Liver Blood Deficiency
Liver Blood Deficiency
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Pale tongue, especially on the sides with thin, dry and white coating
Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the blurred vision, scanty periods and dull-pale face.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
The Spleen is responsible for making Blood which then get stored in the Liver. The Spleen function can be largely weakened due to a diet poor in nutrition or lacking in Blood generating foods, such as red meat or grains. As a result, less Blood for the Liver.
Emotional stress such as sadness and grief can consume Liver Blood directly.
On the other hand, these emotions may also first harm Qi, which then resulting in poor Blood formation.
Excessive physical exercise mainly harms the Spleen Yang. As a result, the Spleen's foods transforming and transporting function is impaired, thus less Blood can be generated and stored in the Liver.
Excessive exercise also injures the sinews. Since the Liver controls, moistens and nourishes sinews, which in long run, can give rise to Liver Blood Deficiency.
The Liver stores the Blood. Therefore a serious haemorrhage (such as during childbirth or long term heavy periods) can also lead to Deficiency of Live Blood.
Pathological Mechanism
This pattern has all the general manifestation of the Blood Deficiency, such as dizziness, pale lips, dull pale face. The Liver stores Blood, that is the reason any Blood Deficiency often involves the Liver.
This pattern has an impact on areas the Liver relates to, such as the eyes, the sinews, the nails, women's menstruation and Ethereal Soul.
First of all, the Liver opens to the eyes, thus the symptoms of blurred vision and diminished night vision because the eyes are not nourished and moistened by sufficient Blood.
Secondly, the Liver controls the sinews which includes tendons, cartilages and ligaments of the limbs. If Liver Blood is Deficient, malnutrition of the sinews results, causing muscular weakness, cramps, stiffness, rigidity, joint pain, as well as numbness and tremors of the limbs.
Then the Liver manifests in the nails, hence the withered and brittle nails as they are not moistened properly.
The Liver also supplies Blood to Directing (Ren Mai) and Penetrating Vessels (Chong Mai) so as to produce monthly periods. If there aren't enough Liver Blood, it results in scanty period or even absence of periods.
The patients may also suffer from insomnia and dream disturbed sleeps because the Ethereal Soul (Hun) fails to be anchored and housed in the Liver at night.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Tonify the Liver, nourish the Blood in the Liver.
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Si Wu Tang
Restores and nourishes Blood, Stimulates Blood circulation
Bu Gan Tang
Tonifies and regulates the Blood, Nourishes the Liver Yin
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Nourishes the Blood, Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability
Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan
Enriches the Kidney Yin and Essence, Nourishes the Liver Blood
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Try lamb, Dong quai and Ginger soup, bone soups, milk, black and aduki beans, congee, all cooked foods. Also be careful to not skip meals.
Try other therapies such as contemplation, meditation, breathing exercises, oil massage, moxibustion over the lower abdomen and Kidneys.
Try light aerobic and stretching exercises including Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
Working on emotional issues.
Avoid Saunas and hot tubs, over-work, over-exercises or excessive sexual activities.
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