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Everyone suffers from irritability and moodiness from time to time, but if you find that a short temper and frustration are becoming a constant issue for you, then acupuncture may be able to help.

Often irritability and moodiness are the consequence of chronic stress in your life. Over time these emotions can progress into more serious emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression as well as other health conditions such as digestive problems, trouble sleeping and the tendency to get sick more frequently.

Liver Stagnation and Emotions

Within Oriental medicine emotional disorders can be associated with a number of different patterns of disharmony; however, anger, irritability, and frustration are all signs that the liver may be stagnated. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is responsible smoothing our emotions.

Liver stagnation is one of the most common patterns of disharmony seen in today’s patients. In addition to irritability and moodiness, signs and symptoms may include:

• distending pain in the area below the ribs
• stuffiness of the chest
• sighing
• abdominal distention
• nausea
• sour regurgitation
• belching
• diarrhea or constipation
• a feeling of a lump in the throat
• irregular and/or painful periods
• distention of the breasts prior to a period

Acupuncture is excellent at relieving liver stagnation. Treatment for irritability and moodiness associated with liver stagnation focuses on supporting the liver and spleen organ systems with acupuncture, lifestyle and dietary recommendations and perhaps an herbal formula.

Improve Your Liver Function

When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly. So, for optimum health, improve your liver function.

Stretch - Incorporate a morning stretch into your routine.  According to Oriental medicine, the liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility.

Eye Exercises - Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do eye exercises. The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function.

Eat Green - Eating young plants - fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses - can improve the liver’s overall function.

Try Something Sour - Put lemon slices in your drinking water, use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing and garnish your sandwich with a slice of dill pickle.

Do More Outdoor Activities - If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity. Try hiking or take up golf.

Enjoy Milk Thistle Tea - Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.

Get Acupuncture Treatments - Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can treat stress, anger, and frustration. Periodic Acupuncture treatments can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems.

Signs and Symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation

Here are some of the symptoms commonly associated with liver qi stagnation:

• Pain or discomfort anywhere along the sides of the body
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Sighing
• Hiccups
• Frustration
• Inappropriate anger
• Sensation of a lump in throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bitter taste in mouth
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Abdominal distention and discomfort
• Stomachache that improves after massage
• Stomachache that worsens with anger
• PMS with irritability or swollen breasts
• Irregular or painful periods
• Poor appetite
• Churning sensation in stomach

Getting Started

The practitioners at Earley Wellness Group have experience treating stress, which can ease irritability and moodiness. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can see results. So make an appointment today.