Lecture 9: LV/GB Patterns and Food Therapy

Question 1

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel Etiology

Answer 1

• Invasion of Exterior Cold, EPF Cold Invasion
• Maybe preexisting Liver Qi Stagnation

Question 2

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel Dietary Therapy

Answer 2

Thermal nature: Warm

Cooking: Warming - baking, long simmering in liquid

Flavours: warm-sweet, warm-pungent, warm sour

Question 3

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel Dietary Avoidances

Answer 3

Thermal Nature: Cool, Cold

Cooking: Cooling - steaming, salting

Flavours: Bitter, Salty, Cold-Sour

Eg. Asparagus, Banana, Clam, Coffee, Dandelion, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lettuce, Lime, Peppermint

Question 4

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel

POT

2 Foods for Exam

Answer 4

POT:

• Warm the Liver
• Dispel Cold
• Move qi (if Liver Qi stagnation is a complicating factor)

Ginger (dried)

• Hot
• Pungent
• Dispels Cold
• Moves qi
• Promotes sweating

Goat:

• Warm/Hot
• Sweet; Bitter
• Warms Liver
• Supplements Spleen, Liver and Kidney Yang

Question 5

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel

Herbs

Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 5

• Eat less
• Rejuvenate with chlorophyll, micro-algae and Omega 3’s

Question 6

Stagnation of Cold in Liver Channel

Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 6

• Eliminate poor quality and processed foods
• Eliminate or reduce foods high in saturated and poor quality fats
• Avoid alcohol and intoxicants
• Limit intake of nuts and seeds

Question 7

Liver Qi Stagnation Etiology

Answer 7

1. Emotional disharmony, especially repressed anger, resentment, frustration, over a long time, which impairs the circulation of Liver Qi.
2. Invasion of pathogenic factors
3. 1 & 2 —> Stagnation of liver qi —> accumulation of phlegm, blood stasis
4. May have preexisting LV BL Xu
5. May have preexisting KI Xu

Question 8

Liver Qi Stagnation Dietary Therapy

Answer 8

• Thermal Nature: Cool, Neutral, Warming…tend to warming if it is not complicated by heat signs… need to assess whether deficiency, cold or heat are bound up with it.
• Cooking: Warming and Cooling balance
• Flavours: Neutral-Warm Pungent, Neutral-Warm Bitter, Neutral-Warm Sour, Neutral-Warm Sweet

Best therapy

• moderate pungent foods eg. turmeric, ginger
• Brassica genus
• raw foods, cool on occasion

Question 9

Liver Qi Stagnation Dietary Avoidances

Answer 9

Thermal nature: Cold, Extreme Hot

Cooking: Excess cooling, Extreme warming (deep fry, barbecue)

Flavours: Excess Bitter, Excess salty, Excess sweet, Extreme hot pungent

Avoid: Refined sugar, alcohol

Question 10

Liver Qi Stagnation

POT

2 Foods for Exam

Answer 10

POT:

• Regulate and move qi
• Resolve stagnation

Turmeric:

• Neutral/Warm
• Pungent; Bitter
• Resolve liver stagnancy
• Moves qi
• (Dries dampness)
• (Dries phlegm-cold)

Kohlrabi:

• Neutral
• Sweet; Pungent
• Moves qi
• Supplements Liver, GB, KI
• Dries dampness
• (Eliminates blood stagnation)

Question 11

Liver Qi Stagnation

Herbs

Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 11

• Xiao Yao San - Free and Easy Wanderer Powder
• Chai Hu Shu Gan San - Bupleurum Powder to Spread Liver
• Eat less food
• Chew carefully
• Supplement with chlorophyll rich foods, micro-algae and Omega 3’s
• Use ACV with honey
• Movement is very important, incorporate regular exercise
• Spend time in nature/greenery to support the liver
• Express emotions verbally or through creative processes such as art therapy
• Try counseling and/or journaling for processing emotions
• Qi Gong moving meditation
• Avoid excess nuts and seeds

