The liver has over 500 functions. It generates and stores blood, produces antigens and T-killer cells to protect the body against infection and has among numerous other responsibilities. It produces bile to dissolve fat in the blood vessels and helps to maintain optimal circulation in the body. The liver also eliminates excess estrogen, and can be responsible for mood swings and hormonal changes if it is unable to do its job. Without the liver functioning optimally, the circulation to the brain and cognition will suffer. Additionally the liver converts carbohydrates to glycogen and glucose to generate energy for the body. In Chinese medicine, feeling “stuck” or “confined” pertains to liver pathology, and can also increase stress or lack of sleep.
Take a walk in nature
If you have access to a green space with trees, take advantage of the opportunity to recharge outdoors. The liver represents growth in the Chinese language, as it pertains to the element Wood or Mu. Moving the blood, opening the ribcage, and expanding breaths in a changing landscape will recharge your system. Tai Chi or Qi Gong is a wonderful way to expand the ribcage and get the liver moving better.
Take a digital detox
Do you ever wonder why you get the best ideas while you are in the shower? The brain has a mode called default mode network in which you are not taking in information or performing a task. That is where we are alone with our own thoughts, memories, and processing events and solving problems. Some of the benefits of being in this default mode are closely related to states obtained during meditation. Unfortunately, due to our busy lives and access to social media and digital content at every waking hour, we fail to achieve our creative potential this way. Leaving your phone at home or in the car during a walk, and embracing the feeling of boredom is a great way to start reengaging the default brain again.
Take a break from sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and snacking
Your liver works hard to process everything from medications to herbs, that evening sugar splurge to the morning cup of coffee. Instead of going full force into the next liver cleanse by overloading your system with herbs and supplements, one helpful thing to do would be to give it a break and allow it to catch up. Giving your body time to digest in between meals is important for balancing glycogen and glucose. By simply removing common irritants to the liver, you will notice your mood will be elevated, your blood sugar will be more level, and your energy level will balance throughout the day. That should be enough to get you going on your next creative project.
Unfortunately for many of us, the feelings of comfort from these substances are ingrained in our systems. I have had a lot of success with balancing the nervous system and helping people through addictions using ear acupressure. Earseeds.com makes wonderful kits for applying your own ear seeds at home, such as the Addiction Stainless Steel EarSeeds Kit $48.00. These tools can be useful to help manage anxiety, calm the spirit, and help to shift behaviors of overindulgence.
Nourish your liver
Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprout, cauliflower, cabbage to increase your detoxification pathways. Eat sour foods such as lemon or lime, and bitter greens such as radicchio, dandelion greens, and escarole. Liver can be nourishing the liver so consuming grass fed beef liver or pastured chicken liver is beneficial. If you can’t palate the taste of liver, try taking them in capsules with a meal Vital Proteins Grass Fed Beef Liver.
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