Controlling anger and fear has been on my radar lately as I’ve had some physical issues manifesting in the last three years that have been unexplained by regular science. I’m part of a large health community that includes people who are experts in other areas in healing that can help when western medicine isn’t working. So I reached out to them and most came up with a common denominator: Liver issues.

I went on liver cleanses and tried massage therapy but the anger was still there. I knew then I had to work harder to heal my liver. It was not just a diet and massage solution, it was a deeper cause.   As I was seeking an alternative treatment that could help my liver, I found that acupuncture and Chinese medicine could help me on the physical aspect of these problems such as constant bruising, red eyes, abnormal sweating, and pain on the side of ribs. I booked an appointment to visit a local Chinese medicine school that provides a clinic for their students to practice. They were surprised to see a case that was very close to myth. My liver needed a lot of love! The anger stored there for years since childhood had taken a horrible toll on my liver, not to mention all the other parts of my body like the gallbladder and possibly spleen and kidneys. Add to that the substances that the liver processed in addition to the emotions of regret, frustration, fear, and rage that accumulated there for years.

Most mornings I wake up angry and knowing the cause has helped me to be aware that I may hurt others on the way. Learning about anger and how it affected my liver and therefore other systems in my body, has inspired me to go deep and finally let go of the anger I’ve held inside me since I was 9 years old. It’s always hard for anyone to come to terms with strong emotions, and we may think it’s not necessary to deal with the past, but knowing that it may hurt the body in other ways is crucial to recovery and healing the body.

The first treatment at the clinic went well and has started me on a path to heal my liver. Acupuncture will replace having to use pills or chemical substances, and has also given me the opportunity to go on a journey to deal with the emotions that created all the physical manifestations of these un-dealt emotions.

So next time I get angry, frustrated, fearful or regretful, I’ll be thinking of my liver and I won’t let it get the best of me anymore!

By Lina Gonzalez, a vegan environmentalist raw foodist tech yogini. She loves books, music, the beach, writing, and all things purple! She’s a certified yoga teacher and blogs about the Alkaline lifestyle at her personal blog.

Photo By marniejoyce