Liver Qi Stagnation

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Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Deficiency are the two most common TCM

patterns in the U.S. Both are due in most cases to lifestyle.

 

The possible manifestations of Liver Qi Stagnation are very varied.

Maciocia arranges these into 5 basic groups. Exactly how any Root will

manifest will be a function of pre-existing and acquired weaknesses such as

genetic differences between individuals and weaknesses due to diet,

lifestyle, trauma, toxins, infection, etc.

 

The 5 broad categories that Maciocia uses can be summed up as pain and

distention in the sides and the chest. emotional manifestations, various

digestive system problems, difficulties in the throat with various

subjective feelings, and menstrual problems.

 

1. " Feeling of distension of hypochondrium and chest, hypochondriac pain,

sighing, hiccup. " (The Foundations of , p. 217.)

" Hypochondrium " is the medical term for the sides of the upper abdomen. If

you look at a chart of the Liver meridian, you'll see that it runs up the

inside of the legs, connects with the trunk near the genitals, and continues

up to the margins of the ribcage. Liver 13 on the lower edge of the ribs

regulates Liver Qi and is particularly good for Liver Invading Spleen.

Liver 14 is higher up, also near the margin of the ribcage, and is very good

for Liver Invading Stomach. Given the route of the Liver Meridian, it's not

surprising that Liver Qi Stagnation frequently will manifest as pains in the

sides. Sighing is a spontaneous way to release pent-up Liver Qi, so suspect

Liver imbalance whenever someone sighs a lot.

 

2. " Melancholy, depression, moddiness, fluctuation of mental state. "

(Foundations, p. 217.) Liver and/or Heart imblance frequently will play a

role in cases of depression. Especially suspect Liver imbalance when

emotions change very frequently. When considering emotional components of

TCM imbalances, please keep in mind that the TCM view of the mind-body

connection is far more sophisticated and practical than the view in the

West. TCM recognizes that not only do improperly expressed emotions affect

Organs, but once the Organ is in imbalance (from whatever cause (physical or

emotional), the person is going to be more prone to a particular emotion or

emotions. For example, the Liver and Gall Bladder are most vunlnerable to

anger and feelings of frustration, resentment, and irritation (Foundations,

p. 216), but once Liver imbalance occurs, the person is going to be more

prone to feeling these things. In addition to anger and similar feelings,

Liver imbalance also is very prone to manifest as depression. Triggers for

Liver (or any other) imbalance aren't always emotional. For example,

sometimes diet will cause depression, especially when there also is Spleen

imbalance. For example, a person eats mainly sweet and greasy foods. As a

result, the Spleen become Deficient and Dampness problems result. Dampness

is one of the things which can interfere with the smooth flow of Qi. Also,

there is a special relationship between the Liver and the Spleen (the

Victor-Vanquished relationship). Anyway, once the person changes the diet

and cuts out excessive sweets and oil, the depression lifts. This is very

important to remember as some sweets act differently in the short-run than

in the long-run. Chocolate is an example. Because of certain chemicals

contained in chocolate and their effects in the body, the short-term effect

of consuming milk chocolate can make a person feel much better emotionally.

But the long-term effects of excessive consumption of chocolate, especially

milk chocolate, can be to trigger and increase depression because of damage

to the Spleen and the resulting Dampness which interferes with Qi flow.

Milk chocoate is especially bad because milk and other dairy products are

among some of the most Damp-engendering foods.

 

3. " Nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, poor appetite, sour regurgitation,

belching, feeling of pulsation in epigastrium, 'churning feeling in the

stomach', abdominal distension, borborygmi, diarrhoea. " (Foundations, p.

217.) " Epigastrium " and " epigastric " are the medical terms for the upper

central part of the abdomen. This is the area where the stomach is located.

" Borborygmi " is the medical term for noises (rumblings) in the intestines.

