Liver Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory

TCM Theory

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

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