Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency

The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.

Pathology

The Heart controls Blood circulation while the Liver stores Blood. Only when Heart Blood is plentiful does the Liver have Blood to store. And when Liver Blood is Deficient, Heart Blood is certain to be Deficient also.

As such signs of Heart Blood Deficiency almost always occur along Liver Blood Deficiency. This is why generally speaking, this combination of patterns is more likely to start with Liver Blood rather than Heart Blood Deficiency.

Both the Heart and Liver are involved in mental activities and mood: the Heart because it rules the Mind (Shen), the Liver because it houses the Ethereal Soul (Hun) and is in charge of the smooth and regular flow of Qi to all parts of the body.

Insomnia, for instance, is a characteristic "mental" symptom that can be attributed to both Heart Blood or Liver Blood deficiency as both the Mind and the Ethereal Soul play a role in sleep. The Mind is anchored in Heart Blood and the Ethereal Soul in Liver Blood: when either is deficient, one or the other ‘wanders’ at night, causing insomnia. 

The combination of Heart Blood and Liver Blood deficiency is also frequently seen in postpartum depression. It is often caused by the massive blood loss suffered during childbirth which induces Liver Blood Deficiency. As the Liver is the Mother of the Heart, this in turn induces a Deficiency of Heart-Blood. Deficient Heart-Blood fails to house the Mind and the woman becomes depressed and suffers from insomnia.

Causes

Precursor patterns: Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency can derive from Liver Blood Deficiency Kidney Qi not Firm Kidney Qi Deficiency

Emotional stress: Emotions that affect the Heart and may cause Heart Blood Deficiency include anxiety, worry, sadness and grief. Worry and sadness can affect the Liver too, causing Liver Blood Deficiency.

Diet lacking in Blood-nourishing foods: A diet poor in Blood-nourishing such as grains or meat may lead to Liver Blood Deficiency

Excessive physical activity: Excessive physical activity, such as physical work or exercise, may injure the sinews and therefore Liver Blood. Aerobic exercise (i.e. "cardio") like jogging also may injure Heart Blood.

Blood loss: Severe blood loss from a trauma or childbirth may deplete Liver Blood which in turn may lead to Heart-Blood Deficiency.

Diagnosing Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency

Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Treating Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency

Treatment principle

Nourish Blood, tonify Heart and Liver, calm the Mind and settle the Ethereal Soul.

Herbal formulas used to treat Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency

Diet recommendations

Eat a balanced diet including a lot of meat and grains. Eat only cooked foods (i.e. nothing raw) and do not skip meals.

Meditation and contemplation is also known to help with this pattern.

Consequence patterns

Heart Yin Deficiency

Long-term Blood Deficiency of the Heart and Liver will lead to Yin Deficiency of these two Organs.

Liver Yin Deficiency

Long-term Blood Deficiency of the Heart and Liver will lead to Yin Deficiency of these two Organs.

Kidney Qi Deficiency

Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency may lead to a Kidney Deficiency, especially in women