Qigong Move of the Month: Spring Cleaning for Your Liver
Yinong Chong April 2008
Spring is the time of rising Wood energy in traditional Chinese Five Element theory. In the Spring, you may find that Liver problems become more pronounced in the form of disease or emotional outbursts. Wood energy is associated with the Liver organ system and the color green. The emotion of anger negatively influences the Liver. While Qigong techniques are used year round to work on the Liver, they are particularly effective in the Spring. Try the following Liver Detox Qigong:
1) Begin with your hands at your side, standing straight with your feet about a shoulder width apart. Keep the tip of the tongue at the roof of the mouth and knees relaxed.
2) As you inhale, slowly raise the arms palm up, to eye level. The outside edge of the little fingers touch together and the fingers point upward with wrists at a 90-degree angle to the forearms.
3) As you exhale, focus intently on the palms of the hands and say “Xu” (pronounced “Shoo….”) forcefully and with intent.
4) Inhale again and place the right hand over the liver area on the right side of the body while pivoting 90 degrees to the left. Pull the left arm across at shoulder level ending with the arm outstretched.
5) As you exhale, focus intently on the left palm as you say “Xu” forcefully and with intent. Then drop the hands and look up to the heavens as you pivot back to the beginning position.
6) Repeat 3, 6, or 9 times.