Liver Nourishing Exercises for Spring Health Promotion

There are many methods to nourish and protect the liver in spring, among which the most effective one is liver nourishing exercises. Throughout the ages, experts in health preservation have believed that practicing "liver nourishing exercises" in spring not only has the effects of expelling the old and bringing in the new, promoting Qi circulation, unblocking meridians, and stimulating liver function, but also can treat symptoms such as poor appetite, indigestion, dry eyes, dizziness caused by liver weakness and excessive liver fire. Below, we will introduce the specific practices of "liver nourishing exercises" to you:

(1) Stand facing east, with your feet naturally apart, shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, head upright, neck straight, abdomen tucked in, waist straight, and back straight. Let your arms hang naturally, armpits empty, elbows slightly bent, and palms lightly resting on the outside of your thighs. Relax your whole body, open your eyes, and look straight ahead. The elderly or those who are weak or unable to stand due to illness can sit instead.

(2) Adopt abdominal breathing. When exhaling, tuck in your abdomen and contract your anus. Slightly shift the body's center of gravity backwards, exert force on the heels, and lightly touch the ground with your toes. When inhaling, lightly close your lips, touch your tongue to the palate, and let your abdomen rise. Breathing should be natural and even, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

(3) After standing relaxed and regulating your breathing, slowly raise both hands (palms facing up), pass through the waist to the shoulders, over the top of the head, and stack your hands, with the right palm covering the left palm, palms inward, lightly pressing against the back of your head. Slowly turn your head to the right, slightly tilt it upwards, and tilt your upper body slightly to the right while inhaling slowly during the rotation. When turning to the right, fix your head, open your eyes wide, exhale forcefully, and make a "hush" sound.

(4) After "hushing", slowly turn your head to the left, slightly tilt it upwards and tilt your upper body slightly to the left while inhaling slowly during the rotation. When turning to the left, fix your head, open your eyes wide, exhale forcefully, and make a "hush" sound. Repeat this process three times on the left and right, for a total of six "hushes". After that, move both hands to the sides, slowly lower them, let them hang naturally, and lightly rest the palms on the outside of the thighs.

(5) After "hushing", switch to normal breathing, but still insist on inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Calm your emotions, quiet your mind, slightly close your eyes, lightly close your lips, touch your tongue to the palate, and lightly tap your upper and lower teeth together 36 times. During the tapping process, saliva will be produced in the mouth, swallow it forcefully, and send it to the lower abdomen with your mind. The purpose of regulating breathing after "hushing" is to replenish the depletion caused by "hushing", nourish the body's vitality, and promote growth.

Liver nourishing exercises should be practiced once in the morning and evening, and should be persisted in every day throughout the spring season.