Headaches & Dizziness? Understanding Liver Yang Rising

What is "Liver Yang Rising"?

To understand this, let's use an analogy. Imagine a large, beautiful hot air balloon tethered securely to the ground.

  • The balloon, with its natural tendency to rise, is your body's active, warming Yang energy.
  • The heavy tethers and anchors holding it firmly to the earth are your body's cooling, calming, and grounding Yin energy.

A healthy body has a strong anchor (Yin) that keeps the balloon (Yang) from flying away uncontrollably.

"Liver Yang Rising" happens when the Yin anchor becomes weak and frayed. This is usually due to a deeper, long-term deficiency of Liver Yin or Kidney Yin, often caused by chronic stress, overwork, or simply the aging process.

When the Yin anchor is too weak to hold it down, the hot, active Yang energy of the Liver "breaks free" and rushes upwards to the head, where it causes a variety of disruptive symptoms. This is not a true excess of energy, but rather energy that is uncontrolled and in the wrong place.

You will likely experience symptoms that are felt in your head, alongside signs of the underlying weakness:

  • In the Head (the "Rising Yang"):
    • Headaches: Often throbbing, on the sides of the head (temples) or behind the eyes.
    • Dizziness or Vertigo: A very common and key symptom.
    • Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears, which can be loud.
    • Flushed Face: Especially a flushing of the cheeks when tired or emotional.
  • Emotional State: Sudden flashes of anger or outbursts of irritability (that can pass quickly).
  • Signs of the Root Cause (the "Weak Anchor"):
    • A weak or sore lower back and knees.
    • Dry eyes or blurry vision.
    • Poor memory.
    • Night sweats.

Your acupressure treatment had two goals: to gently guide the "balloon" back down, and more importantly, to start repairing and strengthening its "anchor."

Lifestyle Advice: Anchor the Yang, Nourish the Yin

Your strategy must address both the symptom (the rising) and the root (the deficiency).

1. Adopt a Grounding, Yin-Nourishing Diet:

  • AVOID "Upward-Stirring" Foods: You must avoid foods that aggravate the rising Yang. This includes:
    • Alcohol, coffee, and all caffeine.
    • Pungent, heating spices like chilli, cayenne, and excessive garlic.
    • Excessive red meat.
  • EAT Grounding & Cooling Foods:
    • Vegetables: Celery, watercress, and seaweeds (like kelp) are particularly good at calming rising Yang.
    • Yin-Nourishing Foods: Goji berries, black beans, kidney beans, black sesame seeds, and millet.
    • A Little Sour & Salty: The sour flavour is astringent and helps "hold" Yin, while the salty flavour nourishes the Kidneys (the foundation of Yin). Use in moderation (e.g., a squeeze of lemon, miso soup).

2. Cultivate Stillness and Rest:
This is the most important way to rebuild your Yin anchor.

  • Slow Down: Rushing and a frantic pace are pure Yang and will worsen your symptoms. Consciously build space into your day.
  • Prioritize Sleep: Rest is when your Yin replenishes. The hours before midnight are the most valuable.
  • Avoid Overheating: Stay out of the hot midday sun and avoid saunas or very hot baths which can further deplete Yin.

3. Choose Grounding Movement:

  • Gentle, Grounding Exercise: Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yin Yoga are perfect as they are slow, deliberate, and focus on connecting with the earth.
  • Walking: A calm walk, especially in nature, is excellent.
  • Avoid Intense, Jarring Exercise: High-intensity workouts can stir up Yang and should be avoided until you feel more balanced.

4. Acupressure at Home:
This combination addresses both the branch (symptoms) and the root (cause).

  • Gallbladder 20 (Fengchi - "Wind Pool"): To calm the rising symptoms in the head.
    • Location: At the base of your skull, in the two hollows on either side of the thick tendons of your neck.
    • How to: Hook your thumbs or fingers into these hollows and apply deep pressure upwards towards your eyes for 1-2 minutes. This is a prime point for headaches and dizziness.
  • Kidney 3 (Taixi - "Great Stream"): To nourish the Yin anchor.
    • Location: In the depression on your inner ankle, located halfway between the tip of your inner ankle bone and your Achilles tendon.
    • How to: Apply gentle but steady pressure for 1-2 minutes. This is a master point for building back your foundational Yin energy.

By focusing on nourishing your deep reserves and calming your lifestyle, you can effectively repair your anchor and keep your energy grounded, stable, and clear.