These particular manifestations of Stagnant Liver Qi almost always occur

in conjunction with other imbalances. For example, nausea, vomiting, and

reflux usually are due to Liver Invading the Stomach and/or Rebellious

Stomach Qi. The Stagnant Liver Qi prevents the Stomach Qi from descending

like it should. This also can be a factor in some cases of contipation as

well as cases of Food Stagnation. When the Liver Invades the Spleen, this

can give rise to diarrhea. Stagnant Qi in the intestine can give rise to

rumblings and various other noises. Maciocia writes regarding the close

connection among the Stomach, Spleen, and Liver, " In these situations when

Liver-Qi invades Stomach and Spleen, there is a certain overlap of patterns

between the Stomach/Spleen and Liver and is often difficult to know where

one starts and the other ends. " (Foundations, p. 217) This is why

Maciocia's recommendations for treating certain Spleen and Stomach

imbalances frequently include a number of acupoints to address Liver Qi

Stagnation. The Liver is the most important Organ in the body for the

smooth and even flow of Qi throughout the body.

 

4. " Unhappiness, 'feeling wound-up', feeling of lump in the throat, feeling

of difficulty in swallowing. " (p. 217) This is the famous " Plum pit in the

throat " manifestation of Liver Qi Stagnation which gets used in so many

basic texts.

 

5. " Irregular periods, painful periods, distension of breasts before the

periods, pre-menstrual tension and irritability. " There are several

patterns that can occur in cases of PMS (PreMenstrual Tension), but most of

them include Liver Qi Stagnation. Indeed, Liver Qi Stagnation is by far

the number one factor in cases of PMS. " Finally, stagnation of Liver-Qi can

impair the movement of Blood in the Directing " (Conception) " and

Penetrating " (one of the 8 Extraordinary merdians) " Vessels, thus affecting

the Uterus, resulting in irregular and painful periods and pre-menstrual

tension wiht distension of the breasts (which are also under the influence

of the Liver channel). " (p. 217) Actually, there can be different scenarios

than the one described above involving Qi Stagnation giving rise to Blood

Stasis. Remember that Dampness accumulation is one of the things that can

interfere with the smooth flow of Qi. When there is Dampness accumulation

in the Lower Burner (lower abdomen), there frequently is Qi Stagnation.

Also, Cold can interfere with Qi. The Uterus is one of the Organs which can

be invaded directly by Exterior Cold, and this in turn can interfere with

the smooth flow of Qi in the channels. In addition there is a special TCM

pattern called Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel. The Liver meridian

is invaded by Cold, and this can give rise to various problems affecting the

genital area, some due directly to the Cold, others due to the Qi Stagnation

triggered by the Cold. In each of these scenarios, there will be variations

of symptoms which will help one recognize when these co-factors also are

present.

 

Qi Stagnation problems also can be triggered by injuries. In some of these,

Blood Stasis will be the cause of the Qi Stagnation. In other cases, the

services of a chiropractor or D.O. will be needed to resolve the Root when

it's a misaligned spine. Magnesium deficiency may play a role in some cases

of Qi Stagnation because the muscles need Mg in order to be able to relax.

Anything which cause the muscles to stay contracted and tensed, be it Mg

deficiency or emotional factors or cold, and anything that interferes with

the smooth flow of nerve impulses (like a misaligned spine) can be factors

in triggering Qi Stagnation problems.

 

Because " Qi is the commander of the Blood " , long-term Qi Stagnation will

trigger Blood Stasis, just as Blood Stasis can trigger Qi Stagnation. When

this happens, there is a snowballing situation with each making the other

worse. Both will need to be treated.

 

Maciocia gives the general treatment principle for Liver Qi Stagnation as

" disperse the Liver and regulate Qi. " (p. 218) There are acupoints which

will do this. In addition, there are herbs for moving Qi. In addition, any

co-factors which are giving rise to the Qi Stagnation also will need to be

addressed such as the use of herbs to Warm the Interior and Expel Cold in

the case of Cold, herbs to drain Dampness and herbs to strengthen the Spleen

in cases of Dampness accumulation, etc.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

 

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