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rx
chinese medicine models
Liver ~ Gan
psychospiritual approaches
definition
Liver ~ Gan houses the Hun (Ethereal Soul); relates to decisiveness, control and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); controls the muscles, ligaments and tendons, esp. the contractility of the muscles and moistening of the sinews; has an intimate relationship with the genitals and Lower Warmer; opens into the eyes; and expresses itself in the fingernails, toenails and nervous system; and reflects emotional harmony and movement.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Blood Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and Xue (Blood) Heat. Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Shi (Excess) conditions of Liver Wind, Liver Yang Rising and Liver Fire Blazing.
» Tumors and other masses are considered a form of Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and thus are ultimately derived from Qi Stagnation. Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Liver Qi Stagnation often combines with Liver Shi (Excess) to "invade" the Stomach and Spleen. Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation.
» Liver Shi (Excess) signs include discontent; anger; priapism; pain in lumbar region and genitals (Seem, p. 28); muscular tension; excessive sex drive; insomnia; moodiness; excitability; genital diseases; red tearing eyes; compulsive energy; and bitter taste in the mouth. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, headaches, etc., and a tendency to "invade" the Stomach, Spleen and Intestines.
» Liver Wind derives from Xu (Deficiency) of Liver Yin and/or Liver Blood and their subsequent inability to embrace the Yang, and can manifest as dizziness, tremor, paralysis, convulsions, rashes, itching and neurological problems. Wind can also be internalized after exposure to inclimate, esp. windy, weather and any concomitant influences of Damp, Cold and/or Heat.
» Mental signs of Liver channel disorders include irritability; difficulty developing ideas; depression; and lack of energy. (Seem, p. 28)
"The Liver stores Blood and is the residence of the Ethereal Soul (Hun). If the Liver is the deficient there is fear, if it is in excess there is anger." "Classic of Categories" (1624) (Zhang Jie Bin, p. 285)
dreams:
When the Liver is weak, one dreams of "very fragrant mushrooms"; during the Spring, one dreams of "lying under a tree without being able to get up."
(from "Simple Questions" as translated in Maciocia, p. 81)
When the Liver is weak, one dreams of "forests in the mountains";
(from "Spiritual Axis" as translated in Maciocia, p. 81)
When the Liver is in excess, in dreams one feels angry.
(from "Simple Questions" as translated in Maciocia, p. 81)
footnotes
Reprinted from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, Giovanni, pp. 81 and 216, 1989, by permission of the publisher Churchill Livingstone, a division of Elsevier Limited.