A balanced liver enables a person to be like bamboo: to stand tall and firm, but bend with the wind; to be assertive yet flexible, so that growth and development can occur and creativity can flourish.
Do you lack direction in life? Do you have difficulty making decisions? Can you meet life’s challenges with confidence and equipoise? Are you fulfilling your creative potential?
If you answered no to any of these questions, your Wood element may need support.
A balanced liver enables a person to be like bamboo: to stand tall and firm, but bend with the wind; to be assertive yet flexible, so that growth and development can occur and creativity can flourish.
The yin Liver and yang Gall Bladder organs belong to the Wood element. The role of the Liver within the body is likened to a courageous General.
The Liver, like a General, considers a situation carefully, develops a strategy and then, when the time is right, takes swift, courageous, fearless and decisive action.
A balanced Gall Bladder facilitates decision-making, judgement and discernment.
The Liver and Gall Bladder thus work together to enable us to assess situations with insight and vision, to develop and plan of action, and to decide to carry out that plan.
Many of us at times can be uncertain about our path: a healthy Wood element enables you to be clear about your life purpose and direction. It also supports you to be decisive and stay focussed so you can achieve your goals.
In Chinese Medicine, each yin organ has a physical, emotional and psychic aspect. The psychic aspect of the Liver is the Hun, or ethereal soul.
Courage is one of the main characteristics of the Hun, as can be seen from the analogy of the General above. Having the courage to establish and maintain boundaries is also the function of a healthy Hun.
A balanced Hun also enables us to meet life’s challenges with equanimity, responsibility and emotional stability.
Nourish your Wood element by getting eight hours sleep a night, eating lots of dark leafy greens and grains, meditating, exercising, minimising your alcohol intake, and avoiding large, rich and greasy meals.
Enjoying natural beauty is also important. Green is the colour associated with the Wood element and the season of spring, so spending time outdoors in the garden, or enjoying some quite time in the hills and mountainous regions, is also very nourishing and healing to the Wood element, the Liver, Gall Bladder and the Hun.
