TCM week 3 Flashcards
LIVER FUNCTIONS (6)
Stores Blood
Ensures the smooth flow of Qi
Controls the Sinews
Manifests in the nails
Opens into the eyes
House the Hun (Ethereal Soul
where is blood stored
liver
what effect does liver have on blood
-regulates blood volume
-moistens eyes and sinews
-regulate menstruation
how does the liver regulate blood volume
- Blood flows to muscles and sinews during activity
- Blood flows back to the Liver at rest
- Influences resistance to external pathogens
how does the liver moisten eyes and sinews? what happens if deficient? what if excess heat?
- Deficiency: Dry eyes or blurred vision
- Excess heat: Red and burning
- Poor nourishment of sinews may lead to muscle cramps and poor tendon functioning
- Internal Wind may cause muscle tremors
how does liver regulate menstruation
- Deficiency can lead to amenorrhea or light bleeding
- Excess heat can lead to heavier bleeding
- Stagnation can lead to pain, cramping, and PMS
- Influences the Conception (Ren Mai) and Penetrating vessels (Chong Mai), which are connected to the uterus
what does liver do to qi
ensures the smooth flow
what are the 3 things that the smooth flow of qi controlled by the liver do
- relates to emotions
- aids in digestion
- regulates secretion of bile
how does liver flow of qi relate to emotions
- Essential to balanced emotions
- Reduced flow → Obstructed Qi → Irritability/frustration/anger
- Repressed emotion → Obstructed Qi
how does the smooth flow of qi by the liver help aid in digestion
- Assists in the normal movement of Qi for each organ
- Descending for Stomach, ascending for Spleen
- Obstructed Qi → blocked movement of Qi → symptoms
- Liver directs Qi traffic in the middle burner
how does the liver regulate secretion of bile?
Obstructed Qi → poor bile secretion → poor digestion
how does the liver control the sinews
Nourishes the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage
An extension of the Liver
Related to Liver Blood levels
Muscles are under control of the Spleen
GB 34 is the Influential point for tendons and sinews
what is the influential point for tendons and sinews
GB 34
how does the liver manifest in the nails
Nails are a byproduct of sinews in TCM
- Related to Liver Blood
- Deficient = dry, brittle, cracked
- Stagnation = dark or purple
how does liver open into the eyes
Related to Liver Blood
- Proper vision requires adequate Liver Blood
- Blood Deficient = blurred vision, myopia, floaters
- Yin Deficient = dry, gritty eyes
- Excess Heat = burning, painful, redness
- Stagnation = painful eyeball (or behind the eye)
- Liver Wind = moving eyeball
- Kidney Essence and Heart Qi/Blood required for vision
how does liver control tears
Tears are the fluid related to the Liver
* Mainly for moistening and clearing of foreign bodies
* Not linked to emotional tears
Necessary for proper functioning of the eyes
Deficiency of Blood or Yin can lead to dry eyes
Liver Yang Rising may cause watery eyes
what does the liver house
hun (ethereal soul)
what is hun (ethereal soul) linked to? and is it yang or yin?
linked to spirits and demons
yang in nature
what is the hun/etheral soul for
Planning life and giving life a sense of direction
* Affected by Liver function
Linked to the Corporeal Soul (Po) of the Lung
* The Po closes with death
* The Hun continues to the next life
what is the hun/etheral soul (via liver) linked to
po (corporeal soul) of the lung
how does liver control planning
Gives life direction and meaning
Organizes functions to ensure smooth flow of Liver Qi
what is most common pathology of liver
liver qi stagnation
this can lead to many other excess and deficiency patholgoes
slide 15 chart diagram of liver qi stagnation
key actions of liver qi?? (not sure of what)
Promotes the smooth flow of Liver Qi
Subdues Liver Yang
Moves stagnation
Benefits the genitals
Benefits the breasts
gall bladder functions (3)
Stores and excretes bile
Controls Decisions
Controls the Sinews
how does the gallbladder storing and excreting bile affect and is effected by liver qi?
Aids the digestive functions of the spleen and stomach
–>Affected by Liver’s circulation of Qi
Only Yang organ to store a “pure” substance
Depends on flow of Liver Qi
what is the only yang organ that stores a pure substance
gall bladder stores bile
how does galldlagger control decisions
Works with Liver’s control of planning
Other organs depend on Gall Bladder’s decision-making capabilities
* Seen as a motivator for others
Courage and initiative (“Drive”)
how does gallbladder control the sinews?
Like the Liver but less nourishing and more qi distribution to the sinews
