Liver Qi Stagnation-Related Obesity and Women's Physiological Conditioning: In-depth Analysis of the Influence of Emotions and Estrogen on Body Shape
There's a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), "Nine out of ten women suffer from liver stagnation," meaning that most women are prone to liver qi stagnation. What exactly does liver stagnation mean, and what is its relationship to obesity? Liver stagnation refers to the blockage of liver qi, or liver qi transforming into fire. Symptoms caused by liver stagnation include: chest tightness, lower abdominal pain, emotional distress, depression, irritability, breast tenderness, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and abdominal masses. Why can liver stagnation cause so many symptoms? To understand liver stagnation, we must first understand the functions of the liver in TCM.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver governs the free flow of Qi, stores blood, opens to the eyes, governs the tendons, manifests in the nails, and is associated with anger and tears. The liver and gallbladder are interconnected and mutually supportive. The most important function of the liver is to govern the free flow of Qi, which refers to its crucial role in guiding, releasing, and regulating the body's Qi, as well as promoting the circulation of blood and body fluids. The liver's function of regulating Qi primarily involves three aspects: harmonizing Qi, promoting the digestive function of the spleen and stomach, and regulating emotions.
Qi mechanism refers to the ascending, descending, exiting, and entering of Qi. The liver's role in regulating Qi mechanism means that it promotes the function of the internal organs, ensuring smooth circulation of blood and Qi. Disorders in the ascending function of Qi can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, flushed face and ears, breast tenderness, belching, acid reflux, irritability, and chest tightness. Insufficient descending function of Qi can cause lower abdominal distension and pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and abdominal masses. Ovulation and menstruation in women, and ejaculation in men, also fall under the liver's function of regulating Qi.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen and stomach are responsible for transportation and transformation. This broadly refers to their functions of absorption, digestion, and distribution. However, the proper functioning of the spleen and stomach also depends on the liver's role in regulating the flow of qi. This is because normal bile secretion has a significant impact on the digestive system. Therefore, the *Suwen* (Plain Questions) states, "Earth (土) is aided by Wood (木)," meaning that the spleen and stomach (Earth) need the assistance of the liver (Wood) to perform their normal absorption, digestion, and distribution functions. Only when the spleen functions normally can muscles and tissues grow.
The liver's role in regulating emotions refers to its function in harmonizing mood. When the liver's function of dispersing and regulating qi is normal, and the flow of qi is smooth, one will feel cheerful. However, if the liver's function of dispersing and regulating qi is disordered, it can lead to stagnation of liver qi. Consequently, the functions of the five internal organs are also affected, and one is prone to emotional instability, irritability, and anger. For example, women experiencing irregular menstruation, lower abdominal distension and pain, breast tenderness, lower back and knee pain, dizziness, blurred vision, irritability, and other symptoms during menstruation also fall under the category of liver stagnation.
Menstrual irregularities in women are a typical manifestation of liver stagnation. In fact, many women experience menstrual disorders. Therefore, liver stagnation is common in women. This is why there's the saying, "Nine out of ten women suffer from liver stagnation." Don't assume that only strong spleen and stomach function leads to weight gain; liver stagnation can also cause weight gain. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver governs the free flow of qi and is related to ovulation, menstrual cycles, and abdominal masses in women. In modern medicine, ovulation, menstrual cycles, menstrual disorders, and the smoothness of menstruation are all related to estrogen levels in women. And hormones are closely linked to obesity.
Estrogen influences a woman's sex, sexual characteristics, menstrual cycle, and fertility. Furthermore, estrogen can increase subcutaneous fat. If subcutaneous fat continues to increase, it indicates that the body is becoming increasingly obese. Additionally, estrogen can cause fat to accumulate in the buttocks, making them fuller and thicker. Observe the obese people around you; are there more men or women with fuller buttocks? You can be sure that it's more common for women to have fuller, thicker buttocks.
Estrogen influences menstruation, ovulation, subcutaneous fat accumulation, and fuller hips. Traditional Chinese medicine believes the liver governs the free flow of Qi, including the female menstrual cycle and ovulation. It's easy to see the close relationship between the liver's function of regulating Qi and estrogen secretion. Menstrual disorders, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, gynecological diseases, and genital tumors caused by liver Qi stagnation can all be related to estrogen levels. Therefore, obese women with more subcutaneous fat than others, very full hips, and menstrual disorders or gynecological problems should pay attention. They may have liver Qi stagnation and should seek timely treatment to soothe and regulate their liver Qi.