Ever feel like your digestion just isn’t working? No matter what you cut out or add in, nothing really changes.
Maybe it’s not what you’re eating. Maybe it’s how your energy is moving. Or more accurately… how it’s not.
When people come to me with gas, bloating, heartburn, or constipation, they’ve often been focused on their stomach or intestines. But in East Asian medicine, we start somewhere else: the liver.
Your liver isn’t just a detox powerhouse, but the organ responsible for moving energy (qi) smoothly through your body. And when qi gets stuck, so do you. In East Asian medicine, we call this “liver qi stagnation,” and it’s incredibly common, especially in a culture like ours that runs on stress, caffeine, and convenience.
When liver qi is stuck, digestion slows down. Emotions like irritability, frustration, or overwhelm can build. Sleep gets disrupted. Hormones become imbalanced. And physically or emotionally… you just feel stuck.
Years ago, I hit a stretch where I was bloated every night after dinner. I was tired, edgy and my workouts felt sluggish. I was running functional tests, did a comprehensive blood panel and adjusted my supplements – but nothing seemed to move the needle. I didn’t understand the full picture until I took a step back and asked: What’s going on in my body energetically?
Sure enough, I was stressing too much, sitting too long, and eating whatever I could grab between appointments. I’d stopped walking after meals, was relying on quick bites that didn’t really fuel me, and I wasn’t supporting my liver and moving my qi! The moment I focused on getting my qi moving by adding more walks, hikes and biking, reintroducing bitter greens and liver support, cleaning up my diet, the way I felt started to transform.
If you’re dealing with digestive issues and general sluggishness, it might be time to look at your liver.
Here’s how to start:
- Move after meals. A 10-minute walk after dinner isn’t just good for blood sugar—it helps move digestive qi.
- Skip the fried foods and heavy alcohol. These burden the liver and slow everything down
- Add bitters to your routine. Digestive bitters or bitter greens like arugula, dandelion, or radicchio help stimulate bile flow and support liver function.
- Find your movement sweet spot. You don’t need to crush workouts. Stretching, walking, or yoga can gently get things flowing.
- Acupuncture and herbs. When qi is stuck, I use acupuncture to reset the system. We may also bring in herbal supplements to nourish the liver and get energy moving again.
Let’s get you unstuck. If you’ve been treating your digestive symptoms without much relief, your liver might be the missing link. At Colorado Natural Medicine & Acupuncture, we use all perspectives, including East Asian medicine, to help you alleviate your symptoms. When working with chronic digestive concerns, liver support is often the key to real, lasting relief.
Could your liver be the key to unlocking your stuck qi? Let’s explore what your body’s been trying to tell you. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation online or call (303) 688-6698 to get started.
Dr. Adam Graves, ND, LAc, serves the Castle Rock, CO community as a licensed naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist through his clinic, Colorado Naturopathic Medicine & Acupuncture.
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