According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver is the foundation of women's health, and one of the main reasons is that "the liver stores blood". Women are prone to blood deficiency, which is most evident during menstruation. Menstruation, also known as "seeing red", usually begins during puberty, between the ages of 12 and 18. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with bleeding lasting 2 to 7 days and a total blood loss of about 80 milliliters each time. Therefore, throughout a woman's life, she deals with menstrual bleeding for more than 30 years, which means that she is constantly losing blood. Blood deficiency can also affect liver function, which explains why women often experience anger during menstruation. Women's lives are closely connected to the liver meridian. In addition to menstruation, conditions such as vaginal discharge, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding all require a significant amount of qi and blood. In other words, women's physiological functions can only be completed with abundant nourishment of qi and blood, which is why there is an ancient saying that "women rely on blood and liver for nourishment".
Now, let's reveal why women always have bad moods and irritability before and after menstruation. Most men cannot understand a woman's premenstrual and postmenstrual hysteria. Indeed, during those days, women tend to be more emotional, easily irritable, and negative. Some men even argue that if women demand gender equality every day, they should not play the role of the weak to seek sympathy during menstruation. However, you should know that some women may even faint from severe menstrual pain. Imagine the abdominal swelling and cramps during menstruation, accompanied by cold limbs in a temperature of 32°C. It's easy to see how painful it can be.
Actually, even normal menstruation can have some impact on the liver. The "blood" stored in the liver refers to all nutrients in the body. Most nutrients are stored in the liver in the form of glycogen, and the liver itself has a certain function in producing red blood cells. Traditional Chinese medicine also believes that the liver is related to urination, gynecological diseases, and menstrual disorders, all of which are treated from the perspective of the liver. This understanding is scientifically based. Women have a yin and gentle nature, and blood is the foundation of their menstrual cycles, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. The liver stores and nourishes blood, which is the material basis for women's physiological functions. The liver is responsible for regulating mental and emotional states. Due to social, family, and child-rearing pressures, women's qi and blood are prone to fluctuations, and their emotions are easily affected. Excessive depression or anger can lead to the imbalance of qi and blood in the liver meridian, resulting in various blood-related diseases.
Today's women shoulder heavier burdens and face greater pressure, yet they have fewer ways to relieve their emotions. So, what can we do to prevent excessive emotional reactions, protect our liver, and maintain a healthier body?
Here is a small method: by massaging the acupoint Guanyuan, we can achieve the goal of soothing irritability and balancing qi and blood. Guanyuan is located in the lower abdomen, on the midline, three inches below the navel. Form a fist with your four fingers (excluding the thumb), and place the palm of your hand against the lower edge of your little finger. This is the position of the Guanyuan acupoint. Attach your palm to the Guanyuan acupoint and make rhythmic circular movements centered around the wrist joint and along a circular path in a clockwise direction. Repeat this motion continuously. When massaging Guanyuan, the movements can be gentler, with a recommended frequency of 80-90 times per minute. The duration of the massage for dysmenorrhea should be no less than 5 minutes, with the degree of warmth and penetration into the abdomen as the standard.
To nourish the liver, women can listen to soothing music, engage in appropriate exercise, and adopt a lighter diet, avoiding stimulating foods such as chili and coffee. Women with excessive liver fire can place a bottle of plums in their office and eat a few every day. This not only helps satisfy cravings and nourish the liver, but also aids digestion and keeps the mind calm and the mood happy. In traditional Chinese culture, great importance is attached to self-cultivation and nurturing one's character. It emphasizes that men should be gentlemen and women should be virtuous ladies. Whether it is playing musical instruments, practicing calligraphy and painting, or engaging in embroidery, all of these activities are effective remedies for calming emotions and alleviating mental restlessness.