Question 12

Liver Qi Stagnation Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 12

• Avoid poor quality and processed food
• Avoid preservatives and food colouring
• Avoid poor quality fats, foods high in saturated fats, greasy and oily foods
• Limit or eliminate dairy intake
• Avoid coffee
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid exposure to pathogens when possible
• Avoid exposure to overly emotional and stressful situations - cultivate healthy friendships and relationships

Question 13

Liver Fire Blazing Etiology

Answer 13

1. Emotion: Long-standing state of anger, repressed anger or frustration which causes Qi to stagnate and form Heat.
2. Depression of Gan Qi, Stagnation gives rise to Heat that flares up as fire
3. 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.
4. Past history of Internal Heat or Deficient Gan Yin
5. EPF Pathogenic heat attacking liver channel

Question 14

Liver Fire Blazing Diet Therapy

Answer 14

Temperature: Cooling to Cold

Cooking method: Cooling (eg. blanching, boiling in plentiful water)

Flavour: cool-cold sweet, cool-cold bitter, cool-cold sour, cool-cold pungent

Aloe leaf, Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Blue-green algae, Bitter melon, Borage, Broccoli, Celery, Chicory, Chlorophyll, Daikon, Dandelion greens, Kelp, Lettuce, Mung Bean/Sprouts, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Quinoa, Rhubarb root, Rye, Romaine, Tomato, Zucchini

Question 15

Liver Fire Blazing Dietary Avoidances

Answer 15

Temperature: Warming to Hot

Cooking Method: Warming (eg. deep frying, frying)

Flavours: excess salty, excess sweet, warm-hot sour, warm-hot pungent

Avoid: Alcohol, Allspice, Cayenne, Cheese, Cinnamon, Dill, Eggs, Fatty foods, Garlic, Lamb, Meat, Mustard seed, Red Chili, Venison

Question 16

Liver Fire Blazing

POT

2 Foods for Exam

Answer 16

POT:

• Cool liver heat/fire
• Regulate qi
• Nourish yin fluids

Plum:

• Neutral
• Sweet; Sour
• Cools Liver heat
• Regulate qi
• Nourish body fluids

Artichoke:

• Cool
• Sweet; Bitter
• Cools Liver Heat

Spinach:

• Cool
• Sweet; Sl. Bitter
• Cools Liver Heat
• Nourish yin and blood

Question 17

Liver Fire Blazing

Herbs

Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 17

• Long Dan Xie Gan Tang - Gentiana Draining the Liver Decoction
• Eat less food
• Chew food carefully
• Regulate eating habits
• Find an outlet for anger and emotion through exercise, perhaps kickboxing!
• Spend time in nature/greenery to help liver
• Try to express emotions and not let them build up
• Art therapy
• Biofeedback training
• Supplement with chlorophyll, micro-algae and Omega 3’s

Question 18

Liver Fire Blazing Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 18

• Avoid chemicals and artificially ripened foods
• Eliminate highly processed or refined foods
• Avoid foods high in saturated, hydrogenated and poor quality fats
• Avoid fried and deep-fried food
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeine
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid irregular eating habits (eating while worrying, eating while rushed, standing while eating, etc.)

Question 19

Rebellious Liver Qi Etiology

Answer 19

Same as for Liver Qi Stagnation.

• Eating under stress or while standing exacerbates LV Qi stagnation
• Emotions exacerbate LV qi stagnation

Question 20

Rebellious Liver Qi Dietary Therapy

Answer 20

*

Question 21

Rebellious Liver Qi Dietary Avoidances

Question 22

Rebellious Liver Qi

POT

2 Foods for Exam

Answer 22

POT:

• Reduce excessive liver
• Sedate rebellious qi

Peas:

• Neutral-Cool
• Sweet
• Reduce excessive liver
• Calm rebellious liver qi
• Supplement Spleen
• Strengthen MJ

Rye:

• Neutral/Warm
• Sweet; Bitter
• Soothes excess liver
• Strengthens qi

Saffron:

• Neutral-Cool
• Sweet; Pungent; Bitter
• Harmonizes Liver qi
• Balances liver and spleen

