1.
A netizen, Jie Mu, consulted:
Recently, I have been feeling uncomfortable with bloating in my stomach. I haven’t eaten much, yet my stomach feels distended and sometimes it hurts so much that I feel pain in my ribs. Occasionally, I also experience acid reflux and I am hesitant to eat, as I can hardly eat anything.
Health Inquiry:
What are the symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation?
Analysis by Dou Ge:
1. Liver Qi stagnation type stomach pain
(1) Etiology: Liver Qi fails to disperse and flow, obstructing the spleen and stomach, leading to disharmony between the liver and stomach or liver and spleen, causing Qi and blood stagnation resulting in stomach pain.
(2) Symptoms: Pain in the epigastric region, radiating to both sides, with a feeling of distension and movement, often aggravated by emotional distress, sighing frequently, loss of appetite, and poor sleep. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is wiry.
(3) Treatment principle: Soothe the liver, harmonize the stomach, regulate Qi, and relieve pain.
(4) Main formula: Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bupleurum Powder to Spread the Liver) with modifications.
2. Liver Qi stagnation type fullness and distension
(1) Etiology: Emotional disharmony, Qi mechanism disorder, excessive worry harms the spleen, excessive anger harms the liver, leading to stagnation of liver and spleen Qi, affecting the stomach and causing abnormal rising and descending, resulting in fullness and distension.
(2) Symptoms: Fullness and distension in the epigastric and abdominal regions, radiating to both sides, belching provides relief, irritability, frequent sighing, often aggravated by emotional factors, with a thin white tongue coating and wiry pulse.
(3) Treatment principle: Soothe the liver, relieve depression, regulate Qi, and resolve spleen issues.
(4) Main formula: Chai Hu Shu Gan San or Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Decoction) with modifications.
2.
A netizen, Qing He Yi, consulted: I have a sharp pain just below the right rib cage, and after waking up from sleep, my abdomen hurts a lot. If I lie down for too long, it also hurts. I went to the hospital for an ultrasound, and everything was normal. A TCM practitioner said it is Liver Qi stagnation, and I want to understand what the symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation are.
Health Inquiry: What are the symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation?
Analysis by Dou Ge:
The issue of “Liver Qi stagnation” refers to the abnormal function of the liver’s dispersing ability, leading to Qi stagnation and emotional depression.
Symptoms: Fullness and pain in the chest and sides or lower abdomen, emotional depression or irritability, frequent sighing, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, or goiter in the neck, or masses under the ribs; women may experience breast distension and pain, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, with a thin white tongue coating and wiry pulse. This condition is also known as Liver Qi Stagnation Syndrome, abbreviated as Liver Stagnation Syndrome.
Etiology: This condition is often due to emotional distress, sudden mental stimulation, or invasion by pathogenic factors, obstructing the liver meridian, causing liver Qi to fail in dispersing and flowing.
A. Treatment principles: Soothe the liver, harmonize the stomach, regulate Qi, and relieve pain; B. Main formula: Chai Hu Shu Gan San with modifications; C. One should maintain a cheerful disposition, avoid mental stimulation or emotional agitation, and be adept at controlling emotions. During periods of anger or sadness, one should avoid eating or even drinking.
3.
A netizen, Hey Mr., consulted: I feel distension in my ribs, weakness, and prefer to lie down. After lying for a while, I feel gas moving down my ribs and break out in cold sweat all over. I have discomfort in my throat, no appetite, often have nasal congestion and sneezing, my menstrual cycle is normal, but I experience abdominal pain and cold sweats during my period, with scanty light-colored menstrual flow. I feel like my abdomen is always bloated and uncomfortable, and it hurts when I eat.
Health Inquiry: What are the symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation?
Analysis by Dou Ge: The occurrence of Liver Qi stagnation is generally related to excessive mental stress and feelings of depression. The main symptoms include abdominal distension, abdominal pain, acid reflux, belching, and loss of appetite.
Dou Ge’s suggestion: For Liver Qi stagnation, it is recommended to take Xiao Yao Wan (Free and Easy Wanderer Pill) for treatment. During the medication period, one should maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and refrain from taking it during menstruation, as it may increase menstrual flow. Additionally, it is important to rest and avoid overexertion, and to eat small, frequent meals instead of binge eating.