The importance of rest in Liver-Blood Deficiency

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The Liver stores Blood. When a person is active, the Liver sends Blood to

the muscles and sinews in order to moisten and nourish them. When a person

is at rest - especially lying down - the Blood returns to the Liver where it

" regenerates itself " . (Giovanni Maciocia, The Foundations of Chinese

Medicine, pp. 50-51.)

 

" When klying down, the Blood regenerates itself in the Liver, hence the

importance of having adequate rest (especially lying down), in cases of

deficient Liver-Blood. " (pp. 50-51.)

 

If a person has Liver Blood Deficiency, it is not going to be treated

adequately by just herbs or acupuncture. The person is going to have to

make life style changes and get the rest (lying down) that makes possilbe

the regeneration of Liver Blood.

 

The fact that Liver Blood Deficiency requires lying down also can be

diagnostic. I'm talking here about people who get irritable,

down-in-the-dumps, anxious, etc. when they over-do, but are fine after they

rest. This points to the possibility of Liver Blood Deficiency.

 

When dealing with Qi Deficiency and Spleen Deficiency, people will get

fatigued when they over-do, and it doesn't take much for these people to

feel tired. But there usually is not an emotional component when there is

just Qi Deficiency. Troubling emotions that appear only when a person goes

without adequate rest and resolve once the person gets the rest s/he needs,

point to the possibility of Liver Blood Deficiency.

 

The Liver plays an important role in emotional equilibrium. Liver Qi

Stagnation, constrained Liver Qi, etc. also can result in extreme emotions,

especially anger and frustration. But, in cases of just Liver Qi

Stagnation, rest alone will not resolve the problem. (Remember, the TCM

definition of Blood is nourishes the body, it moistens the tissues, and it

provides a foundation for Shen (Spirit/ Mind).

 

Liver Blood also plays some key roles in menstruation. The Liver " supplies

the uterus with Blood and is closely related to the Penetrating

extraordinary vessel. " (p. 51) If the Liver Blood is Deficient, periods

will be delayed or even cease in extreme cases. " Stagnant Liver-Blood can

be a cause of painful periods. " (p. 51) (One of the possible causes.)

 

The insomina of Blood Deficiency is characterized by trouble falling asleep

but the person not waking during the night. In contrast, the insomnia of

Yin Deficiency is characterized by the person having no problem getting to

sleep but waking frequently.

 

Victoria

 

 

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