The liver is the chemical factory and detoxification organ of the human body, but many harmful substances in the environment and food will constantly increase the burden on the liver. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe that the best way to protect the liver is to balance the body and mind. “The most important way to protect the liver is to maintain health from the inside out through “enlightenment” and “meditation”, and to “nourish the liver” through life, including adequate sleep and a balanced diet. (Video/Photo by Reporter Zhi-Wen Huang)
According to Chinese medicine Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee, the main functions of the liver are “blood storage” and ” draining”. Blood collection is the storage of nutrients in the body, while draining refers to the body’s draining and regulating (metabolism) function. Emotions, sleep, diet and even exercise all affect the liver’s draining function. The so-called “liver protection” in Chinese medicine is basically to improve the body’s environment and maintain the normal draining and regulating function to enhance the ability to fight against diseases.
“The liver is wood, and wood likes to be tempered.” In Chinese medicine, it is said that “anger hurts the liver”, and excessive emotional ups and downs can easily affect the liver. Usually people with high self-esteem, impatience and perfectionism are more prone to anxiety and restlessness, which, from the perspective of Chinese medicine, is a body type more prone to liver fire.
In Chinese medicine, the liver is the main reservoir of blood, and “when a person sleeps, blood returns to the liver. Only with enough sleep can the liver be fully restored. Between 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., blood flows through the liver and gallbladder, and the body should get complete rest at this time. Otherwise, the liver’s recovery function will be affected, and physical strength will not be restored, and the ability to think will be delayed.
Food is the body’s energy source, will affect the normal operation of the liver, including spicy, stimulating food, such as fried, coffee, tea, etc., easy to cause liver fire, should be avoided as much as possible in excess. The natural and original green vegetables and fruits will not increase the burden on the liver and are rich in antioxidants, which is very helpful for liver protection.
As the saying goes, “to live, we must move”. Proper exercise can activate the muscles and bones of the limbs and blood, which has a positive effect on health, especially in the middle-aged and elderly groups, who are mostly obese in the abdomen and whose body metabolism is gradually slowing down. Therefore, we should protect our liver by “lying down less and moving more”, such as practicing Tai Chi or doing more “Balance Zen”, so that we can overcome the force in softness and nourish our liver in movement, which is the opportunity to change our life from black and white to color.
As for how to do Balance Zen? Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee revealed that the use of lying in bed every morning, the shoulders, head suspended outside the bed, to keep the body balance, not to let the head down, feel the neck more sore, weak, you can use your hands to help, while the foot can be pushed up.
Action 1: First, lie flat on your back, put your shoulders and head outside the bed, keep your balance and rotate your arms. Demonstration: Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee. (Photo: Zhi-Wen Huang)
During this half hour, relax your mind, empty your mind, focus on your senses and breathing, keep your breathing deep, deep, subtle and fine, and exert yourself through the Dantian, regardless of gender, and a strong force will naturally arise in your lower body, which will help your upper body to relax. In particular, the aging of the human body begins with the relaxation of the intestines, uterus, ovaries, bladder, and prostate. Practicing Balance Zen helps to rejuvenate and fight aging.
Action 2: feet up, adjust the breathing, the intention to focus on the abdomen, beginners should be slow not impatient movements. Demonstration: Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee. (Photo: Zhi-Wen Huang)
This Balance Zen was learned from a teacher when Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee was young, and is said to have originated from the Southern Shaolin martial arts of Fujian Province, China. After practicing for several years, the layers of wrinkles on Dr. Lee’s neck have disappeared, and his middle-aged waistline has been reduced by several inches. If not for the graying of the hair, he really can not see 73 years old, is still a living dragon.
Action 3: feet apart, as much as possible to relax the spirit, empty thinking, focus on the feeling and breathing, the movement should be slow and practical. Demonstration: Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee. (Photo: Zhi-Wen Huang)
A healthy liver gives you the energy you need to live life to the fullest!
Originally from: Top1health.com
Top1health.com／Reporter Shih-Chieh Zhang reports 2013.07.24
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