Hun: The Spirit of Spring and Your Liver
The spiritual aspect of the Liver, called Hun, inform the shape and direction of our lives as the “winds” determine the shape and direction of growth, as seen with the growth of trees, the billowing patterns of sand, and the shape of clouds…
According to the Neijing, one of TCM’s oldest known texts, “The Hun carry out the Liver’s function on a psychological level by endowing us with the capacity to organize the chaos of random possibility into meaningful patterns, which give organization and direction to our lives. As the wind disperses clouds and leaves the sky clear and serene, the Liver cleans our blood and the Hun clear away the clouds of muddled thinking and help us see the big picture of our lives.”
How can you lean into the unfolding and unearthing of your destiny this Spring? Where can you find your sense of calm?
Lately, “finding joy” feels impossible given our political and environmental landscape. I share this feeling with you. Instead of finding joy, are you able to access a place where you just feel calm?
Because of the Liver’s relationship with timing and cleansing, it is very reactive to deep belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing. So let’s breathe together.
Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
Close your eyes and mouth. Place your awareness on your breath and not on your surroundings.
Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, making sure your diaphragm, or abdomen, is expanding and not just your chest.
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of four.
Continue in this way for a few breaths, or until you feel calm. (I sometimes do this for 10-15 minutes when stress is high.)
An added benefit is that by focusing your thoughts on the sensations of breathing, or even counting your breaths, you also help settle your mind.
Option to also rub your ears. Your ear is a microsystem for the whole body, meaning, you can affect measurable change in your body by stimulating the ears. Rub both ears at the same time, with your eyes still closed, and move from apex to lobe while continuing your breathing pattern.
And, as always, you can acupressure yourself. One of the best points to move and nourish the Liver is Liver-3 on the top of your foot.
To find Liver-3:
Locate the depression on the top of the foot in the webbing between the big toe and second toe. Slide your finger up from the web about two finger-widths until you feel a tender spot just before the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones.
Massage firmly in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction for 3-5 minutes on each side.
Let’s look at some symptoms related to an unbalanced or undernourished Liver and Hun:
EMOTIONAL
depression
insomnia with excess dreaming or an absence of dreaming
erratic emotions, feeling out of control
feeling disorganized in body and mind
“vague” anxieties that keep you up at night (especially between 1-3am)
lacking a clear vision of next steps in your life
outbursts of anger
SPIRITUAL
timidity with an inability to take a stand
lacking luster towards life
aimless wandering
starting but not finishing projects
the feeling of never being able to get anywhere
obsessing over injustices that interfere with your own forward movement
PHYSICAL
dry or red eyes that tear easily or itch
pain in your rib spaces or sides of your body (can also have neck and jaw pain)
debilitating menstrual cramps, especially in late luteal phase
dark, clotted, and heavy bleeding (could also be light bleeding or excessive spotting before or after cycle)
menstrual cycles that start and stop, a condition we call “flooding and trickling”
dry, itchy skin or skin that gets rashy easily
a feeling of something stuck in your throat
bloating, gas, or abdominal pain with hiccuping or belching, may also notice that you are sighing frequently
that feeling of being “wired and tired”
So what do you do about this?:
You guessed it - numero uno on this list is regular acupuncture. By consistently stimulating your channels, your parasympathetic system (rest and digest) tonifies more quickly, making it easier and more apt to deal with stressors in the body.
Cleansing and tonifying herbs are also extremely potent ways to heal. We can proscribe herbs and supplements for you but in addition to that, it’s easy to incorporate other herbs on your own:
—> DANDELION is an overall liver cleanser and tonic. It is particularly helpful during PMS and with mood swings alongside bloating and breast tenderness. Take it in tea form - a cup before bed and again in the late morning.
—> PEPPERMINT is mood-elevating, heat clearing, and invigorating to the senses to help clear digestive disturbances and poor appetite. It also helps with stubborn eye symptoms. Also drink as a tea throughout the whole day.
—> MILK THISTLE is the #1 herb for any type of exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental stressors and can be taken for months to help with prolonged exposure. Milk thistle can be taken in tea, pill, or tincture form but breaks are needed to help your Liver reset. (Ask us more if this is right for you at your next appointment!)
—> GOU QI ZI or GOJI BERRIES are a Liver blood booster and can help with dryness anywhere in the body, ie eyes, intestines, and skin. Because of their sticky nature, they help protect Liver Blood and Yin by “sticking” it to your body keeping proper moisture levels, especially during windy seasons! Add to soups, salads, grain bowls, smoothies, or eat as a snack a few times a week. A small handful is great.
The Liver and Hun also greatly respond to nourishing foods that enrich the blood, like dark leafy greens, grains, beets, apples, dates, bone broths, fish, and dark meats like bison and lamb (slow roasted!).
Liver likes to MOVE. Any type of movement will help reestablish good rhythms in the body. This also includes art and tactile activities, like gardening, pottery, painting, reorganizing cabinets and closets, and cooking from the heart.
Sitting in awe of the natural world also helps heal an exhausted Hun. Connect yourself with the life-force of the earth. Liver is the Wood element. It relies on water to grow (Kidneys), and it directly nourishes our inner fire (Heart). Touch grass. Feel the soft breezes of Spring. Observe flowers as they arrive. Stand and sway with the trees. Listen to birdsong. Lay down and watch the clouds shift shapes. Letting light and color influence your vision helps your Hun become clear-headed. Your imagination becomes more vibrant when you are able to get out of survival mode.
According to Five Spirits, written by Lorie Eve Dechar:
“Like the blood, sinews, and tendons of our body, which are the physical manifestation of the wood element (Liver), the Hun are the blood, sinews, and tendons of the psyche, the psycho-spiritual manifestation of wood. Through the Hun, we are able to imagine our life path. They give us the ability to choose the path through which we will realize our potential, to set out on a project with certainty and determination, and to manifest our right action in the world.”
Hoping that your Liver and Hun make it through this Spring along with a calm, settled mind.