Liver Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory
Below you will find the TCM Disharmonies related to the Liver Meridian. Each pattern contains a brief description of associated signs and symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and a list of acupuncture points that may be used to treat the disharmo
Below you will find the TCM Disharmonies related to the Liver Meridian. Each pattern contains a brief description of associated signs and symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and a list of acupuncture points that may be used to treat the disharmony.
Excess Patterns
LV Qi Stagnation - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Chest distention, hypochondriac pain a/or distention, sighing, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, diarrhea, depression, moodiness, plum pit qi, PMS, breast tenderness, painful a/or irregular menstruation
- Tongue:
Normal
- Pulse:
Wiry
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 3 - move LV Qi
- GB 34 - move LV Qi, works well with LV 3
- LV 13 - SP Mu, esp. if food stagnation a/or strong LV/SP involvement
- LV 14 - LV Mu
- TH 6 - move Qi in the lateral/costal area, cools heat in the intestines
- PC 6 - harmonize emotions, open the chest, PMS a/or breast tenderness
LV Blood Stagnation - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Abdominal pain, palpable masses in the abdomen, irregular a/or painful menstruation possible with dark clots, purple nails, purple lips
- Tongue:
Purple, possibly w/purple spots
- Pulse:
Wiry
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 3 - move LV Qi
- GB 34 - move LV Qi, works well with LV 3
- UB 17 - huimeeting of the Blood, move Blood
- UB 18 - LV Shu, move Blood in the middle warmer
- SP 10 - move Blood in the lower abdomen
- SP 6 - move Blood in the lower abdomen
LV Cold Stagnation - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Pain in the genital area, general cold signs
- Tongue:
Pale, wet, white coat
- Pulse:
Wiry, deep, slow
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 1 - connects w/genital area, moves Qi in the area
- LV 5 - connects w/genital area, clear damp-heat
- CV 3 - w/moxa to eliminate cold in the lower warmer
LV Fire - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Headache, irritability, explosive anger, dizziness, tinnitus, bitter taste in the mouth, red face, red eyes, dream-disturbed sleep, constipation
- Tongue:
Red, dry w/yellow coat, possibly redder along the LV/GB area
- Pulse:
Wiry, full, rapid
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 2 - clear LV Fire
- LV 3 - resolve LV Qi stagnation, esp. if stagnation is the origin of the Fire
- GB 20 - descend the yang, clear the head
- Taiyang - headache, clear the head
- GB 13 - psycho-emotional aspects of LV fire
- Could add LI 4 if head symptoms are predominate
LV Wind - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Can come from LV Blood Deficiency, LV Yang Rising or from Internal heat (discussed here), muscle spasms, convulsions, high fever, fairly serious condition
- Tongue:
Red, stiff w/thick yellow coat
- Pulse:
Wiry, rapid, full
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 2 - clear LV Fire
- LV 3 - resolve LV Qi stagnation
- GV 16 - expel wind from the head
- GB 20 - expel wind from the head
- GV 20 - clear head
- SI 3 w/UB 62 - yang qiao du mai - descend the yang
LV Yang - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Stroke, asphasia, dizziness, twitching
- Tongue:
Red, peeled possibly deviated
- Pulse:
Floating, empty or Wiry, fine, rapid
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 3 - nourish LV Yin & Blood
- LV 8 - nourish LV Yin & Blood
- SP 6 - nourish Yin and Blood
- UB 18 - LV Shu
- KD 3 - nourish KD Yin
- GV 16 - expel wind from the head
- GB 20 - expel wind from the head
Damp Heat in the LV & GB - excess pattern
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Chest a/or hypochondriac pain/distention, jaundice, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, swelling a/or itching of the genitals
- Tongue:
Red w/yellow sticky coat
- Pulse:
Slippery, wiry, rapid
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 14 - LV Mu
- GB 24 - GB Mu
- UB 18 - LV Shu
- UB 19 - GB Shu
- GV 9 - LV/GB damp heat, jaundice
- CV 12 - ST Mu, tonify middle warmer
- SP 3 - tonify SP
- SP 6 - tonify SP
- SP 9 - clear damp
- LV 2 - clear LV heat
- LI 11 - clear heat
Deficiency Patterns
LV Blood Deficiency
- General Signs & Symptoms:
Numbness in the extremities, tics, tremors, dizziness, blurred vision, floaters, insomnia, dry skin/hair, scanty or lack of menstruation
- Tongue:
Pale, thin, dry
- Pulse:
Thin, choppy
- General Treatment Points:
- Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
- LV 3 - move LV
- LV 8 - nourish LV Blood
- SP 6 - nourish Yin and Blood
- KD 3 - nourish KD Yin
- UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
- UB 18 - LV Shu, tonify Blood
- UB 20 - SP Shu
- UB 23 - KD Shu
- GB 20 - clear the head, descend the yang
- GV 20 - clear the head, descend the yang
Sources and More Information
The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience.