Japanese Acupuncture, LLC (480) 246-0624:
600 N. 4th Street, Unit 147, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Volume 2, No. 1: May, 2008
Oriental Medicine & On Human Conditions
Chapter One
Liver: Anger, Love, and Redemption #3
The color green is interesting in a sense that it
represents polar opposites. For example, it is the
color of healing, but at the same time, it is the
color of anger. It is the color of resurrection and
fertility but also the color of toxicity and devilish.
We see the dichotomy in everyday life from the green
of Incredible Hulk to the Irish green.
In Oriental Medicine, the color green represents the
Liver (Wood Element). In my past two newsletters, I
described that anger is the Liver Element. However,
in the Five Humanities (五常) section of
the Five Element, the Liver is designated by the
benevolence (仁). It is the highest virtue
regarded by Confucius.
When a person is capable of emerging from the deepest
and the darkest place where anger takes and turns it
to excitement and joy, transforms himself as a true
healer. He who resurrects from the agony of anger
becomes the leader and the purveyor of peace and
happiness. He is guided without fear. Destiny leads
him. He will preach healthier and better life styles,
heal many, and change history.
Compassion drives him to the highest level of maturity
and fulfillment. In giving, he finds joy and his
place. His intention and purpose are clear and
strong.
In Oriental Medicine, it is said that the Heart has a
smaller Heart within itself. It is occupied by the
Intention (Yi = 意). When the Liver energy
flows smoothly and anger does not agitate it, the
Intention is well planted, and the Heart function is
steady. However, when anger or worry displaces the
Intention out of the small Heart, it creates a
disturbance in the physiology of the heart and in the
energy flow. The Intention is the source of Joy, and
when it is misplaced, anxiety sets in causing
palpitation of the heart. Joy maybe replaced by
depression, and the energy of the Liver gets wobbly
and weaker.
Like the Chakra model, the transition from the Third
Chakra (Manipura) to the Fourth (Anahata) is as
equally important as in the Five Element transition
from the Liver to the Heart. Without the transition,
it is not possible to connect the communication
between the Heart (Fourth Chakra) and the Brain
(Fifth, the Will, and Sixth Chakra). We find the
disconnection daily in our lives. We often yield to
the thought of the brain rather than trusting our true
heart's desire, only to wish the otherwise. When the
Liver and the Heart is well connected, the Intention
and the Joy of the Heart are nourished by the Will of
the Kidney*, and we act and accomplish what we truly
desire.
*Kidney: Will belongs to the Kidney, the Water
Element.
Anger creates tragedies, tragedies create healing, and
the healing brings about the balance. The circle
completes, yet before all this happens, one thing
needs to be experienced. It is the experience of
death and emerging, and the experience belongs to the
other Element that I shall talk about it in a
different chapter.
Simplest Thing You Can Do For Your Health No. 16
In the last newsletter, I described how to balance the
three Dantiens, and I mentioned Ren-17 as the Receiver
of Emotion. One other point which reflects emotion is
Ren-9, which is located about ¾ inch above the navel.
It is simply named as the Water Point by ancient
Chinese. There is only one other point named so
simply: Kid-13, the Qi Point. Since the name of
Ren-9 is simply, the point is for any water related
problem: ascites and fluid stagnation, poison, water
edema, etc. However, this is also a reflex point for
emotion. Press straight down the point gently with a
finger and if you feel pulsation, it could be due to
emotional stress. If this is the case, you want to
warm the navel and the surrounding area by placing
both hands together directly over the navel. Feel the
warm sensation of your hands permeating down through
the abdomen. As you feel the warmth, calm yourself
down by relaxing the muscles around your eyes and
taking deep breathes. With each exhalation, tell
yourself that your eyes are getting heavier and your
body relaxing.
With your right index or middle finger, press straight
down an area about 1 ½ inches lateral to the right of
Ren-9. Go deep if you feel like. It should be a
gentle push straight down to the abdomen. Then check
the Ren-9 pulsation again. The procedure should
reduce it.
Once the pulsation is reduced, bring the left hand to
the heart chest area. Feel the gentle heartbeat and
warmth of the chest. Mentally, connect the two hands.
As you are well connect, search out your emotions,
find out what your true heart's desire is and mentally
speak to the heart your desire (remember, do not think
in the brain).
© 2008 Dr. Y. Frank Aoi/Japanese Acupuncture
