Chinese Medicine & the Seven Emotions: Anger
In Chinese Medicine, particular emotions are correlated to specific Organ systems.
The Seven Emotions & Their Correlated Organ Systems
Anger: Liver
Excitement & Joy: Heart
Worry & Overthinking: Spleen
Sadness & Grief: Lung
Fear: Kidneys
Today we’ll be focusing on Anger & The Liver.
In Chinese Medicine, each Organ is seen as playing a special role in the body, akin to a well-run army. 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.
If the Liver energy is imbalanced, we cannot tolerate when things go out of control and not according to our plans, leading to anger, irritability, and frustration.
Some may blow up and shout; some will “stuff” their feelings inside and forego expressing what they truly feel. After all, it’s not socially acceptable to throw temper tantrums like when we were children!
Over-reacting and impulsively losing our cool will, over time, may lead to physical issues like headaches, dizziness/vertigo, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.
On the other hand, 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 supportive ways to soothe anger: taking a brisk walk or other forms of moderate exercise, utilizing healthy ways to express your feelings, breath practice and other meditative techniques, 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.
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
