Liver Blood Deficiency

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The following is taken from The Foundations of ,

Giovanni Maciocia, pp. 224-225.)

 

" Clinical manifestations

 

" Dizziness, numbness of limbs, insomnia, blurred vision, " floaters "

in eyes (dark spots or transparent spots in the field of

vision), " scanty menstruation or amenorrhoea " (lack of a

period), " dull-pale complexion, pale lips, muscular weakness, muscle

spasms, cramps, withered and brittle nails, dry hair and skin.

 

" Tongue: Pale body especially on the sides which, in extreme cases,

can assume an orange colour, and Dry.

 

" Pulse: Choppy or Fine,

 

" Key symptoms: blurred vision, scanty periods, dull-pale complexion,

Pale tongue. "

 

Yang Deficiency also manifests as a pale tongue and complexion, so

how to tell the difference. The complexion will be dull pale in

Blood Deficiency and shiny pale in Yang and Qi Deficiency.

 

Note the eye and vision symptoms. Since the Liver " opens into the

eyes " , there likely will be eye and vision problems accompanying many

Liver imbalances.

 

If the person is having muscle spasms, the Blood Deficiency also is

triggering Interior Wind. Spasms, tics, shaking, etc. are associated

with Wind. Blood Deficiency is one of the 3 imbalances which can

trigger Internal Wind. The other two are Liver Yang Rising and

extremely high body temperature.

 

In addition, the skin may appear wrinkled. Sort of like a prune or

raisin is wrinkled though not as extreme.

 

" Pathology

 

" The Liver stores Blood and any deficiency of Blood often manifests

in the Liver sphere. As the Liver opens into the eyes, when Liver-

Blood is deficient the eyes will lack nourishment and moisture so

that they cannot see clearly. "

 

Keep in mind that the TCM definition of Blood is that it moistens and

nourishes.

 

" The Liver controls the sinews and when Liver-Blood is deficient

these will lack nourishment and moistening and the person will

experience muscular weakness or cramps. "

 

(Note: Muscular weakness is not identical to fatigue though a person

who is extremely fatigued may not realize there also was muscular

weakness until after the muscles are strengthened.)

 

" Dizziness, pale lips, dull-pale complexion are all signs of general

Blood deficiency. As the Liver manifests in the nails, when Liver-

Blood is deficient, they will lose nourishment and become withered

and brittle. "

 

Problems with the eyes, vision, and nails are fairly specific to

Liver imbalance. So if one or more of these are present, suspect and

rule in or rule out Liver imbalance. The exact nature of the problem

will help one narrow down what the specific Liver imbalance is. If

dryness is involved, chances are it's Liver Blood Deficiency because

the Blood moistens and nourishes.

 

" Liver-Blood is closely related to the Directing and Penetrating

Vessels " (2 of the 8 Extraordinary meridians) " which are dependent on

the Liver for their Blood supply. Thus, when Liver-Blood is

deficient, the Directing and Penetrating Vessels will also lack

Blood, resulting in scanty periods or no periods at all.

 

" The tongue is of course Pale and in severe cases it becomes slightly

orange on the sides. " (Note: When doing a tongue diagnosis, the

sides of the tongue often will relate to the Liver and Gall Bladder.

Just like the tip of the tongue often will reveal imbalances in the

Lungs and Heart.)

 

" Aetiology

 

" A diet poor in nourishment or lacking in protein can weaken the

Spleen which, in turn, cannot make enough Blood. When not enough

Blood is produced by the Spleen, not enough Blood is stored by the

Liver.

 

" A serious haemorrhage (such as during childbirth) can also lead to

deficiency of Liver-Blood.

 

" The Kidneys play a role in the formation of Blood and a deficiency

of Kidney-Qi or Kidney-Essence can lead to deficiency of Blood.

Therefore, any of the causes of Kidney deficiency, can also lead to

deficiency of Liver-Blood. "

 

Note the role that poor diet, in particular one lacking in enough

protein, can play in triggering Blood Deficiency. Both men and women

are at risk at developing Blood Deficiency if their diets are poor.

Especially if they are engaging in fad dieting and/or in deliberately

inducing vomiting or purging.

 

Both men and women are in danger of developing Blood Deficiency if

they lose blood due to an accident or surgery. In addition, women

also are at added risk because of the monthly periods. If periods

are unusually heavy, in time this can trigger Blood Deficiency.

 

If the Kidneys are involved, the Kidney imbalance will need to be

corrected in order to correct the Blood Deficiency.

 

" Principle of treatment: tonify the Liver, nourish Blood. "

 

Maciocia recommends Bladder 18 to tonify Liver Blood, Bl 20 to tonify

the Spleen so that it can produce Blood, Bl 23 to tonify the Kidneys

(because of their role in Blood production), Bl 17 " with direct moxa "

to tonify Blood, Liver 8 to tonify Liver Blood, Stomach 36 and Spleen

6 to " tonify the Post-Heaven Qi to produce Blood, and Ren 4 (with

direct moxa) to tonify Blood.

 

These are not the only points which can be used, just some of the

ones that can work.

 

These are the symptoms and signs of full-blown Liver Blood

Deficiency. All of them may not appear at once, just over time as the

Liver Blood Deficiency remains untreated.

 

Victoria