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Spring is upon us — a season of new life, new possibilities, revitalization and hope. Since I began studying and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Five Elements, I have become more attuned to the change of seasons, as they show up in nature and in my body. After all, our body is a microcosm that reflects the ebbs and flows of the natural macrocosm.
There are two yin/yang paired organs, the Liver and the Gallbladder, that are particularly impacted by the arrival of spring. It is a time when the gifts of these organs are most valuable and when they are most susceptible to dis-ease— as they are simultaneously at their strongest and most vulnerable.
Liver: “The General”
Let’s first consider the functions of the liver from a Western medical perspective. It acts as a storage site for blood, proteins, vitamins and minerals and works to ensure that there is adequate energy reaching our tissues. It also has a strong detoxification function, excreting substances like drugs or alcohol that may be harmful to our body.
From a TCM perspective, some of the Liver’s primary functions are that it governs the smooth flow of Qi (or vital life energy) and stores blood, impacting parts and processes of our body like our muscles/tendons, our vision, our reproductive system and our emotional state.
In Chinese medicine, however, the Liver is much more than just the physical organ. Its role is both physiological and energetic, impacting us in body, mind and spirit.
The Liver is considered the General, or planner, of the body. Like an architect, it lays out the blueprint, creating a vision or overarching plan for our life. Everything from what goes on at the cellular level to our long term goals for the future involve plans laid out by the Liver. This also includes contingency plans; as we know, many first draft ideas end up needing some revision. When the Liver is balanced, all operations will be running smoothly and according to plan, with ease and flexibility.
The Gallbladder: “The Decision Maker”
In Western medicine, the gallbladder is thought of as a complementary organ to the liver and the small intestine, storing and excreting bile to support the breakdown and absorption of fat from foods.
Its role is similar in Chinese medicine— it stores and excretes the pure substance of bile. But, like the Liver, the Gallbladder also serves a greater purpose, acting as the decision maker that puts the plans laid out by the Liver into action.
In every moment, we are making conscious and unconscious decisions that impact the course of our days, life and health. From lifting our legs to walk in the morning to catching a mug before it falls off the table and breaks to choosing what we want to eat for breakfast— these are all feats of physical and mental coordination and examples of decisions enacted by the Gallbladder. In health, this organ will be decisive, exacting, and precise.
Liver and Gallbladder Channels
So, how do we tap into these organs through acupuncture? In Chinese medicine, the body is made up of a series of energetic channels, or meridians, that correspond to the organs. The channel of the more yin-dominant Liver starts at the outer edge of the big toenail, moves up the inside of the leg, encircles the groin, goes up the abdomen and ends along the rib cage.
The Gallbladder channel, more yang in nature, begins by the outside of the eye, travels up over the head, down the neck, shoulder and onto the hip where it finally moves down the outside side of the leg and ends at the edge of the fourth toenail. The routes of these channels reflect the health of the body in those areas, and acupuncturists can access and communicate with the Liver and Gallbladder organs by treating along their respective channels.
Signs of Disharmony in the Liver and Gallbladder
Given these two organs’ crucial functions in our daily lives, it is important to be able to spot the signs that they may be a little out of whack.
Signs of possible Liver disharmony: headaches, muscle tightness and tension, irritability/frustration, menstrual cycle imbalances, sour stomach, epigastric pain, blurry vision or floaters, rigidity in making plans, lack of plans, hopelessness
Signs of Gallbladder disharmony: feeling overly judgmental, getting caught in the details, struggling to make decisions, challenges with coordination, jaw clenching, temporal headaches, rigidity of the tendons
If you feel like your Liver and Gallbladder need some tending, or perhaps you’d just like some seasonal realignment in the wake of spring, schedule an acu session today.
How to Care for the Liver and Gallbladder at Home
Looking to tend to yourself before your next acu appointment? Try these tips!
- Express emotions freely and clearly
- Eat foods that are in season
- Avoid eating greasy foods and drinking alcohol
- Move your body!
- Meditate
- Practice setting clear goals and taking decisive action
- Try something new!
- Go outside and observe the natural beauty of spring
Sources
Berkshire, David. This Spring Support Your Liver and Gallbladder With Chinese Medicine. National University of Natural Medicine, 20 Mar. 2019.
Mighty River Wellness. The Wood Element in Chinese Medicine: The Liver & Gallbladder. Accessed 3 Mar. 2023.
Worsley, J.R. (1998). The Five Elements and the Officials. J.R. & J.B. Worsley.
