Known as the General of the body, The Liver performs the necessary task of regulating the vital substances.
The General
The Liver is one the most dynamic organ systems in that it has a major influence on a person's overall wellbeing. It has the nature of spreading outward and when it is congested it can constrict the body's blood and energy [Qi] flow. Known as the General it commands the movement of blood as related to circulation and a common sign of Liver Blood Stagnation may be cold hands, feet and mid-back pain. A formula based on releasing the Liver's stagnation is named Si Ni San or Powder of Four Cold Extremities with the ability of adding additional herbs for pain, digestion, jaundice and elevated blood pressure. Adjustments to a formula such as this one would require the Chinese Herbalist to get to know the person's exact pattern before making appropriate changes.
The Liver, related to the element wood and nerve function, regulates the nourishment of the tendons and ligaments, along with fats [the gall bladder] and sugar levels, metabolizes toxins, opens to the eyes, has an upward movement, deals with the emotions of anger, anxiety, and depression, relates to the sound of loudness, controls the Stomach and Spleen giving rise to digestion disorders [yet also assist the Spleen in the transformation of food by the Liver's Yang energy]. A very common formula that may help with digestion/energy disorders, amongst many other patterns, would be the Liver and Spleen Harmonizer Formula.
Its associated color is green [as with foliage growth] and its associated season is spring.
The Gallbladder, the Livers' associated Yang organ match, is the organ in charge of a persons decision making capabilities. A common formula that may be of benefit in helping to clear and regulate the Gallbladder [and Liver] would be the The Snake and Dragon Teapills. Some associated patterns might be: urinary infections, chronic red eyes, migraine type headaches, itchy/hot head and scalp, genital and anal itching, rash-type skin problems, ear infections, burning urination, herpes (shingles), irritability, pain along the outside leg and hip [following the gallbladder meridian] and gallstones. A specific pill that helps with cleaning the gallbladder of wet-heat is Ji Gu Cao Pian.
Movement
The Liver is directly related to movement and motivation. When the Liver is functioning correctly, physical movement and mobility is free and easy. Decisions are made decisively and anger, depression and high levels of anxiety are filtered through and out. The reverse thought would be that a stagnant Liver would cause problems such as angry outburst, headaches [especially migraine type], anxiety and phobias, eye problems, chest and stomach pain, spasms, nervous disorders, chest and abdominal fullness, nausea, flatulence, drug withdraw problems, neck and shoulder tension, cold hands and feet [circulation problems], irregular menses or painful-type, hot flashes, restlessness, depression and insomnia. A formula that may be helpful might be the Liver and Spleen Harmonizer Formula or the Liver Wind and Yin Formula based on Pattern differentiations.
The Liver's mother, based on the Five Elemental Theory, is the Kidney(s). The health of the Kidneys are directly related to the health of the Liver. Since the Liver distributes/circulates blood it looks to its mother for nourishment in the area of Blood and Yin. It is said that when one nourishes the Kidney's Blood and Yin it also nourishing the Liver Blood and Yin. Some possible problematic associated patterns might be: weak, burning and dry eyes, night sweats, hot palms and feet [especially in the afternoon or at night], dry eyes, amenorrhea or minimal menstrual blood, dizziness, constipation, weak nails and hair, memory problems, dark urine, chronic fever or sore throat, slow healing wounds, inflamed tendons and ligaments or diminished flexibility, insomnia, irritability and restlessness, ringing of the ears, low back pain, pale or flushed face and spasm or twitches. The Kidney Yin Formula or the General Tonic Formula may be helpful for these patterns.
