Liver channel Flashcards
What are the functions of the Liver?
- Ensuring the smooth flow of Qi 2. Storing Blood.
How does the Liver influence our emotional state/life?
The Liver ensures the smooth flow of our emotional life. If Liver-Qi is constrained over a long period of time, our emotional life will be characterised by depression, frustration and irritability.
What patterns does the Liver not suffer from?
The Liver does not produce Qi therefore it does not suffer from deficiency of Qi.
What are the two pathogenic factors that affect the Liver?
Wind and Dampness.
What are the full patterns of the Liver?
- Liver-Qi stagnation
- Stagnant Liver Qi with Heat
- Liver fire blazing
- Rebellious Liver
- Liver Blood stasis
- Damp Heat in the Liver
- Stagnation of cold in the Liver channel
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver-Qi stasis?
Distension in hypochondria, tightness of diaphragm Sighing Irritability / moodiness Depression Menstrual irregularity, PMS Plumstone
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Liver Qi stasis?
T: Pointy shape, sides may be sightly purple or slightly red.
P: Wiry (esp. left)
What is the treatment principle of Liver Qi stasis?
TP: Move (or smooth) Liver Qi
What are the key symptoms of Liver-Qi stasis?
Feeling of distension, depression, moodiness and wiry pulse.
What are the signs and symptoms of Stagnant Liver Qi with heat?
Distension in hypochondria, tightness of diaphragm Sighing Irritability / moodiness Depression Menstrual irregularity, PMS Plumstone
Red face Thirst Feeling hot Outbursts of anger Irregular and heavy period
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Stagnant Liver Qi with heat?
T: Red sides
P: Wiry and rapid
What is the treatment principle in Stagnant Liver Qi with heat?
TP: Move Liver Qi, Clear heat.
What are the key signs and symptoms of Stagnant Liver qi with heat?
Feeling of distension, irritability, feeling of heat, wiry pulse and red sides of the tongue.
What are the signs and symptoms of Rebellious Liver-Qi?
Irritability with hypochondrial or epigastric distention
Stomach – belching, vomiting, nausea and stomach churning.
Breast distention
This is normally diagnosed as liver qi invading the stomach.
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Rebellious Liver-Qi?
T: No change or red sides
P: Wiry esp. Stomach and Liver
What is the treatment principle in Rebellious Liver-Qi?
TP: Smooth Liver, sedate rebellious Liver Qi.
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Blood stasis?
Sharp hypochondrial or abdominal pain Dysmenorrhoea with dark blood and clots Abdominal masses Purple / dark complexion Purple nails / lips
Pain at left st26, st27 aggravated by pressure
Pain over the Liver organ
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Liver Blood stasis?
T: Purple, may have dark purple spots on the side
P: Choppy or firm and wiry
What is the treatment principle of Liver Blood stasis?
TP: Smooth Liver and resolve blood stasis
What are the key symptoms of Liver Blood stasis?
Dark and clotted menstrual blood, purple tongue.
What kind of pain indicates blood stasis?
Blood stasis may occur without pain but a severe, stabbing pain always indicates blood stasis.
What are the signs and symptoms of Live-Fire Blazing?
Strong irritability and intense outbursts of anger Red face and eyes Temporal headache Dream disturbed sleep Dark Yellow urine Constipation Bleeding
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Liver-Fire Blazing?
T: Red body, redder on sides, dry yellow coat.
P: Full, wiry, rapid and overflowing in Liver position.
What is the treatment principle in Liver-Fire blazing?
TP: Drain Liver Fire and smooth the Liver
What are the key symptoms of Liver-Fire Blazing?
Headache, irritability, red face, red eyes, red tongue with yellow coating.
In Liver fire blazing why is there symptoms of tinnitus and deafness?
Liver-Fire ascends to the ears and clouds the ear orifices.
What are the signs and symptoms of Damp-Heat in the Liver
Fullness of:
Hypochondrium
Abdomen
Hypogastrium
Heaviness of body Sticky taste / bitter taste Poor appetite, nausea Pain, swelling and redness of scrotum / genitals Yellow vaginal discharge and itching
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Damp-Heat in the Liver?
T: Red with redder sides and a sticky yellow coat
P: Slippery, wiry and rapid
What is the treatment principle of Damp-Heat in the Liver?
TP: Resolve damp heat and clear the liver
What are the key signs and symptoms of Damp-Heat in the Liver?
Fullness of hypochondrium and abdomen, feeling of heaviness, nausea, bitter and sticky taste, sticky yellow coating and slippery pulse.
What are the key signs and symptoms of Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel?
Fullness and distention of hypogastrium referring to scrotum/groin and hypochondrium Pain is alleviated by warmth Felling cold / cold hands and feet Dry vomiting or clear watery fluids Shrinking of vagina or testis
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel?
T: Pale and wet with white coat
P: Deep, slow and wiry
What is the treatment principle in Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel?
TP: Expel cold and clear the liver channel
What are the key signs and symptoms of Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel?
Hypogastric pain referring to the scrotum, cold hands and feet, wiry-deep-slow pulse.
