For Sleepless Nights (Sequel) 🙏 A Prescription to Relax the Liver
The Third Prescription: A Prescription to Relax the Liver
Do not carry stress and anger into the night
In Eastern medicine, the "Liver" is not just an organ, but an important entity that governs the flow of qi and the circulation of emotions.
In particular, the Liver is considered an organ deeply involved with "anger" and "stress".
During the day, we live while carrying various emotions.
Moments when we swallow what we want to say, events that do not go as planned, moments that feel unreasonable.
Even if such emotions seem to disappear on the spot, they certainly remain within the body.
In Eastern medicine, it is believed that these remaining emotions accumulate as "stagnation of qi".
This is "qi stagnation".
When qi stagnates, the energy that should be flowing remains in one place, creating subtle tension in the body and mind.
A tightness in the chest, increased sighing, stiffness in the shoulders and neck, becoming easily irritated.
These are all signs that the Liver's qi is not circulating smoothly.
And if you welcome the night in this state, it will also affect your sleep.
Your thoughts won't stop after getting into bed.
You remember trivial things and your emotions are stirred.
Even when you sleep, you have many dreams and do not feel like you have rested deeply.
Such states are prone to occur when the tension in the Liver has not been released.
The Liver is an organ that inherently prefers "spaciousness".
It idealizes a state where qi circulates freely and flexibly, like a tree swaying in the wind.
However, modern life is often in the opposite direction of this nature.
Long hours in the same posture, time spent facing screens, a daily life of suppressing emotions.
These are all factors that cause the flow of qi to stagnate and tense the Liver.
That is precisely why you need a "time to relax the Liver" consciously at night.
It is not about erasing stress, but about letting the qi that remains in the body flow out.
The easiest and most effective way is light movement.
Slowly rotating your shoulders
Stretching
Spreading your arms wide and then relaxing them
Such movements create an exit for the stagnant qi.
It does not need to be intense exercise.
Rather, cherish the feeling of your body unraveling during slow movements.
Also, breathing is an important key to relaxing the Liver.
Especially when you focus on "exhaling," the tension accumulated inside your chest softens.
In Eastern medicine, sighing is considered a natural reaction to release the stagnation of qi outward.
Exhale slowly, saying "haa".
Just by doing that, the Liver's qi will gradually unravel.
Furthermore, eye strain cannot be overlooked.
In Eastern medicine, it is believed that the Liver is "connected to the eyes".
Long-term use of smartphones and computers increases tension not only in the eyes but also in the Liver.
Step away from screens for at least 30 minutes before bed and give your eyes a rest.
That alone will allow the liver's functions to quietly recover.
Another important thing is to "not carry over your emotions."
You don't need to completely erase your anger or dissatisfaction.
It is just important to draw a line and say, "That's enough for tonight."
In Eastern medicine, there is a concept like this:
"Daytime energy flows outward, nighttime energy flows inward."
Night is the time to return the energy that was directed outward back inside.
By following this flow, the body naturally shifts into recovery mode.
If something is weighing on your mind, writing it down on paper is one way to handle it.
By putting it into words and releasing it, the stagnation of energy will soften.
When the liver relaxes, energy flows smoothly, and space is created inside the body.
That space is the room where sleep can enter.
Night is not a time to keep fighting.
It is a time to untangle the day's tension and quietly let go of your emotions.
Try relaxing your shoulders and exhaling slowly.
The stress that remained in your body should gradually flow away.
When the liver relaxes,
sleep, too, will naturally return to you.