Some basic Liver disharmony patterns might be:
- Jaw teeth/grinding
- Emotional anger, depression and anxiety problems
- Menstrual disorders
- Headaches
- Skin problems
- Inflexibility of tendons and ligaments
- Allergies, all types
- Physical or motivational fatigue
- Weak musculature
- Slow digestion with gas, bloating, pain or phlegm production
- Appetite disorders, diminished or increased
- Eye problems, floaters
- Decreased circulation [cold limbs]
- Stomach pain
- Neck and back tension
- Constipation
- Weak bones, nails and hair
- Hot flashes, excessive sweating
- Night sweats
- Mania, moodiness
- Spasms and twitches
- Nervous system disorders
- Urinary tract infections
- Breast pain, lumps and cramping
- Nausea
- Red face and eyes
- Never dreaming [suppressed emotions]
- Vivid dreaming, restlessness and insomnia [yin deficiency type]
- Memory loss
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Patterns of Illness and Related Treatments
The natural direction of the Liver is a rising force. When the Livers energy becomes excessive, especially in reference to the element of heat, the Yang energy naturally rise upwards towards the head. It is important to re-direct the excess heat energy downward by cooling the Liver Organ System, replenishing the lost Yin and draining the heat.
Liver Yang Rising, left untreated, can evolve into the a much more severe pattern known as Liver Wind. The Liver Organ System is the regulator of Qi and Blood and when functioning correctly a feeling of even and uninterrupted energy occurs. A disruption of this regulatory function shows like a clock not keeping correct time, which then creates systems of instability. Since the element of Wind can be viewed at as erratic movement, with a deep penetrating ability, mild to serious disharmonies can be present. Biomedical conditions such as stuttering, spasms, excessive mood swings (bi-polar), tic or twitch, paralysis, stroke, seizures, epilepsy, arthritis, migraines, Parkinson and trigeminal neuralgia are listed under the categories for disharmonies of Liver Wind by TCM.
Liver Fire Shifting Downward is an excellent description of a common pattern effecting the lower area [or burner] of your body. Since the Liver Organ System is commonly vulnerable to creating Excess Heat that can Heat find must its way out. TCM uses the term shifting as a way of describing where the Heat ends up in your body. This Heat must be removed and the source cooled down to bring harmony back your body. Dark urine, Hematuria [Blood in the urine], burning urination, Kidney infections, heat-type dysentery and urinary tract infections are just a few examples of this Heat shifting process leading to chronic disharmonies.
The Liver Organ System is the regulator of both Blood and Qi. Yin and Blood [both components of Yin] are stored within the Liver. Factors that may cause a deficiency of Liver Yin and Blood could come from any excess causing Heat such as smoking, spicy foods or pro-longed stress. Spleen Qi Deficiency and Kidney Yin Deficiency [the mother of the Liver] could also be involved in the depletion of both Blood and Yin. A Deficiency of Liver Yin and Blood will show in disharmonies such as malnourished tendons, muscles, bones, skin and hair. Menstrual cycles with low amounts of flow, vision problems, insomnia, a pale or lusterless complexion and chronic constipation can all be related to a deficiency in Liver Yin and Blood.
As viewed through the eyes of Chinese medicine when the Liver Organ System becomes excessive in its energy it has a propensity to decrease the Spleen's abilities to function correctly with appetite and especially digestive disharmonies. This can be obviously seen and connected with digestive disorders during the pre-menstrual cycle. By relieving the Liver Stagnation and tonifying the Spleen Organ System harmony can be re-established between the two systems. Many common disharmonies can be found under this pattern.
When functioning correctly the Liver Organ System keeps the body in harmony and good health. When out of balance, stuck or stagnant problems can exist leading to many disharmonies from irregular menstrual cycles to depression and acne. Many outside influences can stagnate the Liver especially in the area of emotional excesses.
Wet Heat is a perfect example of Chinese Medicine, once again, describing a pattern in plain and simple terms. When your ability to metabolize Water correctly fails it will overflow and accumulate. This Water imbalance can be attributed to Spleen Qi Deficiency. If your body is showing a separate pattern imbalance of an abundance of Heat it can combine to create a new pattern of Wet Heat. Many disharmonies can be attributed to Wet Heat including: gallstones, herpes, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, Bladder infections and even sinus infections.
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