All Diseases Arise from Qi! Attention to Liver Qi Stagnation!

If people suppress their emotions too much, it can lead to gan yu (liver qi stagnation), which in turn affects deeper health. We know that there are many causes of tumors, and emotional factors are one of them.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that “all diseases arise from qi.” Conditions such as thyroid nodules, breast nodules, and tumors in other parts of the body are all related to qi to some extent.

Below, I will detail the process involved and practical methods for improvement, hoping to help those with unstable emotions and a tendency to anger!

1. From Liver Qi Stagnation to Tumors: Just 6 Steps

Taking thyroid disease as an example, TCM refers to it as “ying” disease, while Western medicine calls it thyroid goiter or thyroid nodules.

The pathogenesis, according to TCM, is: first, gan qi yu jie (liver qi stagnation), then it obstructs the spleen, leading to spleen dysfunction, internal phlegm accumulation, phlegm and qi intermingling, ascending through the meridians, and ultimately forming 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 persistent unhappiness, which is liver qi stagnation.

Men may develop stronger smoking and drinking habits, becoming taciturn or irritable; women may experience menstrual irregularities, insomnia, constipation, facial pigmentation, irritability, weight gain, all of which are often related to liver qi stagnation.

Step 2: “Obstruction of the Spleen by Liver Qi” → Spleen Dysfunction

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; if it loses its normal function, it can lead to unformed stools, weight gain, lack of appetite, poor digestion, frequent colds, etc.

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 collude and circulate throughout the body along the meridians.

“Forming at the Throat”

This refers to thyroid nodules; if it flows to the uterus, it becomes uterine fibroids; if it settles in the breast, it leads to breast hyperplasia; if severe, it can lead to gastric tumors; if it reaches the liver, it can become liver tumors. Thus, the root cause is liver qi stagnation.

According to Western medicine statistics, 80% of diseases are related to adverse psychological factors, and these adverse psychological factors are liver qi stagnation. Thyroid nodules, breast nodules, digestive system tumors, and most tumors in women are all linked to liver qi stagnation.

Modern people’s 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,

Use Moxibustion to Regulate and Eliminate It

The main symptoms of qi stagnation caused by liver depression 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, sharp, 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.

1. Moxibustion Therapy:

Moxibustion can be used on qi-regulating points to relieve liver qi stagnation, eliminate qi stagnation, and promote circulation.

Points for moxibustion: Tan Zhong (Middle Tan), Yun Men (Cloud Gate), Yang Ling (Yang Mound), San Yin Jiao (Three Yin Intersection)

2. Herbal Therapy:

For liver qi stagnation, one can use the Chinese patent medicine Qi Xue He Jiao Nang (Qi and Blood Harmonizing Capsules), a pure herbal product approved by the state, targeting liver qi stagnation. It regulates the body’s qi and blood, using methods to soothe the liver and relieve depression, regulate qi and alleviate pain, invigorate blood and resolve stasis, and nourish blood and enhance complexion. It is particularly effective for three major female conditions: menstrual disorders, breast diseases, and melasma, especially for women with scanty menstruation, irregular cycles, difficult menstruation, dark red menstrual blood with clots, lower abdominal pain, breast lumps and pain, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, and melasma.

3. Other Methods to Improve Liver Qi Stagnation

From a practical standpoint, let’s discuss several methods to improve liver qi stagnation.

1. Avoid “Qi, Urgency, and Fatigue”

“Qi” is comparative, “urgency” is created. When angry, one becomes anxious; when anxious, one easily becomes fatigued. When fatigued, the body’s resistance weakens, making it easy to develop diseases and collapse the body.

In fact, every overly diligent person has a deep-seated 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 recommended for those often troubled by “qi, urgency, and fatigue” to adjust their mood through reading, meditation, or standing exercises. If the body collapses, no matter how much money one earns, it will only go towards medical expenses!

2. Push to Open the Liver Meridian

TCM teaches that 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 stagnation, and once liver qi is stagnant, it becomes even more unhappy. 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, applying some force to squeeze the ribs, then perform arm extension and flexion movements, rubbing the upper arms against the ribs until they become warm.

3. Sing to Release Emotions

TCM believes: “The liver corresponds to anger in emotions and to calling in sound.” When we feel liver qi is not smooth, we often want to shout. Why? Because shouting can relieve liver qi, making us feel more comfortable. If we sing at this time, it is equivalent to releasing the pent-up feelings in our hearts.

If appetite is poor, singing heartily will definitely improve it. Daoist medicine states: “The spleen corresponds to intention in emotions and to singing in sound,” 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 accelerate our breathing, enhancing qi and blood circulation, increasing the chances of restoring positive energy.

4. Regularly Drink Rose Tea

Rose has the effects of promoting qi, relieving depression, harmonizing blood, and dispersing stasis. When feeling depressed, experiencing fullness and pain in the epigastric region, or having menstrual irregularities and 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 to eat, but when to sleep. If you can fall asleep by 11 PM, many minor ailments can be resolved through sleep.

[Functions and Indications]

Soothes the liver, regulates qi, invigorates blood, and alleviates pain. Used for women with scanty menstruation, irregular cycles, difficult menstruation, dark red menstrual blood with clots, lower abdominal pain, breast tenderness before menstruation, or accompanied by melasma and other facial pigmentation.