There’s a reason your body feels different at different times of day, and it’s not just caffeine or stress.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, your energy follows an ancient rhythm known as the Chinese Body Clock. Every two hours, your Qi flows to a new organ, awakening its unique power.
Today, we’re tuning into the powerhouse of detoxification and renewal: the liver.
What Does Your Liver Do?
To keep things simple, let’s break the liver into its 3 main functions. That being said, the liver has a much more extensive role in your body, worth learning about. (1)
Detoxification
Most people are aware that the liver detoxifies, but what does that involve? The liver filters out harmful substances and waste from your blood, then breaks them down so they safely leave your body.
Energy Production
As you consume food throughout the day, your liver takes the vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients and converts them into energy.
Additionally, it decides what fats get burned immediately for energy, and when they should be stored away for backup. This storage is used when carbs are not immediately available, ensuring that you still receive energy even when food is scarce.
Digestion
Your liver helps produce bile, a fluid stored in your gallbladder until you eat. When you eat fats, such as avocado and nuts, bile is released into your small intestine. It breaks down fats for better absorption and extracts vitamins from the food you eat.
Without bile, you would receive insufficient energy and vitamins from your diet.
Listen To Your Internal Clock
While the rigid timestamps of the Chinese body clock haven’t been extensively studied, proof of your body’s internal clock is nothing new.
Everyone has a biological clock (also known as the circadian rhythm) that influences everything from the quality of their sleep to their athletic performance. This clock governs your sleep-wake cycle, regulates hormones and body temperature, and affects metabolism. (2)
So, while you may not need to time your wellness habits down to the exact minute, it is a good idea to maintain a routine that aligns with your body’s natural rhythm.
Support Your Liver: Make Your Qi Flow
Traditional Chinese Medicine states that you feel calm, energized, and clear-headed when your Qi flows. On the flip side, blocked Qi may cause fatigue, irritability, frustration, sluggish digestion, or even a loss of motivation.
As it happens, the liver is nicknamed the “General of Qi.” It is believed to govern the smooth flow of energy throughout the body, help balance your emotions, and transform stagnation into vitality, physically and emotionally.
Refresh Your Liver’s Wellness Routine
Using the Chinese body clock as a rough guide for your personalized wellness routine, here are several ways you can support your liver (and your Qi):
Movement
According to the Chinese body clock, the liver is most active between 1-3 AM. (3) Therefore, it is encouraged to do gentle movements throughout the day to clear out what’s been processed overnight.
These movements don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple as gentle stretches and light cardio (such as a quick walk around the block).
Diet
Light and cleansing foods are encouraged to support the liver. Try including more bitter greens, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, and fermented foods in your diet.
On the other hand, food that is excessively rich, heavy, or overly processed may slow down the Qi that flows through your liver. This may lead to sluggishness, bloating, or irritability.
Supporting Your Mental Health
Holding onto emotions is like holding your breath; your energy can’t move. There are several exercises you can do to let go of your emotions. One of our favourites is journaling.
However, not everyone feels the benefits of journaling. We encourage you to find what works, whether this be taking a calming walk in nature, channelling your energy into your workouts, or talking to a trusted friend or family member.
Superfoods for Your Liver
You can further support your liver by feeding it superfoods that aid in natural detoxification. This is why Liver Health + offers a fermented blend of reishi and milk thistle, which work in harmony to protect your liver.
Fermented Reishi
Reishi mushrooms support liver health by protecting liver cells, reducing inflammation, and supporting detox pathways. Fermentation breaks down this mushroom’s tough cell walls, improving the amount of nutrients you can glean from this fungus.
Fermented Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is known to provide antioxidant protection, antifibrotic effects, and detoxification support. Fermentation further enhances this superfood’s bioavailability, allowing you to absorb more nutrients from milk thistle.
Ready to refresh your liver’s wellness ritual? Learn more about Liver Health + here, your liver’s new ally.
References:
1: “Liver.” Encyclopædia Britannica, October 15, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/science/liver.
2: “What Is Circadian Rhythm?” Cleveland Clinic, September 19, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/circadian-rhythm.
3: Vermes, Krystle. “Chinese Body Clock: About, Benefits, Research.” Healthline, March 17, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/health/chinese-body-clock.