The Liver in Chinese medicine

 The Liver in Chinese medicine. 

In traditional Chinese medicine the Liver is the organ that governs the smooth flow of Qi throughout the whole person, in both body and mind. To be in a good state of health – physically and emotionally - the body needs to have a smooth, uninterrupted flow of energy. When the energy flows continuously and in the proper direction the body organs function properly and the overall body state is harmonious.

Calm Warrior For Liver

In Chinese medicine the Liver is compared to an army general. Just like an army general on the field the Liver is the strategist in the proper advancement of body functions, ensuring the smooth flow and proper direction of Qi. Thus it is said that the Liver is also the origin of courage, confidence and determination, and governs our capacity to plan our life. People with healthy livers are good leaders and decision makers, they are calm and confident, and have faultless judgment. On the other hand people with stagnated Livers are chronically stressed, impatient, angry and/or depressed. 

Another major function of the Liver is to store and regulate the blood volume in the body. When the body is at rest the blood flows to the Liver to restore energy. Whenever the body is active the blood flows out of the Liver to strengthen and nourish the body while in use. Thus the Liver controls the sinews. As the nails are a figurative addition to the sinews the Liver also manifests in the nails. Therefore tendon, muscle, joint weakness and/or pain as well as brittle nails indicate that the Liver blood is deficient.

Because of its function to store the blood the Liver also plays a major role in governing the menstruation in women. Depending on how it stores blood and if the Qi flows uninterrupted (which as said above is also governed by the Liver) women’s menstruation manifests as healthy or pathological.

In traditional Chinese medicine each organ connects to a certain sense organ. The Liver opens to, connects to and nourishes the eyes. A good, healthy vision mirrors a healthy Liver, while poor vision and any problems with the eyes such as poor or blurry vision, night blindness, glaucoma, cataracts, dry and itchy eyes, red eyes, floaters, etc. indicate Liver pathology.

If you feel that your Liver is in disharmony please review the following materials to determine what pathology corresponds to your condition and learn some of traditional Chinese medicine approaches with foods and acupressure.

Stagnated Liver Qi 

Stagnated Liver Qi caused by 

• over consumption of fat nd greasy food

• excessive or consistent use if alcohol

• stress

• chronic active or repressed anger, resentment or frustration

 

Note: To understand the term "Qi" , thus to get a better grasp about the following pathology, we encourage our readers to review the short material "What is Qi" in the Vitality chapter.

In traditional Chinese medicine the Liver is the organ that governs the smooth flow of Qi throughout the whole person. To be in a good state of health – physically and emotionally - one needs to have a smooth, uninterrupted flow of Qi in both body and mind. When the  Qi flows continuously and in the proper direction the body organs function properly and the overall physical and psychological states are harmonious. If the Qi ceases to flow smoothly one becomes unbalanced on both mental and physical levels. Since the Liver governs the smooth flow of Qi when it stagnates the Liver becomes unbalanced. And vice versa - if the Liver is unbalanced - the Qi, which is controlled by the Liver, will stagnate. In both cases this diagnosis is called "Liver Qi stagnation".

Liver Qi Stagnation: three major causes for the Liver Qi to stagnate. One is improper diet. When too much rich and greasy food is eaten, and/or alcohol is excessively and consistently consumed, the Liver becomes swollen and sluggish and unable to maintain the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. Thus the Qi of the Liver becomes stagnated.

Another cause for the Liver Qi to stagnate is stress. Whenever we are under stress we tend to clench our fingers, hunch our shoulders, curl our body, etc. Our muscles are tense and our breathing is shallow. This indicates that the smooth flow of energy throughout our body is repressed and the Qi is stagnated.

The third and the most common reason for Liver Qi stagnation is chronic active or repressed anger, resentment or frustration.

Symptoms

In women:

•PMS (Premenstrual syndrome)

•breast tenderness

•lumps in the breast

•painful and/or irregular menstruation

•excessive menstrual bleeding

•clots in the blood

•mood change

•irritability and/or sadness

•tiredness

•disturbed sleep

General:

•stress

•sighing

•fullness, discomfort and/or pain under the ribs

•sensation of having a lump in the throat.

In women stagnated Liver Qi manifests predominantly in hormonal imbalance. Stagnated Liver Qi weakens the movement of blood (the blood needs Qi/energy to move) preventing the blood from properly reaching the uterus. This results in painful and/or irregular menstruation, excessive bleeding, purple or brown blood (i.e. stagnated blood), clots in the blood, etc. Another typical symptom of  "Liver Qi stagnation" in women is the premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms include mood change, irritability and/or sadness, tiredness, disturbed sleep, premenstrual tension, breast tenderness, etc. Since the Liver meridian passes by the breasts another common symptom of stagnated Liver Qi  is lumps in the breast.  One of the main causes of breast cancer in TCM is chronic Liver Qi stagnation.

