Liver-Yang nourishing

In a sub-acute or a chronic and mild condition of Liver-Yang ascending, the first priority is to select herbs that nourish the Liver-Yin in order to control the Liver-Yang. 

Deputy Pacify the Liver-Yang, calm the mind, nourish the Liver-Yin and Kidney-Yin, reduce Liver-heat and descend the Qi and blood... 

Bai Shao Yao is sour and cold, and primarily enters the Liver meridian. It can effectively nourish the Liver-Yin and soften the Liver. It can be selected as deputy in the formula to pacify the Liver-wind and descend the Liver-Yang in a chronic condition. 

Gui Ban, Xuan Shen, Tian Men Dong and Bai Shao Yao are also used as deputies. This group helps Huai Niu Xi to nourish the Yin of the Kidney and Liver, and treat the cause of Liver-Yang ascending. They can also nourish the Yin, soften the tendons and relieve the cramp and trembling. 

Deputy Nourish the Yin, clear heat, descend the Liver-Yang and extinguish wind... 

Bie Jia is salty and cold, and enters the Liver meridians. It is able to nourish the Yin and reduce empty-heat, and is particularly selected in the formula to treat severe warm palms and soles, bone steaming and night sweats due to severe Yin deficiency with ascending of the Yang and heat of the Liver. As use of this substance is now forbidden, a substitute is recommended. 

Suo Yang is sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is able to tonify the Kidney-Yang, and nourish the essence and blood. It can moisten the intestines and treat constipation due to Yin and blood deficiency. It is suitable for treating constipation in elderly people or people with chronic diseases. 

These two herbs are often used to tonify the blood. Dang Gui is sweet, pungent and warm, and enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen meridians. It can tonify the blood, warm the blood and promote the blood circulation. Bai Shao Yao is bitter, sour and cold, and enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It nourishes the Liver-Yin, tonifies the blood and stabilizes the blood circulation. Since Bai Shao Yao is able to soften the Liver and relax the tendons, it can reduce the aggression of the Liver. These two herbs tonify the Yang and Yin aspects of the blood and are therefore very often used together as one unit to nourish the blood, soften the Liver and keep the Liver-Qi moving steadily. 

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