Western medical science has a tough time wrapping its head around emotional and mental imbalances. Because it rarely looks beyond physical causes, it misses the more subtle blockages that lead to problems like depression and anger. Even conventional psychology gets caught up in the belief that neurotransmitter imbalances cause these emotional disorders.
While neurochemistry is indirectly correlated with these states of emotional dysfunction, the whole story is quite a bit more complicated.
Ancient medical systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine recognized (and continue to recognize) this fact. They examine the whole rather than the part, and posit a connection between parts of the physical body and specific emotions (rather than assuming that each physical organ and part only has a determined, physical function).
Traditional Chinese Medicine discusses meridians, which are systems of channels through which life energy flows. If the energy in a particular meridian becomes blocked, certain physical and emotional imbalances develop as a result.
For example, the liver meridian is connected not only with liver function, but also with anger, guilt, and depression. Thus, detoxing the liver (and its corresponding meridian) not only clears physical toxins from your body, but also the emotional toxins that lead to depression, anger and other imbalanced states of being.
Nowadays, lots of plants and practices are put forth as tools for detoxifying and improving the function of the liver, but one of the best of all is turmeric.
Turmeric heals the liver
The purely physical benefits that turmeric has on the liver are remarkable in their own right. Studies have revealed that curcumin (one of the active components in turmeric root) dramatically improves liver function and even protects it against future damage.
In one study, all participants with abnormal liver markers who were given turmeric powder for twelve weeks experienced significant improvement, and absolutely no side effects were observed.[1]
Other research has even demonstrated turmeric’s ability to regenerate liver tissue, particular in diabetics,[2] and in those who have experienced liver damage because of pharmaceuticals and other harmful substances.
Turmeric is also a tremendous ally for those suffering from liver cancer—curcumin can kill liver cancer cells and tumors,[3] repair liver damage done by chemotherapy and radiation,[4] and protect the liver against future incidence of cancer.
And that’s just scratching the surface of the decades-long collection of research related to turmeric’s liver-protecting effects. Numerous studies show the ability of turmeric to heal fibrosis, and many more show that it dramatically improves overall liver functioning, even in the face of hepatoxic foods, substances, and medications.[5]
What these studies don’t speak to directly, though, is the underlying emotional benefits that come from clearing and improving liver function.
Numerous studies show the ability of turmeric to heal fibrosis, and many more show that it dramatically improves overall liver functioning, even in the face of hepatoxic foods, substances, and medications.
An explanation of turmeric’s depression-fighting power
One of the turmeric’s many talents is its ability to heal depression. Studies have even demonstrated that it performs on par or better than leading pharmaceutical antidepressants.
Unlike antidepressants, though, turmeric doesn’t combat depression by targeting specific neurotransmitters (most drugs prescribed for depression focus on raising levels of serotonin or dopamine). Rather, it creates a perfect balance between all the brain’s neurotransmitters, raising and lowering levels as necessary on an individual basis (a mechanism known as neuromodulation).
Here’s the thing, though: researchers can’t be sure that turmeric causes neurotransmitter levels to change. It’s just as reasonable that balanced neurochemistry simply marks the healing of depression. In other words, it’s entirely possible that turmeric combats depression in other ways besides its work in the brain—such as the healing it provides for the liver.
Users of turmeric extracts have reported that it helps them to feel happier and calmer by overcoming anger
Users of turmeric extracts have reported that it helps them to feel happier and calmer by overcoming anger—which is precisely the underlying toxic emotion that is stored in the liver meridian, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Practitioners of this ancient science maintain that stored anger and guilt are an underlying cause of unhappiness, and that physical liver dysfunction is intertwined with this energetic and emotional imbalance.
Given that turmeric plays a prominent role in Ayurvedic medicine—which approaches health and wellness in a holistic manner very similar to that of TCM—it’s not surprising that its benefits extend into the emotional realm.
While it’s unlikely that mainstream research will validate the energetic mechanisms behind Ayurveda, meridian therapy, and related schools of thought, researchers have nevertheless found that treating the liver meridian (in accordance with the principles of TCM) is an effective and consistent way to treat diseases and emotional disorders that TCM associates with the liver.[6]
If you struggle with depression or anger issues, give turmeric a try. It’s best to seek out a high-quality liposomal extract like this one, and to take it 3-4 times per day. Not only can turmeric help bring you back into emotional balance (without the terrible side effects of pharmaceutical antidepressants), but the functioning of your liver will benefit greatly too.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23497020
[2] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/turmeric-may-repair-and-regenerate-diabetic-liver-function
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20582974
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11712783
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19811613
