The Liver – The General
If you’ve ever come to see me for acupuncture the chances are that you have had a needle inserted in a small depression between the first and second toes. This point, known as Tai Chong or Great Rushing, is one of the most used of all acupuncture points, and with good reason – it is the principle point on the Liver channel.
Last month we began exploring the Zang-Fu organ systems. We started with the Heart, as it is the supreme ruler of the body and can be likened to the Emperor of a nation state. Well to continue with this analogy the Liver is second in command and is known as the General. Each organ has a physical, energetic and spiritual component and the Liver is no exception.
The physical Liver is very much similar to the Western view of the organ in that it cleans and stores the blood and aids in digestion. But it does a lot more than this in Chinese medical theory.
On an energetic level it is said to ensure the free flow of Chi and helps it to move smoothly throughout the body.
Spiritually, the Liver houses the aspect of our consciousness known as the Hun. There are three Hun and they are the part of us that communicates with Heaven, goes out at night in to the dream world, and move on from life to life in a continual cycle of reincarnation.
Clinically I may use the spiritual function of the Liver for a problem such as nightmares, where it is said that the Hun wander off too far in to the dreaming world. However it is far more likely, and more common for me to utilise the energetic function of the Liver.
As pain is seen as a stagnation of Chi energy and one of the Livers’ job is to help move Chi, then it stands to reason that helping the Liver to function properly will help to alleviate pain anywhere in the body.
On an emotional level, stress of any kind, be it physical or mental, will cause the Liver Chi to stagnate, and once the Liver Chi stagnates this will cause the Chi of the whole body to stagnate. Due to the way we lead our stressful, busy lives, it is very rare for me to encounter someone without a degree of Liver Chi stagnation, hence virtually everyone receiving a needle in that wonderful point between the toes.
Liver Chi stagnation is the cause of many a problem. Basically the more stress we are under, the more the Liver Chi stagnates. This stagnation then builds up and builds up and then eventually has to be released before it explodes and due to the far reaching pathway of the Liver meridian, this can cause problems pretty much anywhere in the body. The most common symptoms include migraines, headaches, eye problems, I.B.S, bloating, hypogastric pain, menstrual issues, general physical tightness and feelings of depression, irritability, anger and even pure blind fury!
If you do manage to catch yourself in the midst of a flying rage, be assured in the fact that this is just your Liver Chi stagnation being released, failing that I recommend finding the nearest pointy object and stabbing it in to the soft fleshy bit between your first and second metatarsals. Better still, go and see your acupuncturist and let them do it for you!