Question 23

Rebellious Liver Qi

Lifestyle

Answer 23

Use same lifestyle suggestions as for Liver Qi Stagnation

Question 24

Liver Yin Xu Etiology

Answer 24

1. Emotional frustration —> depression of qi –> fire
2. Liver diseases —> injure liver yin
3. Febrile diseases –> injure liver yin
4. Excessive activity
5. Improper diet eg. excessive intake of extremely warming foods
6. Excessive sexual activity
7. Sleep deprivation
8. Excessive drug and medication use
9. Depletion of blood/body fluids
10. Heart or Liver Blood Xu, predisposing patterns
11. Kidney Deficiency predisposing pattern

Question 25

Liver Yin Xu Dietary Therapy

Answer 25

_Thermal Nature_: Cool, Cold _Cooking_: Cooling - steaming, blanching _Flavours:_ neutral-cool sweet, neutral-cool sour, neutral-cool salty Avocado, Black Sesame, Green tea, Mung beans, Pistachio, Spinach, Tomato

Question 26

Liver Yin Xu Dietary Avoidances

Answer 26

Thermal nature: Warm, Hot Cooking: Warming - frying, grilling, searing Flavours: warm-hot pungent, warm-hot bitter, excess salt Alcohol, Black tea, Coffee, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Cloves, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Leek, Lamb

Question 27

Liver Yin Xu POT 2 Foods for Exam

Answer 27

**POT:** * Nourish Liver Yin * Cool deficient heat **Mung Bean:** * Cool-Cold * Sweet * Nourishes Liver Yin * Cool Liver deficiency heat **Spinach:** * Cool * Sweet; Bitter * Nourishes Liver Yin * Cools Liver heat * Cools blood **Avocado:** * Cool-Cold * Sweet * Nourishes Liver Yin * Nourishes Lung Yin * Nourishes LI (colon) Yin * Builds blood **Pistachio:** * Neutral * Sweet; Bitter; Sl. Sour * Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin * Cleanses the blood * Moistens Lung and skin

Question 28

Liver Yin Xu Herbs Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 28

* Yi Guan Jian - Linking Decoction * Angelica root (Dang Gui) * Angus castus berries (Chasteberry) * Eat less food * Supplement with chlorophyll rich foods, micro algae (spirulina) and Omega 3's * Try to create a calm, peaceful space and mind state during mealtimes * Drink plenty of fluids * Eat congees as they are cooling, demulcent and tonifying * Establish good sleep habits * Find proper pacing for activities to maintain energy reserves * Try to find a good work and life balance * Find restorative practices such as Restorative or Yin yoga * Qi Gong moving or sitting meditation * Eat animal products in small amounts to avoid liver heat or stagnation * Regulate sex life, not too much

Question 29

Liver Yin Xu Dietary Avoidances

Answer 29

* Avoid poor quality and processed foods * Avoid preservatives and artificial colours * Avoid foods high in saturated fats, poor quality fats, trans fats * Avoid deep fried, greasy food * Avoid intoxicants * Avoid excess of nuts and seeds * Avoid irregular eating habits like skipping meals, eating late at night, overeating * Avoid worrying while eating * Avoid smoking * Avoid alcohol * Avoid caffeine * Caution with medications *

Question 30

Liver Blood Xu Etiology

Answer 30

1. Xu of SP/ST (not enough protein or diet lacking in nutrients or an irregular/poor diet can weaken Spleen) ---\> Insufficient production of Blood ---\> Liver does not have enough Blood to store ---\> LV Blood Xu 2. Emotional strain like grief, worry, sadness affecting spleen and then liver 3. Excessive activity 4. Prolonged illness or blood loss from serious hemorrhage will injure liver blood (eg. GI bleeding or menstrual bleeding) 5. Injury of Gan, Yin or Jin Ye by heat (fever or Blazing Gan Fire) 6. Kidney Qi or Kidney Jing Deficiency can cause Deficient Blood as Kidneys play an important role in production of Blood and Qi (less common) 7. Overuse of energetically hot drinks such as coffee, alcohol, chai tea. 8. Overuse of hotter cooking methods, and thermally hot foods. Overuse of bitter and pungent foods as they dry out blood.

