Are you confident, fearless, ambitious, creative, kind, compassionate, experience quick insights and solutions, enjoy physical vitality, and seldom fatigued?

If so, you probably have a strong Liver Meridian. But if you’re plagued with digestive problems, incontinence, joint pain, nausea, rage, depression, blurry vision, and feel sluggish and weak, it’s worthwhile to consider your body’s largest organ, the liver, and its associated Liver Meridian.

Sometimes called the “root of resistance to fatigue,” the liver is not only an amazing organ of detoxification but also burns fat, filters, detoxifies, nourishes, replenishes, and stores blood, and controls the peripheral nervous system, which includes control over ligaments and tendons and muscular activity and tension.

However, an overload of toxins, so prevalent in our world and bodies today, hinder its function. Our Liver Meridian, consisting of a Wood element and Yin organ, is paired with the Yang Gall Bladder and begins from the big toe, runs up the medial sides of the legs past the external genitalia, connects with the liver, goes up to the neck, mouth, eyes, and to the very top of the head. If overactive, these Wood elements can suppress Earth element organs such as the stomach and spleen and weaken the digestive system. Like metal cutting wood, if Metal element organs such as the lungs and large intestine are not functioning properly, the wood element liver’s filtering function is also adversely affected.

To help keep the Liver Meridian in good shape, these exercises will warm the body, oxygenate the blood, and circulate Ki energy to vital organs:

• Stand with your heels together, knees bent, and point your toes outward at a 180-degree angle. Keep your spine straight with neck and shoulders relaxed. Place your arms in front of your chest, palms down, and form a triangle with your thumbs and index fingers. Hold this posture for as long as you are comfortable. Repeat several times.

• Lie on your back and lift your left leg, with bent knee, to touch your left knee on the floor. Shift your eyes to the left to gaze at your left hand for three to five minutes; this will release energy blockage from your diaphragm. Repeat the same exercise with the right leg.

• Abdominal or dahnjon breathing is excellent since it synchronizes the abdomen with the diaphragm and will stimulate liver function.

— Chungsuk Lee