Liver Patterns

Gallbladder Patterns

Etiology of Liver Patterns

Emotions

According to Five Element theory, anger and other related emotions such as resentment, unfulfilled desires, frustration, etc. are attributed to the Liver. The relationship between an organ and its corresponding emotion is reciprocal. The Liver for instance, is responsible for the free and smooth flow of Qi, which has a deep relationship with a person's emotional state. Conversely, anger, repressed emotions, etc. affect the Liver organ itself, and disrupt the smooth flow of Qi in the body.

If Liver is functioning well, and its Qi is flowing smoothly, the emotional state will be happy, and "relaxed" or "free and easy". Emotions will be freely expressed. When Liver Qi does not freely flow, stagnation of Qi occurs, and affects the emotional state. This causes anger and irritability. Over a long period of time, stagnation of Liver Qi impairs circulation of Qi and can cause emotional states of constant low level anger, depression, and resentment. These may be transferred to and appear in the physical body, such as the chest, breasts in women, hypochondriac region, epigastric region, or throat. Stagnation of Liver Qi, therefore, produces feelings of tightness in the chest and hypochondriac region, often with frequent sighing, pain and swelling of the breasts, tension in the stomach, the sensation of a lump in the throat.

Liver Qi may "rebel" upward and cause Liver Yang to rise. Symptoms include irritability, headaches, and the propensity to lose one's temper.

Diet

Excessive greasy and hot foods can cause Liver Fire. Examples of hot foods: Lamb, beef, curry, and other spices. Examples of damp or greasy foods: Deep fried food and alcohol.

Not enough warming foods, such as meat and grains, can contribute to inadequate Blood production and Blood Deficiency. Blood Deficiency, in turn, can lead to Liver Blood Deficiency. Women are particularly prone to Blood Deficiency especially at puberty, after childbirth, and somewhat after each period.

Liver Qi Stagnation

Signs:

Tongue

Pulse

Notes

This is an extremely common pattern. Wide range of symptoms, which typically fluctuate considerably in proportion to the amount of stress the person feels. the patient will have periods of depression with worsening of physical symptoms, and times when symptoms improve. Women during the premenstrual time are naturally more prone to stagnation-related problems, since at this time Blood is collecting in the uterus and Qi levels are diminishing.

Stagnation of Liver Qi over a long time induces stasis of Liver Blood

Etiology/Pathology

Emotional disharmony, especially repressed anger, resentment, frustration, over a long time, which impairs the circulation of Liver Qi.

Treatment Principle

Disperse the Liver and regulate Qi

Points

Liver Blood Stagnation

Signs:

Tongue

Pulse

Treatment Principle

Points

Points for acute menstrual cramps

Points for masses such as fibroids, cysts, and tumors

Blazing Liver Fire

Signs

Tongue

Pulse

Etiology

Long-standing state of anger, repressed anger or frustration which causes Qi to stagnate and form Heat.

Diet

Excessive consumption of alcohol, fried foods, meat also tend to cause Liver Heat. Especially meats such as beef and lamb, which are attributed to hotter energy.

Treatment Principle

Sedate Liver, clear Fire

Points

Method

Sedate all points

Liver Blood Deficiency

The Liver stores Blood, so deficiency of Blood can easily affect Liver.

The Liver also opens to eyes, so when Liver Blood is deficient, the eyes may lack nourishment and be unable to see clearly.

The Liver also affects muscular tension. When deficient Liver Blood can not nourish the tendons, symptoms such as muscular weakness, cramping, and hypertonicity of tendons appear.

Liver manifests in nails, and when the nails are not nourished by Liver Blood, they become brittle

The Ren Mai and Chong Mai also depend on the Liver for their Blood supply. When Deficient Liver Blood does not provide Blood to these channels, it leads to scanty menstruation or amenorrhea.

Signs

Tongue

Pulse

Etiology

Treatment Principle:

Tonify the Liver and Nourish Blood

Points

Method

Tonify. Moxa is applicable

Liver yang Rising/Ascending

Signs

Tongue

Pulse

Treatment Principle:

Points

Method

Notes

This both an excess and deficient pattern. The excess being the Rising Liver Yang and heat, the deficiency usually being that of Liver Yin and/or Kidney Yin. In Five Element theory, Water fails to nourish wood.

