Lateral Costal Pain Xie Tong

Question 1

Distending pain of indeterminate location in the costal region and oppression in the chest, sometimes accompanied by frequent sighing, irritability or mental depression, bitter taste in the morning or acid regurgitation. These symptoms are often affected by the emotional state of the patient.
Tongue: thin white coating
Pulse: wiry

Answer 1

Stagnation of Liver Qi
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
(Blupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder)
UB18, LIV14, LIV3, SJ6, GB34

Question 2

Stabbing pain of definite location in the costal region which increases with external pressure and intensifies at night, sometimes accompanied by a mass under the ribs.
Tongue: Dark, purplish, sometimes with stasis macules on the tongue.
Pulse: deep, wiry or deep, rough

Answer 2

Stasis of Liver Blood
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
(Infradiaphragmatic Stasis-Expelling Decoction)
UB17, LIV3, LI4, SP6, GB25, SP21, LIV14

Question 3

Severe costal pain, bitter taste in the mouth, oppression in the chest, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (in some cases) dark urine.
Tongue: yellow slimy coating
Pulse: slippery, rapid or wiry

Answer 3

Liver and Gallbladder Damp-Heat
Long dan Xie Gan Tang
(Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction)
LIV14, GB24, SJ6, GB34, LIV3, SP9

Question 4

Dull or indistinct costal pain aggravated by overwork, with irritability, dry mouth and throat, dizziness and vertigo.
Tongue: red with little coating
Pulse: thready, wiry and rapid

Answer 4

Vacuity of Liver Yin
Yi Guan Jian
(All the way through Brew)
LIV14, UB18, UB23, SP10, SP6, KD3