Question 31

Liver Blood Xu Dietary Therapy

Answer 31

_Thermal Nature:_ Neutral, Cool, Warm _Cooking method_: Cooling _Flavours:_ neutral-warm sweet, neutral-cool sour Asparagus, Avocado, Blackberry, Beet, Cherry, Chicken, Cuttlefish, Goji berry, Grape, Mulberry, Oyster, Pork, Rabbit, Spelt, Spinach

Question 32

Liver Blood Xu Dietary Avoidances

Answer 32

_Thermal Nature:_ Cold, Hot _Cooking_: Warming _Flavours_: Bitter, Warm-Hot Pungent Avoid: Alcohol, Cayenne, Coffee, Garlic, Ginger (dried), Mustard seed, Red chili, Pepper, Tea

Question 33

Liver Blood Xu POT 2 Foods for Exam

Answer 33

**POT:** * Nourish Liver Blood * Strengthen Liver * Iif spleen qi deficiency is a factor Spelt is great option * If KI Xu is a factor could use Black Sesame **Spinach:** * Cool * Sweet; Sl. Bitter * Nourishes Liver yin and blood * Builds blood (and stops bleeding) **Spelt:** * Neutral, Cool, Warm depending on source * Nourishes Liver Blood * Supplements Spleen Qi * Strengthens middle jiao **Black Sesame:** * Neutral * Sweet * Nourishes Liver blood and yin * Nourishes Kidney blood and yin

Question 34

Liver Blood Xu Herbs Lifestyle Suggstions

Answer 34

* Bu Gan Tang - Tonifying the Liver Decoction * Eat less food * Chew food carefully * Supplement with chlorophyll-rich foods, microalgae and Omega 3's, especially spirulina * Supplement with iron, folic acid and B12 * Drink plenty of fluids * Eat congees as they are cooling, demulcent and tonifying * Establish good sleep habits * Find proper pacing for activities to maintain energy reserves * Try to find a good work and life balance * Find restorative practices such as Restorative or Yin yoga * Qi Gong moving or sitting meditation * Eat animal products in small amounts to avoid liver heat or stagnation

Question 35

Liver Blood Xu Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 35

* Avoid overuse of energetically hot drinks such as coffee, alcohol, chai tea. * Avoid overuse of hotter cooking methods, and thermally hot foods * Avoid overuse of bitter and pungent foods as they dry out blood. * Avoid alcohol * Avoid smoking * Avoid irregular eating habits * Avoid poor quality and processed food * Avoid poor quality fats, foods high in saturated fats, greasy and oily foods * Limit intake of nuts and seeds

Question 36

Liver Yang Rising Etiology

Question 37

Liver Yang Rising Dietary Therapy

Answer 37

_Thermal Nature:_ Neutral, Cool _Cooking_: Cooling - steaming, boiling in plentiful water _Flavours_: neutral-cool sweet, neutral-cool sour, neutral-cool salty, neutral-cool bitter

Question 38

Liver Yang Rising Dietary Avoidances

Answer 38

Thermal Nature: Warm, Hot Cooking: Warming - frying, grilling, BBQ Flavours: warm-hot pungent, warm-hot bitter, excess salt Alcohol, Black tea, Coffee, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Cloves, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Leek, Lamb

Question 39

Liver Yang Rising POT 2 Foods for Exam

Answer 39

**POT:** * Subdue Liver Yang * Tonify Liver Yin **Peas:** * Cool * Sweet * Reduce excessive liver (subdue liver yang) * Subdue rebellious qi * (Supplement SP, Strengthen MJ) **Spinach:** * Cool * Sweet * Cools Liver and blood * Nourishes Liver yin

