Qi travels throughout the body along

pathways called meridians.

liver qi stagnation
Liver Qi Stagnation is like a beaver dam in a
river
As long as the Qi is moving smoothly, all is
well: we feel happy, content and going with
the flow of our life. Just like water stagnating
behind a dam in a river, our Qi can stagnate
within a meridian. If our Qi gets blocked within
a meridian, we are not happy or going with
the flow.

The Liver is in charge of keeping the Qi

moving.
Liver Qi Stagnation refers to an energetic
pattern of blocked and stagnant Qi within the
Liver Organ System. All Organs are paired
within the Chinese medical system. The Liver
is paired with the Gallbladder. These Organs
have meridian pathways on both sides of the
body: the Liver meridian and the Gallbladder
meridian.

When the Qi is stagnant within these

meridians, it is common to experience pain
along the meridian pathways.

The Gallbladder meridian travels from the

outside corner of the eye, down the side of
the neck, trunk, hips, outer legs to the fourth
toe. Physical manifestations such as one-sided
headaches, jaw pain, shoulder pain, sciatica,
hip pain, knee pain, ankle and foot pain can
all arise from Qi stagnation in the Gallbladder
meridian. Moving Qi in the Gallbladder
meridian can really help reduce these
associated pain symptoms.
The Liver meridian travels from the big toe up
the inner leg to the rib cage. Points along this
meridian are often very tender due to Qi
gathering and stagnating along the pathway.
Liver Qi Stagnation may also manifest
emotionally as angry outbursts and frustration
even at the slightest inconvenience. From the
western perspective, stress matches up
with Liver Qi Stagnation from the Chinese
medical perspective. Stress is recognized as a
causative factor in high blood pressure,
muscle tension, headaches, and TMJ
(Temporal Mandibular Joint Syndrome).
Chinese medicine views Liver Qi Stagnation as
the underlying energetic imbalance that gives
rise to these same conditions.