As it flows upward the Liver meridian passes through the diaphragm, the hypochondriac region then ascends to the throat. Based on that Liver Qi stagnation may manifest as fullness, discomfort and/or pain in the hypochondriac region (the area just below the rib cage) as well as a sensation of having a lump in the throat. Difficulty swallowing (stagnated Qi in the throat), hiccups (stagnated Qi in the diaphragm), and sighing (stagnated Qi in the chest) may be present .

When the Liver becomes stagnated and overactive he turns into a bad neighbor and starts assulting other organs and systems. His biggest victim is the gastrointestinal tract, referred to as the Spleen in Chinese medicine. When the Liver "overacts" the Spleen (and the Stomach) symptoms include poor appetite, abdominal distention, epigastric pain, feeling of pulsation in the epigastrium, sour regurgitation, nausea, belching, diarrhea, sometimes vomiting.

In TCM blood and energy are interrelated and interdependent. It is said “Qi is the father of blood and blood is the mother of Qi”. If the Qi is stagnated the blood will stagnate as well. Thus prolonged and untreated stagnation of Liver energy will eventually lead to stagnation of blood. While the main symptom of stagnated Qi is distention, the main symptom of stagnated blood is pain. The most common symptom of blood stasis is masses in the abdomen with fixed, sharp and stabbing pain. In women there is painful menstruation with dark and clotted blood. Purple nails, lips, and overall complexion additionally confirm that the blood lacks movement. In severe cases there might be nose bleeding or vomiting of blood. 

Because of the above mentioned relationship between Qi and blood a long term stagnation of Liver Qi will lead to cold hands and feet as the blood circulation will not be flowing smoothly.

On emotional level a stagnated Liver manifests in depression, melancholy, irritability, and abrupt mood changes.

Treatment

Strategy for “unblocking” stagnated Qi is movement. Movement in the form of exercise, yoga, and any Eastern practice or martial art, is essential for promoting the movement of Qi. See the posts on Lajin in this blog site.  Oxygen has a great moving and anti-stagnant quality therefore breathing exercises can be also of major assistance to start the energy flowing. A basic and simple breathing exercise from yoga can be used: a deep breath is slowly inhaled for four seconds then exhaled slowly for another four seconds. The seconds can be tapped with the hand while inhaling and exhaling in order to keep better count. One can start with one minute of deep breathing every morning after waking up and do it again in the evening before going to bed (and also whenever desired!). By doing this exercise twice a day the body energy will start flowing smoothly again and one will feel lighter, calmer, and happier. Certainly if there is dizziness one should discontinue and start again later.

Another way to move stagnant energy is to eat foods with moving quality. 

 Food therapy is the cheapest, non-toxic, biochemical approach to illness and disease. Food is something we continuously use to sustain our lives. Learning what foods are healing (and what disruptive) for each condition has the potential to convert every meal into therapy.   

Yes, I want to learn!

Heat in the Liver

Cause:

• over-consumption of fatty, greasy, and high in cholesterol foods

• over-consumption of alcohol and other toxins

• chronic stress

• unresolved anger

• Yin deficiency

 

The Liver is the cleansing laboratory of the body. Over-consumption of fatty, greasy, and high in cholesterol foods, blocks the normal functioning of the Liver. According to traditional Chinese medicine long-term blockage and stagnation leads to the "generation of heat".

Imagine you are stuck in traffic. Even if you are a patient person you will eventually get irritated. Your face will turn red, you will start feeling hot, even start to sweat. This is a visual example how stagnation (the traffic, the lack of movement) leads to the generation of "heat". This is why long term stagnation of Liver Qi (Liver Qi stagnation) will eventually turn into "heat in the Liver". "Liver Qi stagnation" besides poor diet is caused by chronic stress or unresolved anger. Therefore long term stress and anger lead to "heat in the Liver".

Over-consumption of alcohol and other toxins, which are all heating in nature, also accumulates "heat in the Liver".

Since Yang in nature represents activity, light, warmth it logically represents energy/warming faculty in the human body. Since Yin in nature represents stillness it translates into the material aspect of the human body. In other words Yin represents matter, blood, body fluids, while Yang is the force that makes them come to live.

There is good health when Yin and Yang are in balance (i.e. energy and matter are in balance). When there is deficiency of Yang, Yin instantly becomes excessive and vice versa – when there is deficiency of Yin, Yang becomes excessive. Yang deficiency means that the energy/warming principle of the organ is deficient leading to “excess matter”, i.e. sluggishness, lethargy, overflow. Vice versa – Yin deficiency means that the matter of the organ is deficient leading to excess energy. If this excess energy remains for a longer period of time it will transform into heat. Thus Yin deficiency leads to heat accumulation.

