Doing These 4 Things Can Worsen Liver Health

Some people's daily habits have imperceptibly played a role in maintaining or damaging the liver. Natali_Mis/Shutterstock

Do you stare at your phone wherever you go? Do you often work overtime or stay up late? Do you turn to medication regardless of how minor your illness may be? Do you lose your temper easily?

All of these habits are liver-damaging behaviors.

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis were the ninth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, with 17 deaths per 100,000 people due to liver disease, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics. These data make it clear that protecting the liver is crucial. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers several simple and practical wisdom for nourishing the liver to protect against disease.

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Modern medicine views the liver as an essential detoxification organ that removes waste and toxins from the blood. The liver also secretes bile, which aids in digestion, and functions as a nutrient storage organ. According to TCM’s viscera theory, the liver is a vital organ that stores blood and regulates energy and blood circulation. The same theory says that the liver also serves as the energy system’s center.

Teas for Frequent Cellphone Users to Nourish the Liver and Eyes

The excessive use of cellphones may lead to a lack of sleep. Prolonged exposure to their blue light radiation affects sleep quality and causes physical problems, such as worsening myopia, blurred vision, and dry eyes. These symptoms are also manifestations of liver blood deficiency in TCM theory.

TCM believes that if liver blood is insufficient or blood circulation is not running smoothly, a series of physical problems, such as dizziness and dry eyes, will surface.

The TCM classic “The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine” points out: “The liver qi flows through the eyes, enabling the latter to distinguish the five colors when they are in harmony with each other.” This means that the energies of the liver and eyes are interlinked, and when the liver is well-regulated, the eyes can distinguish the five colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black.

For people who often stay up late or overuse their eyes, the following two teas are good for nourishing the liver and thus offer additional eye protection.

1. Honeysuckle Licorice Tea

Take a pinch of honeysuckle (about 0.2 ounce) and two or three slices of licorice (about 0.2 ounce), brew it with 300 cubic centimeters (10 fluid ounces) of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, and drink while it is still hot.

Honeysuckle can help clear the liver, improve eyesight, and detoxify. However, people prone to diarrhea, those with frequent stomachaches or cold hands and feet, and women who are menstruating should not drink it.

2. Chrysanthemum Tea

To brew chrysanthemum tea, take about 10 pieces of chrysanthemums, brew them with 300 cubic centimeters (10 fluid ounces) of hot water for 10 minutes, and then drink.

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Chrysanthemum tea can be brewed with either white or yellow chrysanthemums, relieving eye fatigue and reducing heat. TCM believes excessive heat/fire in the body will cause symptoms such as redness and eye dryness. Yellow chrysanthemum’s heat-clearing effect is more potent than its white counterpart’s and is more suitable for people who often stay up late and have red and swollen eyes. Those with dry eyes and slight redness are better off drinking white chrysanthemum tea.

Irritability Hurts the Liver, Soup to Soothe It

TCM believes that different emotions correspond to different internal organs, and anger is related to the liver. It is written clearly in “The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine” that “anger hurts the liver” and that people with liver disease can have short tempers.

A person’s temper erupting in anger is analogous to a major earthquake inside the body. While this affects all internal organs, the liver is the first to be impacted.

Getting angry will lead to insufficient liver blood, making it more difficult for people to control their emotions, forming a vicious circle. Sorting out your emotions and tolerating others is key to being kind to yourself and protecting your liver.

You may wonder, “How can I be less susceptible to anger or never become angry?” When bad things happen, and you feel your temper flaring, try your best to take a moment to cool down and stop projecting your anger at others. If you see someone get angry, his liver is likely sick; pay him no mind. You could even make a cup of chrysanthemum tea for him if possible. The person’s liver fire will soon be extinguished, thus reducing the anger.

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People who are often angry are recommended to drink Ganmai Dazao Decoction, made from licorice, wheat, and jujube, which can soothe people’s tempers. A patient once complained that his mother was often angry and scolded him whenever she saw him. After he made this soup for her, she stopped cursing him for good.

Ganmai Jujube (Licorice and Jujube) Decoction

To soothe anxiety and reduce turbulent emotions:

Put 0.2 ounce of licorice, five red dates, and 0.8 ounce of Triticum aestivum (bread wheat) into a pot. Add 1,500 cubic centimeters (3 pints) of water, boil, then turn to low heat and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Let it cool, and drink.

Green Fruits, Veggies to Replace Medication, Reducing Burden on the Liver

When you feel sick, do you rush to take antipyretics, cough medicines, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, sleeping pills, etc.?

Taking too much medicine will increase the burden on the liver—and even some liver-nourishing medicines will do this. Taking too many supplements can be detrimental to liver health.

So which foods are good for the liver? According to TCM, eating green vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, broccoli, asparagus, sweet potato leaves, guava, kiwi fruit, etc., and drinking mung bean soup can maintain the body’s well-being.

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In TCM theory, the five colors—green, red, yellow, white, and black—have a one-to-one correspondence with the five internal organs: liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Green corresponds to the liver, and green and the liver correspond to the element wood among the Five Elements. TCM practitioners often follow this correspondence to guide their diagnosis and treatment.

Since the five flavors correspond to the five internal organs in TCM, different tastes affect different viscera and organs. Sourness corresponds to the liver and is believed to balance it. Therefore, eating sour foods, such as lemons, plums, passionfruit, pineapples, etc., is good for the liver. Still, you should remember to eat them in moderation, avoiding overeating.

Staying Up Late Hurts the Liver, 1 Common Plant Can Help Protect It

When the liver is considered damaged in TCM, this doesn’t necessarily indicate abnormal liver function as modern medicine would dictate. Issues with the liver’s energy can also cause a “bad” liver. TCM theory calls the human body’s energy qi and the channel network through which qi and blood flow the meridian system.

There are 12 main meridians corresponding to 12 internal organs, one of which is the liver meridian, the channel responsible for regulating liver function. TCM believes unblocking the liver meridian is essential for maintaining proper liver function and overall health.

From 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., qi and blood flow into the liver meridian. If you’ve gone to bed by this time, the liver meridian can be cleaned out. However, if you are still awake, whatever has accumulated in the liver during the day cannot be cleared, leading to liver fatigue, decreased resilience, and damage to the circulatory and immune systems. This is consistent with the argument that sleep quality is related to liver well-being in modern medical research.

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Common to backyards, dandelion is considered by TCM to have the effect of entering the liver meridian and eliminating qi stagnation. In the world of plant medicine, dandelion is also widely used to prevent or treat various liver diseases and has been proven to have anti-liver-damage effects.

Dandelion may taste bitter, but it provides good fiber for bowel motility and is also effective for breast swelling and inflammation. It is also unsuitable for people with spleen and stomach deficiency, postpartum women, or infants.

Work and Rest According to the 4 Seasons, Try to Relax

TCM believes people’s daily routines should be compatible with the weather, the four seasons, the day and night cycle, and an individual’s characteristics. If this is observed, the immune system will be robust, and you won’t get sick as easily. One of the secrets to maintaining the liver is keeping a relaxed and good mood and ridding yourself of negative emotions. This will help the liver become healthy naturally.

“The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine” states that spring is the season for liver maintenance. To preserve health, the book says if one relaxes, achievements will follow, and not to harm others but support them whenever possible. This means, first, keep yourself calm and good things will come to you. Second, support and respect others. Following these rules will aid you in overall wellness.

I hope readers will take good care of themselves today and experience more smiles and joy.

*Note: The Chinese medicinal herbs mentioned in this article are generally available in Chinese supermarkets and Chinese pharmacies. Please consult a professional physician for specific treatment plans and prescriptions.