Liver patterns Flashcards
Functions of the Liver
stores the blood ensures the free flow/smooth flow of Qi controls the sinews opens to the eyes controls tears houses the Hun affected by anger
a “feel” for liver pathology
rapid changes up and down fluctuations (energy, mood) emotionally up and down moodiness, irritability eye problems/vision problems nails a feeling of "distension" gynecological problems scanty menses Hun-depression (coexist with SP, ST, GB, Intestine problems)
Liver blood nourishes the skin
exterior wind can stir the blood stored in the liver and manifest with skin rashes. It causes or aggravates skin diseases
Anger & liver
anger includes frustration and resentment
anger may cause Liver qi stagnation or liver yang rising
anger makes qi rise and is frequent cause of headaches from liver yang rising
feeling of distension
chief symptom of qi stagnation. aka “bloating” in English
tongue in qi stagnation
may be normal colored; it is not purple. in severe cases it may be red on the sides
Liver qi stagnation associated with or deriving from liver blood deficiency in women
LR qi stagnation is often deriving from or associated with Liver blood deficiency in women
symptoms and signs sl different and generally of the deficient type
depression rather than irritability
pulse: fine and only slightly wiry on the left
xiao yao san is for Liver qi stagnation deriving from or associated with blood deficiency
yue ju wan is for pure Liver qi stagnation
Kidneys are mother of the liver
a deficiency of Kidneys may induce a secondary Liver qi stagnation
1) feeling of distension of hypochondrium, chest, epigastrium or abdomen and sighing
2) melancholy, depression, moodiness, fluctuations of mental state, feeling wound up, feeling of lump in the throat
3) irregular periods, distension of breasts before periods, premenstrual tension and irritability
tongue: body color may be normal. in severe cases it may be slightly red on the sides
pulse: wiry, especially on the left
Liver qi stagnation
a feeling of distension, wiry pulse and red sides of the tongue
Liver qi stagnation turning into heat
hypochondrial or epigastric distension a slight feeling of oppression of the chest irritability melancholy depression moodiness a feeling of a lump in the throat a feeling of heat red face thirst propensity to outbursts of anger premenstrual tension irregular periods premenstrual breast distension heavy periods tongue red on the sides wiry pulse
Liver qi stagnation turning into heat
belching, irritability and a wiry pulse
Rebellious Liver qi
hypochondrial or epigastric distension hiccups sighing nausea vomiting belching churning feeling in the stomach irritability in women breast distension tongue normal or sl red on the sides wiry pulse
Rebellious Liver qi
stabbing pain and purple tongue
blood stasis
frequently causes pain
but may occur without pain
stabbing pain
can occur with or without a purple tongue
potentially leads to serious diseases (unlike qi stagnation)
blood stasis
blood stasis & phlegm in elderly
happens frequently
seen in serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer
hypochondrial pain abdominal pain vomiting of blood epistaxis painful periods irregular periods dark and clotted menstrual blood infertility masses in abdomen purple nails purple lips purple or dark complexion dry skin (in severe cases) purple petechiae purple tongue wiry or firm pulse
Liver blood stasis
red tongue with redder sides and a dry yellow coating
Liver Fire
pathogen that:
dries up fluids (thirst, dark urine, dry stools)
agitates the mind (agitation, insomnia, restlessness)
causes bleeding (menorrhagia, epistaxis)
Fire
irritability propensity to outbursts of anger tinnitus deafness temporal headache dizziness red face and eyes thirst bitter taste dream disturbed sleep constipation with dry stools dark yellow urine epistaxis hematemesis hemoptysis red tongue, redder on the sides, dry yellow coating full wiry rapid pulse
Liver Fire Blazing
feeling of fullness and heaviness and a sticky yellow tongue coat
Damp Heat
feeling of fullness and heaviness and a sticky yellow tongue coat tongue body with red sides
Liver damp heat
fullness (feeling of fullness, epigastrium or abdomen)
heaviness (feeling of heaviness)
stickiness (sticky taste, oozing skin lesions, sticky stools)
Dampness
fullness of the hypochondrium, abdomen or hypogastrium bitter taste sticky taste poor appetite nausea feeling of heaviness in the body yellow vaginal discharge vaginal itching vulvar eczema or sores midcycle bleeding and/or pain pain redness and swelling of the scrotum genital papular or vesicular skin rashes and itching urinary difficulty burning on urination dark urine red tongue with redder sides sticky yellow coating slippery wiry rapid pulse
Damp heat in the liver
fullness and distension of the hypogastrium with pain which refers downward to the scrotum and testis and upwards to the hypochondrium
the pain is alleviated by warmth
straining of the testis or contraction of the scrotum
vertical headache
feeling of cold
cold hands and feet
vomiting of clear watery fluid or dry vomiting
in women there can be shrinking of the vagina
p[ale and wet tongue with a white coating
deep wiry slow pulse
stagnation of cold in liver channel
blurred vision, pale tongue and choppy pulse
liver blood deficiency
Liver blood nourishes the:
eyes : blurred vision sinews: tingling, cramps nails: ridged nails uterus: scanty periods Hun: insomnia, dreaming
Hun is not rooted in Liver blood and may result in excessive coming and going causing insomnia, anxiety and a tendency to have too many projects, aims, dreams, plans in a scattered way