The cause for Liver Yin deficiency is the Kidney. The Kidney is the root source of Yin and Yang. Deficient Kidney Yin cannot nourish the Liver (the Water element cannot supplement the Wood) leading to deficient Liver Yin. Deficient Liver Yin leads to accumulation of "heat in the Liver".

 Symptoms 

Army Warrior For Liver In Harmony

 

• anger

• restlessness

• headache

• dizziness

• ringing in the ears (high pitch)

 • deficiency heat symptoms - nervousness, irritabry eyes

• excess heat symptoms - explosive anger, migraines, high blood pressure, red inflamed eyes

• heat transformed into fire - the above excess heat symptoms accompanied with bleeding

• heat transformed into wind - tremor of the limbs (Parkinson’s disease), convulsions, rigidity and arching of the back and neck, deviation of the eye and mouth, paralysis of the body or tongue

General "deficiency heat" symptoms manifest in minor heat signs such as thirst, night sweats, hot palms and soles, dryness. Symptoms of "deficiency heat" pertaining specifically to the Liver are nervousness and irritability (anger is the emotion of the Liver) and dry eyes (the eyes are the sense organ of the Liver).

General "excess heat" symptoms manifest in major heat signs such as thirst for icy cold drinks, aversion to heat, redness. "Excess heat" symptoms pertaining specifically to the Liver are red inflamed eyes, explosive anger, migraines, high blood pressure.

Since the quality of the heat is to rise up it manifests in the upper part in the body. The typical symptom of “heat in the Liver” is headache. The typical "Liver heat" headache is with pain on the bilateral sides of the head or with pain on the top of the head. There may be also dizziness, restlessness, and high pitch ringing in the ears.

In severe cases or when untreated the heat may transform into "fire". In that case there will be bleeding – nose bleed, spitting up blood (haemoptysis) and /or vomiting of blood (haematemesis).

If the heat still remains untreated it will become so intense and moving that it will transform into “internal wind”. The symptoms of "internal wind" are manifested either by intense movement in the form of tremors and convulsions, or by lack of any movement - rigidity and paralysis. Symptoms of "Liver wind" are tremor of the limbs (Parkinson’s disease), convulsions, rigidity and arching of the back and neck (opisthotonos), deviation of the eye and mouth, paralysis of the body or tongue (hemiplegia, aphasia), high temperature, severe dizziness, sudden unconsciousness, coma.

  "Liver heat" (and that includes "Liver fire" and "Liver wind") both the symptom and the cause of the disease must be addressed. To do that the heat in the Liver needs to be cooled down while matter (Yin) is build in order to restrain the excess heat energy. Selecting cooling and “matter building” foods and herbs is the way to approach that pathology.

Liver Blood Deficiency

Cause: 

• general blood deficiency

• weak digestive system

• diet poor in proteins

 

In traditional Chinese medicine the cause for "Liver blood deficiency" is general blood deficiency. Since one of the Liver's functions is to store the blood a “general blood deficiency” will manifest predominantly in the Liver.

To have blood deficiency does not necessarily mean to have anemia. As a matter of fact there are lots of people with healthy blood lab tests who according to Chinese medicine would still be diagnosed as blood deficient.

There are different causes that lead to blood deficiency. One major cause is weak digestive system (collectively called "Spleen" in Chinese Medicine.) When the digestion (the Spleen and Stomach) is weak it cannot sufficiently perform its transformative function - transforming food into blood and energy. Thus not enough blood is being produced. If this is the case the above blood deficiency symptoms are accompanied with some digestive issues like poor appetite and/or poor digestion.

A diet, which lacks sufficient nourishment, such as a diet poor in proteins, is another cause for the blood to become deficient. A third cause for blood deficiency is severe haemorrhage (bleeding).

 Symptoms : 

• pale face, pale lips, pale nails, pale tongue

• dizziness

• premature graying of the hair, thin hair, dry hair

• muscle weakness, muscle cramps, numbness

• poor vision, blurry vision, poor night vision

In women:

•scanty menstruation

•painful menstruation

 

A major symptom of blood deficiency is paleness. If there is pale face, pale lips, pale nails than the person is most likely blood deficient. Even to have pale tongue without other paleness means that there is blood deficiency.

Dizziness is another general blood deficiency sign (there is not enough blood to nourish the brain) as well as premature graying of the hair and/or thin, dry hair (not enough blood to nourish the hair)

Since there is not enough blood to nourish the muscles, tendons, and joints, some of the symptoms of blood deficiency are muscle weakness, muscle cramps, muscle spasms and/or numbness in the limbs.

Pale Woman

The Liver governs women’s menstrual cycle therefore Liver blood deficiency may result in scanty menstruation (amenorrhea) and painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea).

Since the Liver opens to the eyes and nails if there is Liver blood deficiency the vision may be blurred, there may be floaters in the eyes, and the nails may be dry and cracked.

 Treatment 

To treat blood deficiency blood needs to be build. The best way to do that is adding blood tonifying foods to the diet.