Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that all diseases arise from Qi. Therefore, only by resolving the issue of liver Qi stagnation can women reduce their illnesses or even avoid them altogether.
Causes of Liver Qi Stagnation
Several factors can lead to liver Qi stagnation:
Family Disharmony: Frequent arguments between spouses, tense relationships with in-laws, etc., can lead to liver Qi not flowing smoothly.
Social Pressure: For instance, older unmarried women often face pressure from parents, relatives, and colleagues to marry, compounded by negative societal views on their situation, leading to significant stress and causing liver Qi stagnation.
Work Pressure: In modern workplaces, there is no gender preference; women face unprecedented pressure, especially white-collar women, who are constantly torn between family and career, resulting in widespread liver Qi stagnation.
Poor Self-Regulation: Many women struggle to cope with issues, tend to dwell on negative aspects of life and work, and cannot self-soothe, which often leads to liver Qi stagnation.
Manifestations of Liver Qi Stagnation
One manifestation is Qi stagnation, where Qi is blocked within the body, leading to feelings of depression and oppression, commonly described as feeling “stifled,” “sulking,” or “having a heavy heart.” This is a typical sign of liver Qi stagnation. Prolonged liver Qi stagnation can generate heat, leading to excessive liver fire and irritability. Some individuals may sigh frequently and feel unhappy, risking serious health issues; others may become impulsive and easily angered, causing distress to themselves and others.
Many women report that they are aware of their poor health and wish to take blood-nourishing supplements, but they often develop mouth ulcers or have trouble sleeping after taking them, tossing and turning. Some believe this is due to “deficiency not receiving nourishment,” but in fact, these issues are mostly caused by liver fire; if liver fire is blocked, how can nourishment be absorbed?
The dangers of liver Qi stagnation are significant and beyond imagination; it can lead to blood stasis, weak temper, dampness accumulation, and even yin deficiency with yang excess… In short, the “crimes” of liver Qi stagnation are numerous. Vice President Wang Guowei of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital stated on Beijing TV’s “Health Hall” program that “all diseases stem from the liver.”
Today, many people suffer from liver Qi stagnation, especially women, who juggle family responsibilities and careers, raising and educating children while also caring for elderly parents and in-laws, making it difficult to avoid liver Qi stagnation.
How to Determine if You Have Liver Qi Stagnation
Just as solving a case requires evidence, self-diagnosis requires the same; assumptions are not enough. The most critical evidence for liver Qi stagnation can be found on the tongue. Generally, a person’s tongue is oval-shaped, while someone with liver Qi stagnation will have a pointed tongue, with the tip and sides appearing red—this is a key clue for liver Qi stagnation.
Of course, to confirm liver Qi stagnation as a solid diagnosis, you will need the following “evidence”: (1) Bitter Taste: Many women notice a bitter taste in their mouth, especially in the morning. (2) Dry Throat: A feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat, as if there is no saliva, although some may still see saliva on their tongue.
(3) Sensation of a Lump in the Throat: A feeling as if there is a bayberry pit stuck in the throat, which cannot be coughed up or swallowed, known as “plum pit Qi.”
(4) Dizziness: Some women frequently experience dizziness, either all day or in sudden episodes, and some may also have headaches. (5) Poor Appetite: “Liver wood counteracting spleen earth” means that liver Qi stagnation can lead to various spleen and stomach issues, such as lack of appetite, bloating, and stomach pain. (6) Alternating Cold and Hot Sensations: Feeling hot when dressed and cold when undressed, feeling hot in a warm room but cold outside. (7) Irritability: Individuals with liver Qi stagnation often feel irritable and easily angered, and may sulk. (8) Nausea: Due to “liver wood counteracting spleen earth,” leading to upward stomach Qi, causing belching, acid reflux, or even vomiting. (9) Chest Tightness: A feeling of tightness in the chest, even diagnosed with heart issues. In fact, those with heart problems should first address liver Qi stagnation if their tongue is pointed, which can help resolve heart issues. (10) Rib Pain: A persistent feeling of pain in the ribs. (11) Insomnia and Vivid Dreams: Insomnia can stem from two main causes: blood deficiency or liver Qi stagnation. Vivid dreams are also a sign of liver Qi stagnation, as such individuals often dream continuously upon falling asleep. (12) Low Mood: Sighing, feeling melancholic, and being overly sensitive. (13) Cold Hands and Feet: Many know that cold extremities can result from yang deficiency, blood deficiency, or blood stasis, but few understand that liver Qi stagnation can also cause cold hands and feet. If cold hands and feet coincide with the above symptoms, consider the possibility of liver Qi stagnation.
All of the above are criteria for diagnosing liver Qi stagnation. If at least one or two points match, and the tongue is pointed, it can generally be concluded that liver Qi stagnation is present. In fact, even without considering these symptoms, women can have a sense of their condition. They are aware of their emotional state, any distressing events, who has upset them, whether they feel frustrated, and how significant their work pressure is… These matters are clearer to them than anyone else, so the true diagnostic standard for liver Qi stagnation lies within themselves.
Cupping and Moxibustion for Liver Qi Stagnation
To regulate liver Qi stagnation, moxibustion combined with cupping is highly effective. The specific acupoints for moxibustion and cupping are as follows: Taichong (Liver 3) is an acupoint on the foot’s Jueyin Liver Meridian, located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression between the first and second metatarsal bones. Cupping followed by moxibustion at this point can regulate Qi, soothe the liver, invigorate blood, and help smooth Qi and blood flow.
Qimen (Liver 14)
Qimen is the mu point of the Jueyin Liver Meridian, located in the sixth intercostal space, four inches lateral to the midline (directly below the nipple). Moxibustion at this point can soothe the liver, strengthen the spleen, and regulate Qi and invigorate blood. Cupping can also be combined with Liver Shu (Liver Back Shu) and Diaphragm Shu for soothing the liver, invigorating blood, and resolving stasis, primarily treating chest and rib pain. Rubbing the sides of the ribs with both hands can also soothe the liver and relieve stagnation.
Shanzhong (Ren 17) is located at the level of the fourth intercostal space, on the midline (between the nipples). Cupping at this point can invigorate blood circulation, open the chest, regulate Qi, and relieve cough and asthma. Even massaging this point can yield good results, helping to alleviate chest tightness, cough, and vomiting. Cupping at the above acupoints should be done for 5-10 minutes if there is no significant discomfort. Generally, a course of treatment consists of 10 sessions, with cupping repeated every 5 days, and moxibustion performed every other day. After cupping, the color of the cupping marks reflects each person’s constitution and health status:
Cupping MarksPurple-black indicates blood stasis in the body. Dark red indicates stasis heat and more severe pathology. Pale and slightly swollen indicates yang deficiency leading to water retention. Prominent surface texture and enlarged pores with slight itching indicate wind and dampness invasion.
During cupping, one may feel local tightness, coolness, or swelling; if there is no significant discomfort, the cupping marks will naturally fade within 3 to 5 days without special treatment.
The content of this article is for clinical reference only; non-TCM professionals should not attempt self-medication.
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