Anger is loud hurt
When tension in the liver has no where else to go and will impact the spleen
Welcome to our 5 part series on how each organ system is linked to specific emotional state and why addressing our emotional needs have implications for our health.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), when we talk about the organ, we are not primarily referring to the anatomical organ that Western medicine describes. We’re talking about a functional system — an energetic network of processes.Think of it less as an organ and more as a set of responsibilities in the body–mind -spirit ecosystem.
By gently addressing your hurts and emotional patterns, you may not only feel more internally supported, but may also begin to see shifts or relief in certain physical health issues as well.
Liver has a big job
In TCM, anger plays a powerful role in shaping the health of the body—especially the the Liver.
The Liver’s main job is to keep energy flowing smoothly throughout the body. When a person feels calm, the Liver keeps everything moving freely, which enables the Spleen to do its job of digesting food and turning it into energy and blood.
The Liver is the organ most affected by anger.
What is anger?
Anger is loud hurt. Underneath these loud hurts are the quieter emotions of sadness, rejection, shame, disconnection, abandonment, loneliness.
Chronic anger spreads
When anger arises, especially when it is suppressed or held in for long periods of time, it causes the Liver’s qi to become tense, stuck, or forceful. Instead of moving smoothly, energy becomes tight and constrained. This tension doesn’t stay only in the Liver—it spreads into the middle of the body, where the Spleen lives.
Anger’s implications on our health
As the Liver becomes tense from anger, it begins to put pressure on the Spleen. It’s as if the Liver tightens its grip around the Spleen, restricting its ability to function. The Spleen, which depends on smooth and relaxed qi flow, becomes weakened under this pressure. When this happens, digestion slows down, and the body struggles to turn food into energy and nourishment.
This is why anger can lead to physical symptoms like bloating, loss of appetite, fatigue after eating, or a heavy feeling in the body. The Spleen cannot work properly because anger has disrupted the Liver, and the Liver has disrupted the Spleen.
When anger is unprocessed
Over time, this creates a cycle. The more anger is held inside, the more the Liver becomes constrained. The more constrained the Liver becomes, the weaker the Spleen becomes. And the weaker the Spleen becomes, the less energy and blood the body produces, leaving a person feeling drained and stuck—not just emotionally, but physically.
In this way, anger does not only affect the mind. It physically tightens the body, disrupts digestion, weakens energy production, and interferes with the body’s ability to nourish itself. Anger first disturbs the Liver—but its effects are ultimately felt throughout the entire digestive and energy system, beginning with the Spleen.
TCM herbs and acupuncture can certainly help, but what your anger really needs is to be processed. What it’s looking for is a connection, to be listened to, to be loved.
Experiment
If you are feeling anger, ask Anger, “Tell me more, tell me all about it.” Create a relationship with this anger and see if anything deeper emerges.
