.
There are many ways to soothe an angry Liver: taking a brisk walk, utilizing healthy ways to express your feelings, taking liver-supportive herbs and formulas, using castor oil packs over the liver, and working together with your healthcare providers and Chinese medical practitioners.
Note: This does NOT always mean that your anatomical liver is diseased! This is why I encourage working with both Western and Eastern medical practitioners. When acupuncturists talk about the Liver Organ System and Liver Energy, we are following a medical system that does not always correspond to Western medicine. In this aspect, the Liver Energy is representing the emotional imbalances we may experience, not necessarily an anatomical disease. If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me and I’d be happy to help explain this and other Chinese medical perspectives.
Sending good Qi your way,
Meghane Hernandez - Maui Acupuncturist & Herbalist
