In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver and gallbladder are understood differently than in Western medicine, where they refer to the liver and gallbladder organs. In TCM, the liver stores blood and governs the flow of Qi throughout the body. If the physiological functions of the liver are disrupted, it can affect the functions of all other organs. Therefore, it is often said that nourishing the liver is akin to nourishing life. Below, Dr. Liu explains several conditions related to liver dysfunction.
First Condition: Liver Fire
Do you often experience headaches, a feeling of fullness in the head, a flushed face, and swollen eyes? These symptoms are often caused by liver fire. Liver fire arises from prolonged stagnation of liver Qi, leading to internal heat in the liver. Patients with this condition may have a short temper, frequently feel angry, and often experience dryness of the mouth and tongue. In such cases, we can consider using Long Dan Cao Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver) to clear liver fire.
Second Condition: Liver Qi Stagnation
Do you often feel unhappy, tend to hold in your anger, and experience pain in the sides of your body? Do you find that when you get angry, your abdomen becomes bloated, and women may experience breast tenderness and irregular menstruation? These symptoms are typical of liver Qi stagnation, which occurs when the liver’s ability to disperse Qi is impaired, leading to a buildup of stagnant Qi. Clinically, we generally select medications that soothe the liver and regulate Qi, such as Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan (Bupleurum Pill to Soothe the Liver), which is effective for symptoms caused by liver Qi stagnation.
Third Condition: Liver Blood Deficiency
Do you often feel dizzy, have blurred vision, or experience night blindness? Do your limbs frequently feel numb? These symptoms are primarily caused by liver blood deficiency. In TCM, the liver governs the tendons, and when liver blood cannot nourish the tendons, it leads to symptoms such as numbness and tremors in the limbs. The body’s organ functions are impaired due to insufficient nourishment. Women may also experience reduced menstrual flow, pale color, and in severe cases, amenorrhea, with a pale complexion and lips. In this case, we can consider using Ba Zhen Wan (Eight Treasure Pill) to nourish liver blood.
Fourth Condition: Liver Yin Deficiency
When there is insufficient yin fluid in the body, it can lead to noticeable dryness of the eyes, similar to the feeling of not drinking enough water, and may also cause dryness of the mouth. Generally, this condition may also present with irritability, night sweats, and a short temper. This is due to a reduction in liver yin, which fails to nourish the organs, leading to these symptoms. If we extend our tongue, we may find that the tongue body is red, with little coating, indicating a dry tongue. This is a sign of yin deficiency. We can consider using Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill) to nourish liver yin.
That concludes Dr. Liu’s explanation of several conditions related to liver dysfunction. Have you learned something new? If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
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