liver blood is deficient
not enough coming and going of the Hun, and person may become depressed and have a feeling of aimlessness
both liver blood AND Liver qi is deficient
consequences of Liver blood deficiency
heart blood def
kidney deficiency
secondary liver qi stagnation
liver yang rising
dizziness numbness or tingling of limbs insomnia blurred vision floaters in eyes diminished night vision scanty periods or amenorrhea dull pale complexion without luster pale lips muscular weakness cramps withered and brittle nails dry hair and skin depression a feeling of aimlessness pale tongue, thin and slightly dry choppy or fine pulse
Liver blood deficiency
dry eyes and tongue without coating
liver yin deficiency
consequences of liver yin deficiency
kidney yin deficiency
liver yang rising
heart yin deficiency
dizziness numbness or tingling of limbs insomnia blurred vision floaters in eyes dry eyes diminished night vision scanty periods or amenorrhea dull pale complexion without luster but red cheekbones muscular weakness cramps withered and brittle nails very dry hair and skin depression a feeling of aimlessness normal colored tongue without coating or rootless coating floating empty pulse
Liver yin deficiency
throbbing headaches and wiry pulse
liver yang rising
most common cause of chronic headaches
liver yang rising
Imbalance between yin and yang
excessive rising of liver qi
not a heat pattern
liver yang rising
headache which may be on the temples, eyes or lateral side of the head dizziness tinnitus deafness blurred vision dry mouth and throat insomnia irritability feeling worked up propensity to outbursts of anger stiff neck tongue pale if there is liver blood deficiency tongue without coating if there is yin deficiency wiry pulse
liver yang rising
4 types of liver wind
1) extreme heat generating wind
2) Liver yang rising generating wind a) LYR from Liver yin deficiency b) LYR from Liver&Kidney yin deficiency c) LYR from liver blood deficiency
3) Liver fire generating wind
4) Liver blood deficiency generation wind
tremor tic numbness/tingling dizziness convulsions paralysis
internal wind
high temperature convulsions rigidity of the neck tremor of limbs opisthotonos in severe cases coma tongue deep red, stiff, dry yellow coating pulse wiry rapid
extreme heat generating wind
tremor facial tic severe dizziness tinnitus headache hypertension dry throat dry eyes blurred vision numbness or tingling of limbs poor memory tongue: normal colored without coating pulse wiry fine
liver yang rising deriving from liver yin deficiency
tremor facial tic severe dizziness tinnitus headache dry throat dry eyes blurred vision numbness or tingling of limbs poor memory backache scanty urination night sweating possibly hypertension tongue: normal colored without coating pulse wiry fine
liver yang rising deriving from liver & kidney yin deficiency
tremor dizziness tinnitus headache hypertension dry throat blurred vision numbness or tingling of limbs poor memory insomnia tongue: pale and thin pulse wiry fine
liver yang rising deriving from liver blood deficiency
tremor irritability propensity to outbursts of anger tinnitus and/or deafness (sudden onset) temporal headache dizziness red face and eyes thirst bitter taste dream disturbed sleep constipation with dry stools dark yellow urine epistaxis hematemesis hemoptysis tongue: red body with redder sides and dry yellow coating pulse wiry rapid
liver fire generating wind
fine tremor facial tic dizziness blurred vision numbness or tingling of limbs poor memory insomnia scanty periods tongue: pale and thin pulse: wiry fine
liver blood deficiency generating wind
alternation of constipation and loose stools and a wiry pulse
rebellious liver qi invading spleen
liver qi invading spleen - 2 different situations
1) liver is overactive and it invades spleen
2) spleen is weak and allows itself to be invaded by liver (even when liver is not overactive)
irritable bowel syndrome
often rebellious liver qi invading spleen
irritability
abdominal distension and pain
alternation of constipation and diarrhea
stools sometimes dry and bitty and sometimes loose
flatulence
tiredness
tongue normal colored or sl red on the sides
pulse wiry on the left and weak on the right
rebellious liver qi invading spleen
irritability
epigastric and hypochondrial distension and pain
a feeling of oppression in the epigastrium
sour regurgitation
hiccups
belching
nausea
vomiting
sighing
weak limbs
tongue: normal colored, or sl red on the sides
pulse wiry on the left and weak on the right or wiry on both middle positions
rebellious liver qi invading the stomach
breathlessness asthma a feeling of fullness and distension of the chest and hypochondrium cough with a yellow or blood tinged sputum headache dizziness red face thirst bitter taste bloodshot eyes scanty dark urine constipation tongue: red with redder sides and dry yellow coating pulse wiry
liver fire insulting the lungs
combined pattern: blurred vision palpitations pale tongue choppy pulse
Liver & heart blood deficiency
common in women
causing scanty periods and postnatal depression
3 consequences of liver and heart blood deficiency
1) kidney deficiency
2) dryness
3) yin deficiency of liver and heart
palpitations dizziness insomnia dream disturbed sleep poor memory anxiety propensity to be startled dull pale complexion pale lips blurred vision floaters in eyes diminished night vision tingling or numbness in limbs scanty periods or amenorrhea cramps muscular weakness dry hair and skin depression a feeling of aimlessness withered and brittle nails tongue: pale thin slightly dry pulse choppy or fine
liver and heart blood deficiency