Question 40

Liver Yang Rising Herbs Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 40

* Liver Windclear formula (Tian Ma Gou Teng Ying) * Eat less * Chew food carefully * Supplement with chlorophyll-rich foods, microalgae and Omega 3's * Spend time in nature/greenery * Find work life balance * Find ways to release emotions, esp. anger * Self care - yoga, tai chi, meditation * Yin nourishing things like sleep, rest, reduce sex, reduce overwork

Question 41

Liver Yang Rising Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 41

* Avoid highly processed and poor quality food * Avoid food high in saturated fats, trans fats, greasy and oily food * Limit intake of nuts and seeds * Eat protein in small portions to avoid liver heat or liver qi stagnation * Avoid exposure to extreme emotional situations * Cultivate healthy relationships * Avoid alcohol and intoxicants * Avoid overeating * Avoid or limit caffeine * Avoid smoking * Limit warming foods and avoid extremely hot foods * Avoid irregular eating habits

Question 42

Liver Blood Stasis Etiology

Answer 42

1. Liver Qi Stagnation will occur first 2. Invasion of cold or heat pathogen 3. Liver Qi Xu --\> Liver Qi Stgn 4. Phlegm 5. Aging

Question 43

Liver Blood Stasis Dietary Therapy

Answer 43

_Temperature:_ This will depend on whether deficiency, cold, or heat is bound up with stagnation. If not then we can choose a balance of temperatures or tend toward warming _Cooking method:_ Avoid cooking and eat fresh raw vegetables and sprouts when possible. When cooking use a balance of cooling (eg. pickling in brine) to warming (eg. grilling) _Flavour:_ neutral-warm pungent, neutral-warm sour, neutral-warm sweet

Question 44

Liver Blood Stasis Food Examples (same as for Liver Qi Stagnation)

Answer 44

If Liver Blood Stasis with *Heat* choose: Barley, Celery, Cress, Eggplant, Radish, Spearmint, Sprouted raw foods (grains, beans, seeds), White Pepper If Liver Blood Stasis with heat and cold or neither choose neutral: Aduki bean, Kohlrabi, Peach seed If Liver Blood Stasis with *Cold* choose: Apple Cider Vinegar, Basil, Brassica genus foods, Broccoli, Beets, Cereal Grasses, Chive, Clove, Fennel, Leek, Micro-algae, Paprika, Pine Nut Kernel Congee, Sweet Rice, Turmeric Eat the following in moderation: Horseradish, Garlic, Ginger, Pepper

Question 45

Liver Blood Stasis Dietary Avoidances

Answer 45

_Temperature_: Cold, Hot _Cooking Method_: Excess Cooling, Extreme warming (eg. deep-frying, barbecuing) _Flavour_: cold sour, excess or cold bitter, excess salty, extreme hot pungent Alcohol, Banana, Cayenne, Cheese, Chili Pepper, Crab, Milk, Sugar

Question 46

Liver Blood Stasis with Heat POT 2 Foods for Exam

Answer 46

**POT for Liver Blood Stasis with Heat:** * Disperse liver qi stagnation * Move and regulate blood * Clear liver heat **Eggplant:** * Cool * Sweet; Sl. Bitter * Cools blood * Clears stagnant blood from Liver and uterus **Celery:** * Cool * Sweet; Bitter * Moves qi stagnation * Cools ST and LV heat

Question 47

Liver Blood Stasis with Cold POT 2 foods for Exam

Answer 47

**POT:** * Resolve liver stagnation * Move and regulate blood * Warm liver **Turmeric:** * Warm * Bitter; Pungent * Moves qi and blood * Clears liver stagnation **Chives:** * Warm * Pungent; Bitter * Enters LU, KI, LV, ST * Expels cold * Moves qi and blood * Promotes digestion

Question 48

Liver & Gallbladder Damp Heat Etiology

Answer 48

1. Almost always Spleen Xu as precursor 2. This pattern is a combination of Heat in Liver and Dampness in Spleen. There must be Dampness in Spleen for the pattern to manifest. 3. Too much raw, cold, sweet, or mucus-forming food; food that is refined or highly processed, rotten, stale, parasite-infested, or chemically treated; too many ingredients in a meal (poor food combining); late-night eating; overeating, rushed meals, inadequate breakfast, poorly combined foods, eating too much 4. Overeating and late-night eating 5. Overexposure to dampness in the environment.

