Recently in clinical practice, many sisters have expressed this concern: "Dr. Ha, summer should be the time of abundant yang energy, yet I constantly feel irritable and restless, struggling to sleep. Even during ovulation, my follicles show no growth – what's really going on here?"

This phenomenon is actually closely related to this year's Five Movements and Six Qi. With insufficient Metal Qi this year, excessive Fire Qi prevails—it's as if the heavens have been "stoking the fire" continuously. Under such climatic influences, our internal Liver Fire tends to become similarly excessive.

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that the Liver governs free flow, acting like the body's "traffic police" responsible for regulating the movement of Qi and Blood throughout the body. When Liver Fire becomes excessive, the channels of Qi and Blood become obstructed, leaving the ovaries as if "stewed" in a stagnant environment—making healthy follicle development naturally difficult. The uterus is also affected, becoming "cold," which makes embryo implantation challenging.

Today, I'll share with you a simple 3-minute pre-bedtime exercise—massaging the brow ridge.

Don’t underestimate this seemingly insignificant area—it’s a key "traffic hub" for the Liver Meridian, Gallbladder Meridian, and Bladder Meridian. Many women who’ve tried this report not only reduced rib-side bloating and deeper sleep but also, after three months of consistent practice, successfully conceived.

Why does excessive liver fire affect pregnancy preparation? From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are three main reasons:

1. Liver fire scorches kidney yin: Kidney yin is essential for nourishing the ovaries, just as crops need water to grow. Excessive liver fire depletes kidney yin, causing the ovaries to resemble "dehydrated crops," leading to slow follicular growth, increased susceptibility to follicular atresia, and consequent decline in AMH levels.

2. Liver stagnation causing blood stasis: Excessive liver fire leads to liver qi stagnation and disrupted blood circulation, making the pathways appear "clogged." This prevents follicles from proper ovulation during the fertile window. Some women undergoing ultrasound monitoring may see follicles reach 18mm, only to find them "luteinized" the next day. Additionally, it causes menstrual blood to darken to a purplish-black color with clots, while dysmenorrhea intensifies over time.

3. Endocrine imbalance: Under the influence of liver fire, the body's hormonal equilibrium is disrupted, leading to imbalanced FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels that "compete against each other." This results in frequent "false positives" on ovulation test strips, interfering with accurate fertility tracking.

These three major issues are intricately interconnected, forming three checkpoints on the "path to conception." The eyebrow ridge area happens to be the key to unlocking these "blockages."

People with excessive liver fire will exhibit "warning signals" when pressing the eyebrow ridge:

1. Significant soreness upon pressing, possibly even feeling small nodules;

2. Red, dry eyes with a constant sensation of something irritating them;

3. After massaging, if you yawn or tear up, it indicates the release of liver fire.

A patient with PCOS previously reported sharp pain when first massaging the brow ridge, but after one week of consistent practice, the soreness diminished. An ultrasound on day 14 of her menstrual cycle confirmed successful follicular release—a clear sign of improved qi and blood circulation.

Here's how to perform the correct scraping technique:

1. Make fists with both hands and press against the brow ridge using the second knuckle of your index finger;

2. Slowly scrape from the Zanzhu acupoint at the inner eyebrow to the Sizhukong acupoint at the outer end of the eyebrow, repeating 10-15 times;

3. Apply moderate pressure—just enough to feel slight soreness and distension—avoid using excessive force that could damage the skin.

The optimal time for this exercise is between 9-11 PM (when the Sanjiao meridian is most active). Performing it after a shower yields the best results. Remember to wear loose clothing to allow smooth flow of qi and blood.

You can also combine these techniques for enhanced effects:

Heat compress assistance: After massaging the brow ridge, apply a warm towel for 1 minute. The warmth will travel downward along the meridians—women with uterine cold issues will notably feel warmth in their lower abdomen.

Coordinate with breathing: While pressing and kneading, inhale for 4 seconds and exhale for 6 seconds, simultaneously focusing your attention on "relaxing both sides of the ribs." This can double the liver-soothing effects.

Continuous menstruation: For sisters experiencing scanty menstrual flow with blood clots, you may also massage the eyebrow ridge during your period to help expel stagnant blood, but be sure to reduce pressure and shorten the duration to 1 minute.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the acupoints around the eyebrow ridge serve as the "exit" for "Liver Channel wind-fire."

When liver fire is blocked, the Liver Channel "circles the genitalia," leading to insufficient ovarian nourishment and poor follicle development;

The Gallbladder Channel "penetrates the diaphragm and connects to the liver," causing ovulation to feel like "a gate that won't open";

The bladder meridian "controls the diseases of sinews," causing tension in the uterine smooth muscles and poor endometrial receptivity.

Gently massaging the brow bone acts like "opening a floodgate" - allowing liver fire to dissipate, nourishing kidney yin, restoring ovarian function, warming the uterus, and naturally facilitating conception.

Many sisters say "getting pregnant is difficult," but it's not because their bodies are in poor condition—it's because they haven't found the "blockage points." Tonight before bed, why not try this simple exercise? As you massage, pay attention to whether your sides relax and your breathing deepens. If you feel sharp pain or see no improvement after a month of practice, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll help you identify the "fertility blockage points" through traditional diagnosis.

Remember, the key to fertility isn't about "forcing it," but about getting your Qi and blood "flowing smoothly." When the liver isn't blocked, the eggs thrive; when the uterus isn't cold, the pregnancy holds—this is the ancestral wisdom of conception preparation.