Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, recommends specific foods to increase liver qi. Qi is a central theory in TCM and refers to life energy or vital force. Its manifestations can range from solid matter, such as the physical body, to pure energy, according to the Sacred Lotus Art TCM web site. If you have a liver disorder, talk with your physician before embarking on a new food regimen.
Liver Qi
When TCM practitioners speak of the liver, they do not refer just to the physical organ. They consider "liver" to be a functional system in charge of circulating blood and qi to nourish all your internal organs. If liver qi stagnates, you may become aggravated and angry. Physical signs of liver Qi stagnation can include a swollen upper abdomen, headache, mood swings, diarrhea, nausea and constipation, according to licensed acupuncturist Anusuya Batliner in a 2004 article in "Nutrition Professionals Quarterly." Liver Qi stagnation can exacerbate premenstrual and menopausal symptoms like breast tenderness, migraine and cramps.
Diet Suggestions
In order to increase and circulate liver Qi, you should follow some general guidelines, according to Batliner. She recommends eating smaller meals and staying away from processed food, dairy, fried foods, meats and other foods that are hard to digest. In addition, do not eat fruit with other types of food. Eating dairy and meat separately will also ease digestion. Finally, avoid caffeine and spicy dishes, as they can aggravate liver Qi stagnation.
Foods
Cooling foods, such as lemon, cucumber, raw fruits and poached fish calm liver Qi stagnation. Bitter vegetables increase digestive juices. They include dandelion leaves, endive, watercress, radicchio and chicory. Batliner suggests steaming or cooking food in water rather than oil. Other foods good for moving liver Qi include cherries, red and black dates, red beans, squash and sweet potato, notes licensed acupuncturist Diane Joswick, writing on the Acufinder web site.
Herbs
Fresh herbs and spices can also allow liver Qi to move more easily through your body. Joswick recommends the aerial portions of sweet basil, oregano and spearmint. Spices such as caraway, mustard seed and turmeric root can be helpful. Saffron, the most costly spice in the world, is actually the dried stigma of a crocus flower. A small amount of saffron added to rice or puddings can also ease liver Qi stagnation. Fresh garlic is another herb that encourages the free movement of liver Qi. A TCM herbal formulation called Free and Easy Wanderer is often prescribed for stagnant liver Qi. It contains bupleurum, yellow dock, milk thistle, marshmallow root and mint, to name a few of its many ingredients. Consult your doctor to find out which herbs are appropriate for you.
