Spring Cleaning: the Season of the Liver
If you find yourself snapping at your partner one minute, feeling out of control as the tears start to bubble up the next…if you’re struggling with cramps, bloating, and anxiety…and then wondering why your thyroid labs are "normal" but you still feel exhausted and puffy—this one’s for you.
Spring is the season of the Liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s the perfect season to gently support your liver’s natural desire to cleanse and reset in this period of renewal, growth, and upward energy. It’s time for spring cleaning, examining not just clothes that no longer work for us but emotions, relationships, and behaviors that should go in the bin as well.
Your Liver Does Way More Than Detox Alcohol
We tend to think of the liver as the organ that processes alcohol, and while that’s true, its job description is way longer. I was reading a plant medicine book the other day that described it as the “LeBron James of detoxification”! Your liver is responsible for:
Filtering and breaking down used-up hormones, especially estrogen
Converting inactive thyroid hormone (T4) into active T3
Producing bile to help you digest fats and eliminate toxins
Storing key nutrients like B12, iron, and copper
Processing medications, caffeine, and environmental toxins
Basically, if your liver is overwhelmed, everything else gets backed up—especially your hormones and metabolism. And while I’ve heard the argument: “your liver doesn’t need a detox; that’s what it’s designed to do”… our livers weren’t designed with the modern toxic burden in mind. We’re up against so much more than our ancestors were, but our liver hasn’t evolved that much!
The Estrogen Domino Effect
One of your liver's biggest roles in hormone health is clearing out excess estrogen. When your liver can't do this efficiently—because it's overwhelmed, undernourished, or inflamed—estrogen builds up in the body.
That estrogen dominance can look like:
PMS, mood swings, and irritability
Breast tenderness
Heavy or painful periods
Bloating and water retention
Increased anxiety
So if you feel like you become a completely different person during your luteal phase- riding the roller coaster of mood swings from tears to screaming, intense cravings and bloating, fatigue and aches…you’re not crazy. Your liver may be asking for support.
Your Thyroid & Liver: Secret Teammates
Over 60% of your T4 to T3 conversion happens in the liver. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that gives you energy, metabolism, and brain clarity. So even if your thyroid labs say you’re "fine," your liver might not be pulling its weight in converting hormones to their usable form.
Symptoms of poor liver-thyroid function:
Fatigue
Brain fog
Sluggish metabolism
Hair thinning
Feeling cold all the time
No amount of thyroid medication or iodine will help if your liver isn’t functioning well enough to activate those hormones. This was an issue I struggled with for over two years before I got answers! I was simply handed a higher and higher dose of thyroid medications, leaving me experiencing side effects like heart palpitations and sweating (scary!!) yet I was STILL gaining weight, feeling achy and exhausted, and battling intense brain fog.
Feeling Snappy? (Your Liver Might Be Holding That, Too)
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is associated with repressed anger, resentment, and frustration. Energetically, the liver governs the smooth flow of emotions and energy throughout the body. When liver qi is stagnant, we often feel stuck, irritable, reactive, or like we’re about to explode.
Sound familiar?
What I discover with women struggling with bloating, fatigue, mood swings, and weight gain is a near-identical archetype beneath the surface: the type A, people-pleasing, deeply sensitive people pleaser who just wants to feel loved and be able to relax.
If you're suppressing your needs, people-pleasing, or bottling up emotions, your liver can feel that burden physically and energetically. Emotional snapping, rage outbursts, or the simmering resentment that builds over time may actually be a sign your liver is asking for support and a deeper release. Think of it like a whistling kettle- it’s time to blow off some steam!
How to Support Your Liver for Overall Balance
And no… it’s not another juice cleanse. Your liver doesn’t need extremes—it needs consistency, nourishment, and space. Remember, the energy of the liver is flow not restriction or rigid structure.
Nourish your liver with:
Bitter greens (arugula, dandelion, mustard greens)
Cooked cruciferous veggies (broccoli, kale, cauliflower)
Beets, carrots, and lemon water
High-quality protein (for Phase 2 detox pathways)
Castor oil packs over the liver area- I wear mine to sleep!
Love your liver through:
Breathwork and emotional release (crying, journaling, shaking)
Cutting down synthetic fragrances and processed foods
Prioritizing sleep (your liver detoxes most deeply overnight)
Setting boundaries and giving yourself permission to rest- schedule time for YOU and treat it as an appointment that is just as important as anything else.
Bottom Line
Your liver isn’t just a detox organ—it’s a hormonal hub and emotional filter. If you’re dealing with PMS, thyroid symptoms, or unexplained irritability, it might be time to show your liver some love. Because when your liver flows freely, so do you.
