The Liver According To Chinese Medicine

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR A DOCTOR. YOU SHOULDN’T USE IT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELF-DIAGNOSING OR SELF-MEDICATING BUT RATHER SO YOU CAN HAVE A MORE INFORMED DISCUSSION WITH A PROFESSIONAL TCM PRACTITIONER OR YOUR FAMILY GP.

THE LIVER ACCORDING TO CHINESE MEDICINE

CHINESE: 肝

PINYIN: Gān

SUMMARY

The Liver is the 'General' for the body because it is responsible for overall planning of the body’s functions by ensuring the smooth flow and proper direction of Qi. It also stores the Blood and regulates the amount of Blood circulated by the Heart.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER

The Liver's main function in Chinese Medicine is to ensure the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body and to store Blood. It also fulfills a strong role in our emotional well-being by housing the Ethereal Soul (Hun-魂) and being affected by anger.
The Liver is often referred as the body's 'general' in Chinese Medicine because it is in charge of deciding on countermeasures if the external environment changes.

CLASSIFICATION

THE TCM LIVER FUNCTIONS

It stores Blood
It ensures the smooth flow of Qi
It controls the sinews
It manifests in the nails
It opens into the eyes
It controls tears
It houses the Ethereal Soul (Hun-魂)
It is affected by Anger

MAIN SYMPTOMS

If the Liver-Qi stagnates, the symptoms are hypochondriac distension and pain, pain in the lower abdomen and the lateral sides of the abdomen, irritability, depression, distension and pain in the breasts, and irregular menstruation.

PATTERNS OF DISHARMONY

1. LIVER BLOOD DEFICIENCY

This pattern has all the general manifestation of the Blood Deficiency, such as dizziness, pale lips, dull pale face. The Liver stores Blood, that is the reason any Blood Deficiency often involves the Liver. This pattern has an impact on areas the Liver relates to, such as the eyes, the sinews, the nails, women’s menstruation and Ethereal Soul. First of all, the Liver opens to the eyes, thus the symptoms of blurred vision and diminished night vision because the eyes are not nourished and moistened by sufficient Blood. Secondly, the Liver controls the sinews which includes tendons, cartilages and ligaments of the limbs. If Liver Blood is Deficient, malnutrition of the sinews results, causing muscular weakness, cramps, stiffness, rigidity, joint pain, as well as numbness and tremors of the limbs. Then the Liver manifests in the nails, hence the withered and brittle nails as they are not moistened properly. The Liver also supplies Blood to Directing (Ren Mai) and Penetrating Vessels (Chong Mai) so as to produce monthly periods. If there aren’t enough Liver Blood, it results in scanty period or even absence of periods.

2. DAMP-HEAT IN THE LIVER

This pattern is caused by excessive Heat in the Liver and Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency. Dampness is created if the Spleen’s transportation and transformation function is impaired. When Damp-Heat builds up, the flow of Qi is disturbed, resulting in Qi Stagnation symptoms. When lasting for a long period of time, Dampness can cause the formation of Phlegm. Therefore, patients often have a feeling of fullness in the hypochondrium, abdomen or hypogastrium. They also feel general heaviness of the body. Since Dampness has a tendency to flow downwards, it often settles in the Lower Burner, causing urinary Bladder infections, a burning feeling and vaginal discharge, itching and infection. It often manifests in the genitals, resulting in sores or eczema in this area.

3. STAGNANT LIVER QI TURNING INTO FIRE

This pattern develops from Liver Qi Stagnation, which creates excessive amount of Heat and then turn into Liver Heat. It manifests with a feeling of heat, a red face and desire to drink. From a mental emotional perspective, patients tend to be irritable, anxious, moody and prone to outbursts of anger. This differs from Liver Qi Stagnation where patients are more able to repress their anger.

4. LIVER YANG RISING

Long term Deficiency of Liver Yin, Liver Blood or Kidney Yin can cause Liver Yang rising upwards. The symptoms mentioned here are fairly similar to these of Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire. However, the latter is purely an Excess pattern. The Fire dries up the Body Fluids and cause some clear sign of Dryness such as constipation, red eyes and face or scanty dark urine. Liver Yang Rising, on the other hand, is both Excess (the Yang rising) and Empty (Deficient Yin or Blood) at the same time. The typical Excess symptoms are headache, tinnitus, deafness, propensity to outbursts of anger and etc. The typical Empty symptoms are Blurred vision, Insomnia, stiffness and numbness of the muscles, neck, knees, shoulder and upper back. There also some Empty-Heat manifestations such as dry mouth or dry skin. Many factors can result in this pattern, emotional stress and diet are the two most dominant reasons. Other causes include excessive exercises and sexual activities, prolonged physical exertion and chronic menorrhagia.

5. LIVER WIND AGITATING INTERNALLY DUE TO EXTREME HEAT

The most typical manifestation of Internal Wind is tremor, tic, numbness and tingling, dizziness, convulsions and paralysis. Other symptoms are depends on the causes of this Internal Wind. When it is derived from extreme Heat, there are additional manifestation of high temperature. The invasion of external Wind-Heat leads to this pattern. It then turns into Interior Heat and penetrates deep into the Blood according to the four levels theory. Once the Heat is in the Blood, it can stir up the Wind, causing an Excess amount of Internal Wind. The underlying mechanic is that it injures the Yin (since Blood is Yin in nature) and the resulting Yin deficiency gives rise to Internal Wind.It is more seen in children with febrile diseases such as measles, encephalitis and meningitis.