It is the largest organ in the human body, weighing an average of 1.5 kg in adults. It is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, under the ribs and diaphragm, just above the duodenum. Highly vascularized (hence its reddish-brown color), it receives blood from 2 sources: the hepatic artery which brings blood from the heart, and the portal vein which brings blood from the intestines; blood leaves the Liver through the hepatic veins. This organ is part of the digestive system and works in conjunction with the Gallbladder, located just below the Liver.

The Liver is one of the most important organs in the body. It has multiple functions, which can be summarized as follows:

  • Filter/Blood purification: this is its primary function. It receives an average of 1.5 L of blood per minute, which it detoxifies by eliminating toxins, chemical substances, bacteria, old red blood cells, and other waste products.
  • Synthesis: it produces bile (essential for fat metabolism, stored in the Gallbladder) as well as various proteins allowing blood coagulation.
  • Storage: a real energy management center for the body, the Liver stores, processes, and releases sugars, nutrients, fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamins, etc.

The functions of the Liver expose it largely to toxins, bacteria, and other potential viruses, making it an ideal target! Inflammation, hepatitis, and cirrhosis (often caused by alcohol abuse) are all risk factors for this precious, all-purpose organ.

TCM View

The Liver is the organ of the Wood element. The climate associated with it is Wind, the season is Spring, the sense is sight (opening = the eyes), the emotion is Anger, and the associated organ is the Gallbladder. The tissues managed by the Liver are the ligaments and tendons.

Understanding the climate associated with the Liver is particularly important not only in appreciating the disorders of the organ itself but also in understanding TCM in general. Indeed, Wind is the quintessential key pernicious factor, found at all levels and said to be “the origin of 1001 pathologies.” Thus, it is the only one capable of coupling with any of the other pernicious factors! We then speak of Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, etc. Moreover, syndromes related to an external Wind, located “on the surface,” or to an internal Wind, located deeper in the organism, can be observed; the different degrees of affections can find their source at both climatic and emotional levels. The forms of pernicious attacks related to Wind are therefore innumerable…

On an energetic level, the Liver meridian is the most Yang of all – called “Yang of Yang.” This is why alcohol, a “Yangifying” food, will have a significant impact on the Liver and negative emotions related to the organ! Its energy is ascending, and in general, a disturbance at its level will materialize by an overly significant ascent of this energy (an emptiness being an exceptionally rare case here, almost impossible to have). Like the Wind that makes the treetops vibrate, an “ascension of Liver Yang” can thus cause numerous disorders in the head and face. The sensation of feeling one’s own blood rush to the head during an outburst of anger is not unrelated to this!

Moreover, by its nature, the Liver is “the organ of emotions.” Its energy seeks to externalize, poorly tolerates constraint, and if it is poorly channeled, or conversely too repressed, it can be devastating for its host and his entourage. It will therefore be harmed by any feeling of frustration, worry (“to make bile”), injustice, etc. (Cf. Anger). Finally, the Liver is considered to be the organ for storing blood.

Symptomatically, an imbalance in Liver energy can cause:

  • Emotional disorders (impatience, significant irritability, “on edge,” nightmares, etc.)
  • Disorders related to all uncontrolled movements, tics, tremors (epilepsy, Parkinson’s, restless legs, etc.)
  • Sexual disorders (infertility, impotence, low libido, etc.)
  • Disorders related to muscles, joints, tendons, nerves (stiff neck, cramps, stiffness, inflammation, recurrent tendinitis, etc.)
  • Eye disorders (dazzling, myopia, blurred vision, sandy sensation in the eyes, etc.)
  • Menstrual disorders (amenorrhea, heavy or painful periods, etc.)
  • Chronic and recurrent dermatological disorders (psoriasis, eczema, etc.)
  • Chest and abdominal disorders (cysts, gas, flatulence, etc.)
  • Head disorders (vertigo, headaches, migraines, stroke, etc.)

The practitioner’s work will then consist of removing any stagnation or exacerbated ascent of Liver energy in order to regulate the disorders. But once disappeared, these may reappear if the person has not adapted certain of their habits (however ingrained they may be) accordingly. And this, until the message from the “organ of emotions” is well received… And understood!