From Frustration to Flow: Anger, Qi Stagnation & the Liver
In Chinese Medicine, anger is the emotion connected to the Wood element. It can be expressed in many forms, from frustration and irritability to resentment, blame, self-criticism, and shame. At its core, anger is a Liver energy issue.
There’s so much meaning and story attached to anger. Many of us feel disconnected from it or shameful (particularly women) if we experience it. But from a Chinese medicine perspective, emotions are simply energy in motion. All qi needs to move freely. When emotions are suppressed or held on to too tightly, the Liver energy becomes stuck. This stuckness—what we call Liver Qi Stagnation—can lead to a range of symptoms, including the emotional experience of anger.
I treat mostly women in my acupuncture practice, and I see a lot of Liver Qi Stagnation. I often talk in clinic about how anger is a normal response to stress, and yet the way we live is far from normal. The pressure on women—particularly mothers—is enormous. Stress builds throughout the day until we reach our limit. Like a pressure cooker, the qi builds and builds, until it has nowhere else to go but out.
Anger as a Catalyst
Regulated anger can actually be incredibly positive and powerful. It’s the unregulated, explosive kind that can feel scary and out of control. I once heard anger described as the emotion of self-esteem—a signal that a boundary has been crossed, that something is unfair, or that you want more for yourself. In many ways, anger is the first step in advocating for yourself. I deserve more!
In Chinese medicine, all organs communicate with the Heart, which is considered sovereign. When we are connected to our Shen (the spirit of the Heart), balance and harmony exist within the body. For the Liver, this connection manifests as the ability to move forward, set boundaries, and make choices that are in alignment with our needs.
If we strip away the conditioning and labels attached to anger, we can begin to see it for what it really is: an expression of energy and a strong defence mechanism, often pointing to an unmet need. This can show up in small ways—perhaps you need more space to move your body, more time to connect with friends—or in deeper ways, like a need for a greater sense of purpose.
Working with Anger Instead of Against It
Instead of pushing it down, we can work with this energy by:
✨ Feeling it in the body
Turn inward and acknowledge that anger is present.
What kind of anger is it? Impatience? Resentment? Full-blown rage?
Is there another emotion hidden beneath it?
✨ Bringing curiosity to the sensation
Where do you feel it? Tightness in the chest? Heat in the stomach? Tension in the jaw?
Does it have a shape, colour, texture, or temperature?
What is it trying to protect? What is the unmet need?
✨ Giving the energy somewhere to go
Move your body—run, stomp, or shake it out.
Put on loud music and dance with the anger (my personal favourite!).
Scream into a pillow or in the car where no one can hear you.
Transforming Anger into Forward Motion
Suppressing anger drains our life force. But when we work with it, this energy can be redirected—to push us toward change, inspire a new vision (for ourselves or the world around us), or simply offer a fresh perspective on a situation.
When we allow anger to move, we create space for something new to emerge.