What are the empty patterns of the Liver?
- Liver Yin deficiency
- Liver Blood deficiency
- Liver Yang rising from Yin or blood
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Yin deficiency?
Dizziness Insomnia Blurred vision Floaters Diminished night vision Depression, aimless Numbness and tingling of limbs Scanty menstruation, amenorrhoea Muscular weakness cramps Withered brittle nails Dry hair and skin Dull pale complexion
Malar flush
Dry eyes
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Liver Yin deficiency?
T: Red without coat
P: Floating and empty
What is the treatment principle in Liver Yin Deficiency?
TP: Nourish Liver Yin (clear empty heat)
What are the key symptoms in Liver Yin deficiency?
Blurred vision, dry eyes, tongue without coating
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Liver Blood deficiency?
T: Pale body, esp. on sides or orange sides. Possibly thin and dry.
P: Fine, thready/choppy
What is the treatment principle of Liver Blood deficiency?
TP: Nourish Liver Blood
What are the key signs and symptoms of Liver blood deficiency?
Blurred vision, scanty periods, dull-pale complexion.
What does Liver-Blood nourish?
Eyes: Blurred vision Sinews: Tingling, cramps Nails: Ridged nails Uterus: Scanty periods Ethereal soul: Insomnia, dreaming
What are full/empty patterns of the Liver?
Liver-Yang rising from yin or blood
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Yang rising from Blood deficiency?
Throbbing headache – often manifesting in the Gall Bladder channel – temples, eyes or side of the head. Dizziness and blurred vision Tinnitus or deafness Dry mouth and throat Irritability and outbursts of anger Insomnia Stiff neck
Blood xu with Yang
Pale
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Yang rising from Yin deficiency?
Throbbing headache – often manifesting in the Gall Bladder channel – temples, eyes or side of the head. Dizziness and blurred vision Tinnitus or deafness Dry mouth and throat Irritability and outbursts of anger Insomnia Stiff neck
Yin xu with yang rising:
Dry eyes
Malar flush
What is the tongue and pulse quality in Liver Yang rising from Yin deficiency?
T: Yin Xu with yang rising:
Red without coat.
P: Yin Xu with yang rising:
Wiry, floating and rapid
What is the tongue and pulse quality in Liver Yang rising from Blood deficiency?
T: Blood xu with yang rising: Pale
P: Blood Xu with yang rising: Wiry and thready
What is the treatment principle of Liver Yang rising from Yin deficiency?
Yin Xu with yang rising:
Subdue Liver Yang, nourish liver yin, clear empty heat
What is the treatment principle of Liver Yang rising from Blood deficiency?
Blood xu with yang rising:
Subdue Liver yang, nourish liver blood.
What are the signs and symptoms of Extreme Heat generating Wind?
High temperature Convulsions Rigidity of the neck Tremor of the limbs Opisthotonos (backward arching with muscle contracture) Severe cases coma
What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Extreme Heat generating Wind?
T: Deep red with a dry yellow coating, stiff body.
P: Wiry and rapid.
What is the treatment principle of extreme heat generating Wind?
TP: Cool blood, nourish yin, extinguish wind
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver-Yang rising generating Wind?
Tremor Facial tic Severe dizziness Headache Hypertension Dry throat and eyes Blurred vision Numbness and tingling of limbs Poor memory
Night sweats if kidney yin xu
Insomnia if blood xu
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Liver-Yang rising generating Wind?
T: From yin xu – no coat
From blood xu – pale and thin.
P: Wiry and Fine
What is the treatment principle of Liver-Yang rising generating Wind?
TP: Subdue liver yang, extinguish wind. Nourish liver yin.
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver-Fire generating Wind?
Tremor Irritability and anger Temporal headache Red face and eyes Thirst Bitter taste Constipation Dark yellow urine Sudden onset deafness or tinnitus Dream disturbed sleep
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Liver-Fire generating Wind?
T: Red with redder sides and dry yellow coating.
P: Wiry and rapid
What is the treatment principle of Liver-Fire generating Wind?
TP: Clear the liver, drain fire, extinguish wind.
What are the signs and symptoms of Liver Blood deficiency generating Wind?
Fine tremor Facial tic Dizziness Blurred vision Numbness and tingling of limbs Poor memory Insomnia Scanty periods
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Liver Blood deficiency generating Wind?
T: Pale and thin
P: Wiry and fine
What is the treatment principle of Liver Blood deficiency generating Wind?
TP: Subdue liver yang, extinguish wind, nourish liver blood.
What are Liver tongue signs?
o Liver tongue signs: purple colour (stagnation), pointed shape (Liver involvement), deviation (Not a balanced tongue), and dark sublingual veins.
What are Liver pulse signs?
o Liver pulse signs: Wiry pulse = qi stasis, choppy pulse = blood stasis.
o Superficial or full pulses.
What are Liver palpation signs?
o Liver abdominal palpation: Tightness under the right rib indicates stasis of liver qi, tightness that is just under the left rib cage indicates the liver is invading the spleen. This area is often relates to more to stasis of liver blood than qi (Left to the umbilicus).
