Liver-Qi stagnation

The drugs for treating hypertension can quickly descend the Qi and Yang of Liver, but they may suppress the Liver-Qi. They may also slow down water metabolism and blood circulation. Therefore the syndrome can change into one of Liver-Qi stagnation with Kidney-Yin and Liver-Yin deficiency, or Liver-Qi stagnation with dampness accumulation in the Middle-Jiao. 

Qing Pi is used mainly to treat pain due to Liver-Qi stagnation as it enters the Liver meridian. 

Liver-Qi stagnation add Xiang Fu (Cyperi rhizoma) and Chai Hu (Bupleuri radix) to spread the Liver-Qi. 

Liver-Qi stagnation with Liver-heat add Xia Ku Cao (Prunellae spied) and Bai Shao Yao... 

Herbs that regulate the Liver-Qi are often selected as Liver-Yin deficiency commonly coexists with Kidney-Yin deficiency and frequently causes Liver-Qi stagnation. 

If there is Liver-Qi stagnation in the syndrome, this is often revealed by tension in the symptoms, such as severe palpitations, shortness of breath, abdominal cramp, urgent and frequent urination and diarrhea. 

Second, special attention is paid to the Heart. Although the Liver is obviously involved in the attack, and Liver-Qi stagnation and wind are present, the Heart is the organ where the Shen resides and this controls all activities while patients are conscious. When patients suddenly lose consciousness, this suggests that the Heart-shen is disturbed. Herbs that particularly remove phlegm from the Heart and open the Heart orifice should be used. The substances that sedate the Heart-shen, calm the mind and regulate the Qi, blood and Yin of the Heart should also be used. 

If the Liver-Qi stagnates, the symptoms are hypochondriac distension and pain, pain in the... 

Once the Liver-Qi stagnates, it easily overacts or insults the other organs. 

Since Xiang Fu is gentle and effective in regulating the Liver-Qi, it is often selected in formulas for treating both excess and deficiency syndromes that are associated with Liver-Qi stagnation. 

Bai Shao Yao is the most commonly used herb to soften the Liver. It is sour, bitter and slightly cold. It is able to nourish the Yin and blood of the Liver, and its cold and bitter nature can reduce heat, which is caused by deficiency of blood and stagnation of the Liver-Qi. It is often used in a formula to treat Liver-Qi stagnation, which is caused by Yin and blood deficiency. As well as the common symptoms of Qi stagnation, a thready and wiry pulse is often an indication for using this herb in the formula. 

Zhi Ke has a similar function to Chen Pi but it is cold in nature and its function of regulating the Qi is gentler and slower. It moves horizontally in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao. In a formula that treats Liver-Qi stagnation with slight Liver-heat, Zhi Ke is very often used to open up the Qi obstruction in the chest, stomach and hypochondria to reduce fullness and distension. 

Dang Shen and Bai Zhu are able to tonify the Qi and strengthen the function of the Spleen. They are often used as assistants in a formula that treats Liver-Qi stagnation with Spleen-Qi deficiency. Another reason to use herbs which tonify the Spleen is that, as in a chronic condition of Liver-Qi stagnation, the Liver is almost always overacting on the Spleen. It is wise therefore to tonify the Spleen before it is badly weakened. 

This formula is used for blood stasis and liver-Qi stagnation in the area below the diaphragm. The manifestations are palpable abdominal masses accompanied by fixed pain, and chronic malnutrition in children. 

The Liver-Yin and blood are very important in maintaining the function of the Liver. When they are strong, the person sleeps well, feels calm and satisfied, has a sense of humor and moves in a quick and harmonious manner. When the blood and Yin are deficient, the Liver-Qi stagnates and the sleep becomes restless and disturbed by dreams, the person easily feels irritation, anger and frustration, or loses relaxation and flexibility in character. Moreover, Liver is the mother organ of the Heart. Liver-Qi stagnation and up-flaring of Liver-fire can quickly influence the Heart and cause restlessness of the Heart-shen. 

He Huan Pi is sweet and neutral, and enters the Heart, Spleen and Lung meridians. It regulates the Qi in the chest and calms the mind. It is particularly suitable for treating insomnia in depression due to Lung-Yin and Heart-Yin deficiency and Liver-Qi stagnation. The accompanying symptoms are sadness, a tight sensation in the chest and reduced appetite. 

Dang Gui and Bai Shao Yao form a pair of herbs. They tonify the Liver-Yin and blood, and prevent the Liver attacking the Lung when the Liver-Qi stagnates. Moreover,... 

If there is obvious Liver-Qi stagnation but the cause is unclear, it is most likely caused by Liver-blood deficiency. In that situation, the Liver-blood is too weak to nourish the Liver, so the Qi moves slowly and tends to become stagnant. The syndrome of Liver-blood deficiency manifests as dizziness, vertigo, headache, migraine, tiredness, pale complexion, brittle nails and hair, irregular menstruation, irritability and mood swings. 

Liver-Qi stagnation does not manifest in a distinct tongue sign however, if heat is generated, a red border can be observed on the tongue. 

The typical Liver-Qi stagnation pulse is wiry. If there is also blood deficiency, a thready pulse can be felt. If there is obvious Qi deficiency, the pulse can be weak, particularly in the Spleen position. 

Since each of the three factors - Liver-Qi stagnation, Uver blood deficiency and Spleen-Qi deficiency - can be a causative factor as well as a consequence of the others, the chief is used to treat the direct cause and the deputies treat the developed conditions and the consequences. Thus, the chief and the deputies can be selected from the following three groups of herbs. 

Jing Jie and Bo He have a pungent taste, and enter the Liver meridian. They possess a light and subtle dispersing ability and can disperse the constrained Liver-Qi. They are selected as assistants in formulas to enhance the function of the chief in spreading the Liver-Qi and treating excess and deficiency conditions where Liver-Qi stagnation is involved. 

In this syndrome, each of the three factors (Liver-Qi stagnation, Liver-blood deficiency and Spleen-Qi deficiency) can influence, or be influenced by, the other two. This may lead to disharmony between the functions of the Liver and Spleen and cause related manifestations. 

With regard to the structure of this formula, Liver-Qi stagnation predominates and Chai Hu is used as the chief herb. If blood deficiency is obvious and is the cause of the Liver-Qi stagnation, Dang Gui and Bai Shao should be used as chief herbs. When the Spleen-Qi has been very weak for a long period of time, and has led to blood deficiency and Liver-Qi stagnation, herbs that tonify the Spleen should be used as chief herbs. 

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