When people suppress their emotions too much, it can lead to gan yu (liver qi stagnation), which in turn affects deeper health. There are many known causes of tumors, and emotional factors are one of them.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a saying that “all diseases arise from qi.” Among them, jiā zhuàng xiàn jié (thyroid nodules), rǔ xiàn jié (breast nodules), and tumors in other parts of the body are all related to qi.
Below, I will detail the process involved and practical methods for improvement, hoping to help those with unstable emotions and who are easily angered!
1. From Liver Qi Stagnation to Tumors, Only 6 Steps
Taking thyroid disease as an example, in TCM it is called yǐng (goiter), while in Western medicine it is referred to as thyroid enlargement or thyroid nodules.
The pathogenesis, according to TCM, is: first, liver qi stagnation, then it obstructs the spleen, leading to spleen dysfunction, internal phlegm accumulation, phlegm and qi intermingling, ascending through the meridians, ultimately resulting in nodules at the throat.
Step 1: Liver Qi Stagnation
As people reach middle age, they encounter many changes and conflicts, and various pressures accumulate, causing qi to become less smooth, leading to unhappiness, which is liver qi stagnation.
Men may develop stronger smoking and drinking habits, becoming taciturn or irritable; women may experience irregular menstruation, insomnia, constipation, facial pigmentation, irritability, and weight gain, all of which are often related to liver qi stagnation.
Step 2: “Obstruction of the Spleen by Liver Qi”
What does this mean? When in a bad mood, one often lacks appetite, which indicates that liver qi is “obstructing the spleen.”
The spleen is the foundation of postnatal health; when it loses its normal function, it can lead to unformed stools, weight gain, lack of appetite, poor digestion, frequent colds, and more.
Step 3: “Internal Phlegm Accumulation”
This refers to the body producing waste that is difficult to eliminate. When “phlegm and qi intermingling” occurs, phlegm and qi conspire together, flowing through the meridians within the body.
“Nodules at the Throat”
This refers to thyroid nodules; if it flows to the uterus, it becomes zǐ gōng jī liú (uterine fibroids); if it settles in the breast, it results in rǔ xiàn zēng shēng (breast hyperplasia); if severe, it can reach the stomach, becoming wèi zhǒng liú (gastric tumors); if it reaches the liver, it becomes gān zhǒng liú (liver tumors). Therefore, the root cause is liver qi stagnation.
According to Western medicine statistics, 80% of diseases are related to adverse psychological factors, and this adverse psychological factor is liver qi stagnation. Thyroid nodules, breast nodules, digestive system tumors, and most tumors in women are all linked to liver qi stagnation.
Modern bodily imbalances are approximately 80% related to poor emotional health. When nodules appear in our bodies, it is actually a warning that we need to adjust our health.
2. Liver Qi Stagnation Can Cause Tumors, Moxibustion Can Help
The main symptoms of liver qi stagnation include distension or pain in the ribs, abdomen, epigastric region (mainly the upper abdomen), breasts, and chest. The nature of the pain can be distending, wandering, pulling, or cramping. Other symptoms may include belching, hiccups, excessive flatulence, constipation, menstrual irregularities, abdominal pain with a desire to defecate, and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
Moxibustion can be applied to regulate the qì jī (qi mechanism), eliminate qi stagnation, and promote circulation.
Moxibustion Points: Tán zhōng (Tan Zhong), Yúnmén (Yun Men), Yáng líng quán (Yang Ling Quan), Sān yīn jiāo (San Yin Jiao)
3. Other Methods to Improve Liver Qi Stagnation
From a practical standpoint, let’s discuss several methods to improve liver qi stagnation.
1. Avoid “Anger, Urgency, and Fatigue”
Anger is comparative, urgency is created. When one gets angry, they become anxious, and when anxious, they easily become fatigued. When fatigued, the body’s resistance weakens, making it easier to develop diseases and collapse the body.
In fact, every overly diligent person has a heart that does not accept themselves. It is important to know that depression arises from self-attack and self-rejection. Being more forgiving to oneself may help alleviate stagnation.
It is suggested that those often troubled by “anger, urgency, and fatigue” should consider regulating their emotions through reading, meditation, or standing exercises. If the body collapses, no matter how much money one earns, it will only be spent on medical expenses!
2. Push to Open the Liver Meridian
In TCM, the liver governs the smooth flow of qi. When liver qi is unblocked, all meridians are unblocked. However, liver qi is easily affected by emotions; unhappiness can easily lead to liver qi stagnation, and once liver qi is stagnant, it can lead to more unhappiness. To open the liver meridian, the key is to push.
① Push the Feet
Start with the left foot, then the right foot, pushing from the instep towards the toes with some force until a feeling of soreness is achieved, doing this fifty times for each foot.
② Push the Legs
Sit down, bend the left leg, keeping the knee flat, and place both hands on the inner thigh of the left leg, pushing forward with some force towards the knee, doing this fifty times for each leg.
③ Push the Elbows
Clench both fists, bend the elbows, and apply some force to squeeze the ribs, then perform arm movements to rub the upper arms against the ribs until they feel warm.
3. Sing to Release Emotions
In TCM, it is believed that “the liver is associated with anger and the voice with calling.” When we feel liver qi is not smooth, we may want to shout; why? Because shouting can help release liver qi, making us feel more comfortable. Singing can also help relieve the pent-up emotions.
If you have a poor appetite, singing heartily will definitely improve your appetite. Daoist medicine believes that “the spleen is associated with intention and the voice with singing,” thus singing can also relieve the stagnation of the earth element, allowing the spleen and stomach qi to flow smoothly.
Additionally, when we sing, we rhythmically increase our breathing, which accelerates lung respiration, enhances blood circulation, and increases the chances of restoring positive energy.
4. Regularly Drink Rose Tea
Rose has the effect of promoting qi and relieving depression, as well as invigorating blood and dispersing stasis. When feeling depressed, experiencing bloating or pain in the epigastric region, or having menstrual irregularities or breast tenderness, using 5-10 grams of rose, steeped in boiling water for 20-30 minutes, can help improve symptoms.
5. Sleep by 11 PM is Crucial
What is particularly important is not what you eat, but when you sleep. If you can fall asleep by 11 PM, many minor ailments can be resolved through sleep.
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