Liver and Gall Bladder Health Are Vital to a Good Life:

In Chinese medicine, the liver and gall bladder are paired as yin and yang organs of the Wood element. Anything we do to strengthen one strengthens the other. Conversely, anything we do to harm one harms the other. The liver is the yin(1) organ and the gall bladder is the yang(2) organ.

The liver works tirelessly to ensure the body absorbs everything it needs and dumps what it doesn’t need—waste and toxins—in order to keep the body healthy. The adjacent pouch-shaped gall bladder stores bile (produced by the liver) which breaks down fat.

The liver metabolizes nutrients and stores a number of vitamins and minerals such as iron. It helps assimilate and store fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D, and K. This provides energy for the body.

It also stores fuel in the form of glycogen which contributes to healthy brain function. This glycogen supplies the body with quick energy.

The liver works to maintain electrolyte and water balance in the body as well as create serum proteins in order to maintain overall fluid balance in the body. Serum proteins act as carriers for hormones like estrogen and other substances. The liver, too, regulates levels of sexual hormones manufacturing estrogen and testosterone and eliminating excess sexual hormones.

The liver also and very importantly strives to flow chi energy throughout the body which is completely characteristic of the Wood element’s need to grow and flourish. Without first having an adequate flow of chi, other systems of the body can become compromised.

When chi energy stagnates because of a compromised liver it can lead to overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, elevated cortisol levels, and higher stress levels. The immune system then becomes weakened.

All this is an awful lot of work for one organ such as the liver to perform even under the best of conditions and today’s lifestyle practices burden the liver with many stresses and toxins.

Consuming oily processed foods is a major insult to not only the liver but the gall bladder. Subjecting our bodies and thus the liver to lead from gasoline, food additives, preservatives, pesticides, herbicides and many other chemical compounds we come into contact with on a daily basis can load the liver with toxins that can become difficult for it to expel thereby causing much stress to the liver.

Alcohol, recreational drugs and even drugs administered for therapeutic purposes can seriously and adversely affect the liver.

Excess hormones like adrenaline constantly created in our bodies in response to our fast-paced lifestyle add even more insult to the liver. Under some circumstances, hormones can be stored by the liver for as long as a year and emotional imbalances such as depression and anger can result. Irritability and quickness to anger are actual symptoms in Chinese medicine of an overtaxed liver.

Potential symptoms indicating a toxin-stressed/overworked/overheated liver:

Potential symptoms telling you your gall bladder may be compromised:

Of course, if you suspect either your liver or gall bladder are being negatively impacted, seek out a competent physician who can accurately diagnose the issue for you.

But it never can hurt to utilize the energy of Chinese medicine’s Wood element to help detoxify both liver and gall bladder and support them in their vital functions.

Some methods for detoxification and care consistent with the Wood energy include:

Liver and gall bladder, like all organs of the body according to Chinese medicine and the Five Element Theory, in addition to physical functions also have functions related to the mind or mental body. In the Wood element’s case, well functioning, well-supported liver and gall bladder are absolutely vital to a good life.