Difference between Liver Fire Blazing Upwards and Liver Yang Rising:

Liver Fire Blazing is a true Excess pattern where it produces Excess Fire that dries up Body Fluids and causes signs of Dryness, such as constipation, red eyes, scanty and dark urine, bitter taste, etc. Liver Yang Ascending does not have full Heat signs because the excess is due to deficiency

Cold Stagnation in the Liver Channel

Signs

Tongue

Pulse

Notes

Caused by invasion of Liver channel by Cold. Liver channel traverses external genitals; Cold contracts, causing pain and contraction.

Etiology/Pathology

Invasion of exterior Cold (aggravated by Stagnation of Liver Qi)

Treatment Principle

Sedate Liver, Disperse Cold

Points

Method

Sedate. Moxa is applicable

Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder

This pattern is a combination of Heat in Liver and Dampness in Spleen. There must be Dampness in Spleen for the pattern to manifest.

Dampness in Liver and Gallbladder channel causes Liver Qi to stagnate by obstructing the smooth flow of Liver Qi. This results in distention/pain of hypochondrium and chest. Then the Liver Qi invades Stomach, with symptoms such as (nausea, vomiting, loss of Appetite and abdominal distention.

Accumulation of Dampness can obstruct the flow of bile and cause jaundice.

Damp-Heat causes low grade continuous fever. Dampness can flow down and settles in Lower Burner and give rise to symptoms such as vaginal discharge and itching or pain/swelling and redness of scrotum

Signs

Tongue

Pulse


Etiology

Treatment Principle

Resolve Dampness, Clear Heat, Disperse Liver and Gallbladder

Points

Method

Sedate all points except REN-12, which is tonified to tonify Spleen

Gallbladder Patterns

Gallbladder Functions:

Stores bile. The Gallbladder's job of storing and emptying the bile is dependent on the Liver ensuring the smooth flow of Qi. The Gallbladder is easily affected by Dampness deriving from an impairment of the Spleen function of transformation and transportation.

Etiology/Pathology:

  1. Diet: excessive consumption of greasy and fatty foods leads to the formation of Dampness which can lodge in the Gallbladder.
  2. Emotions: Anger, frustration and bottled-up resentment can cause stagnation of Liver Qi which, in turn, can produce Heat which affects the Gallbladder. Pent up anger over a long period of time implodes to give rise Fire in Liver and Gallbladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, thirst, headaches, etc. Gallstones can be seen as the manifestation of "Gall"- Liver Qi stagnation here.
  3. Climate: Exogenous Dampness and Heat, as found in tropical or subtropical regions, can cause Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder. (Impairs the Spleen's function of transforming and transporting, deficient Spleen Qi creates many Gallbladder problems. Dampness lodges in the Gallbladder and gets stuck.)

Notes

Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder

Clinical Manifestations

Tongue

Pulse

Differentiation from Damp-Heat in Liver/Gallbladder=More pain after eating and inability to digest fats-pain radiating to the back (nausea, vomiting, jaundice). This is a sub-category of Damp-heat in the Liver/Gallbladder.

Pathology

Pure excess. UnderlYing Spleen Qi Deficiency leading to the formation of Dampness which obstructs the GB-damp always obstructs the flow of Qi.

Etiology/Pathology

  1. Emotional problems: long-standing anger causing stagnation of LV Qi and implosion of stagnant Qi into fire.
  2. Excessive consumption of greasy and fatty foods leads to formation of Dampness which combines with the Heat.
  3. Exogenous Damp-Heat-in tropical or subtropical regions.

Treatment Principle

Resolve damp, clear heat in the Gallbladder, smooth the flow of Liver Qi

Method

Reducing (except Ren12 and UB20)


Points

Western Conditions

Three kinds of Gallstones:

  1. Calcium, which are white and hard
  2. Cholesterol, which are soft and green
  3. Combined

Gallbladder Deficiency

Clinical Manifestations

Tongue

Pulse

Pathology

This is Deficiency
Yang aspect of liver. Should give you the energy to face the world. Makes up for lack of a liver Qi Deficiency syndrome
Often combined with Liver Blood Deficiency

Etiology

None
Severe Deficiency of Blood may result in fear (esp. on going to bed at night) and lack of courage. Blood and Yin are the root of the Ethereal Soul (Hun).
Childhood wounding, abuse, repressed anger, kid who was always ridiculed

Treatment Principle

Method

Reinforcing and Moxibustion if there is no heat

Points: