Signs your Liver may be out of balance

In Chinese Medicine, the Liver’s job is to keep everything flowing smoothly. When that flow gets stuck, symptoms can show up in surprising ways.

Common signs your Liver may be out of balance include:

💢 Irritability, frustration, or mood swings

💢 Feeling stressed, impatient or “wound up”

💢 Headaches (especially tension headaches)

💢 Tight neck & shoulders

💢 Digestive issues (bloating, IBS, alternating constipation/diarrhoea)

💢 Irregular or painful periods

💢 Waking between 1–3am

💢 Jaw clenching (maybe even teeth grinding at night) 

💢 Bloating that gets worse as the day goes on

Sound familiar?

In Chinese Medicine, we call this pattern “Liver Qi Stagnation” (which actually has developed into the next stages of “Liver Yang Rising”) and spring is the time it tends to surface most as yang in general, is rising! 

But, I hear you asking, where does it come from? How did I get this?! 

Two main culprits in our modern lives are stress and inactivity. That desk job that has you stuck at your computer for 7 hours a day is not only making you more immobile and stiff, but also making your Liver quite grumpy. And all the stress in your life? It’s gotta go somewhere… 

The good news? It’s very treatable. 

🌿 HOW ACUPUNCTURE SUPPORTS THE LIVER 🌿

Acupuncture works by helping your body restore natural flow.

When it comes to Liver imbalance, treatments focus on:

✨ Moving stuck Qi

✨ Calming the nervous system

✨ Reducing tension in the body

✨ Supporting digestion & hormones

Many people notice:

🌿 Feeling more relaxed after treatment

🌿 Less irritability or emotional tension

🌿 Improved sleep

🌿 Reduced pain (especially headaches & muscle tightness)

It’s not just symptom relief—it’s about helping your body regulate itself again.

🌱 SUPPORT YOUR LIVER AT HOME 🌱

You don’t have to wait for an acupuncture treatment to start helping your body.

Here are simple ways to support Liver energy:

🚶‍♀️ MOVE YOUR BODY

Gentle exercise like walking, stretching, yoga, tai chi helps Qi flow.

🌬 REMEMBER TO BREATHE!

Slow, deep, mindful breathing can make a big difference.

⏰ TAKE TIME TO DE-STRESS

Half of this battle is knowing what your triggers are and seeing what you can implement into your daily life to help manage these. This could be blocking out time in your diary to take that walk or do some journaling (or a hobby that you love!). Your Liver will love the lemon balm and lime flowers in this herbal Calming tea blend by Balm

🥬 EAT GREENS

Leafy greens support the Liver (think spinach, kale, broccoli).

🍋TRY SOMETHING SOUR

Liver loves sour tastes - try drinking hot water in the morning with a slice of lemon or some apple cider vinegar. 

For more on diet and detox, Lucy Allitt, of Movement Works, has created a 30 day liver cleanse course, created with her functional medicine knowledge to guide you through detoxification. You'll need commitment and some supplements, and a big dose of willpower!

💭 EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS

Bottling things up = more stagnation. Talking, journaling, or creative outlets help release it.

You don’t have to do everything, just start with one small change and take it from there. 

Small changes = big shifts.

Get in contact today to enquire about your first session and how acupuncture can start getting you back into balance and harmony once more.