Question 49

Liver/GB Damp Heat Pathogenesis

Answer 49

1. 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. 2. Accumulation of Dampness can obstruct the flow of bile and cause jaundice. 3. 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

Question 50

LV/GB Damp Heat Diet Therapy

Answer 50

_Thermal Nature_: Neutral, Cool _Cooking_: Cooling _Flavours:_ bitter-cool, salty-cool, sometimes pungent-cool and sweet-cool _Bitter-cool_: asparagus, broccoli, celery, wild rice, lettuce, dandelion, tea (white and green) _Salty-cool_: oysters, carp, seaweed _Sweet-cool_: corn, corn silk, pear (Asian pears) best for phlegm in the lungs, mung bean, soy milk _Pungent-cool:_ daikon radish, peppermint

Question 51

LV/GB Damp Heat Diet Avoidances

Answer 51

Thermal Nature: Warm, Hot Cooking: Warming Flavours: Excess Sour, Hot Bitter, Hot Pungent, Excess Salt, Exces Sweet Avoid: Alcohol, Cayenne, Dairy, Greasy foods

Question 52

LV/GB Damp Heat POT 2 Foods for Exam

Answer 52

**POT:** * Resolve dampness * Clear heat * Disperse stagnation in LV and GB * Tonify SP to resolve dampness (next slide) **Kohlrabi:** * Neutral * Pungent, Sweet; Bitter * Courses GB, LV and KI * Moves qi * Resolves dampness * Eliminates stagnation **Rye:** * Neutral * Bitter; Sweet * Enters LV/GB, SP/ST channels * Benefits LV and GB * Supplements Spleen * Resolves dampness * Moves qi

Question 53

LV/GB Damp Heat Herbs Lifestyle Suggestions

Answer 53

* Long Dan Xie Gan Tang - Gentiana Draining the Liver Decoction * Eat less * Chew carefully * Add in chlorophyll-rich foods, micro-algae * Supplement with Omega 3's *

Question 54

LV/GB Damp Heat Lifestyle Avoidances

Answer 54

* Avoid poor quality, processed, highly refined foods * Avoid poor quality fats, foods high in saturated fats, trans fats * Avoid overly greasy foods and fried foods * Limit intake of nuts and seeds * Avoid intoxicants

Question 55

If there is damp heat in the Liver as well as in the GB what signs will you see?

Answer 55

* Excessive vaginal discharge * Skin rashes * Itching of genitals * Swelling or heat in scrotum

Question 56

Differentiate between Liver Yang Rising and Liver Heat

Answer 56

In the Liver Fire you will see red eyes, bitter taste, scanty dark urine. In Liver Yang Rising you will not see these.

Question 57

What would a headache from Liver Yang Rising feel like?

Answer 57

* Throbbing in nature * Usually one sided * Often at the temple, side of head or above eye

Question 58

If a headache is more excess which side will it usually be on?

Answer 58

Right side

Question 59

What are some symptoms/characteristics of someone with a deficient GB?

Answer 59

* Overly timid and shy * Lack of courage or initiative * Indecisive * Anxiety * Insomnia * Fear when going to bed at night

Question 60

Etiology for Deficient GB

Answer 60

Always arises from a state of deficiency LV BL Xu or LV Qi Xu

Question 61

Liver Wind Agitating Within Etiology

Answer 61

1. Liver Blood/Yin Xu 2. Extreme Heat producing Wind (EPF) 3. Liver Yang Rising (underlying Liver Yin Xu maybe from excessiv sex or menstruation) 4. Liver Fire

Question 62

Liver Wind Beneficial Foods

Answer 62

Basil Black Soybeans Celery Oats Sesame

Question 63

What foods aggravate Liver Wind?

Answer 63

Buckwheat Crab Eggs