Liver Yang Rising
Liver Yang Rising
Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic Signs
Pale, normal or slightly red on the sides with no coating
Wiry (Xian)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the irritability, wiry pulse and headache, especially on the temples, eyes or lateral side of the head.
Causes & Pathology
Common Causes
Emotional problems, such as anger, frustration and resentment, are the most obvious causes for this pattern, especially if these emotions are suppressed over a very long time. Anger drives Rebellious Liver Qi upwards.
If excessive Liver Qi rises, it can cause Liver Yang Rising. Eating in a hurry, eating while working or getting angry at meal time can lead to the pattern.
Pathological Mechanism
Long term Deficiency of Liver Yin, Liver Blood or Kidney Yin can cause Liver Yang rising upwards. This pattern is also called "Arrogant Liver Yang". If left unchecked for many years, it can lead to Liver Wind Agitating Internally.
The symptoms mentioned here are fairly similar to these of Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire. However, the latter is purely an Excess pattern. The Fire dries up the Body Fluids and cause some clear sign of Dryness such as constipation, red eyes and face or scanty dark urine.
Liver Yang Rising, on the other hand, is both Excess (the Yang rising) and Empty (Deficient Yin or Blood) at the same time. The typical Excess symptoms are headache, tinnitus, deafness, propensity to outbursts of anger and etc. The typical Empty symptoms are Blurred vision, Insomnia, stiffness and numbness of the muscles, neck, knees, shoulder and upper back. There also some Empty-Heat manifestations such as dry mouth or dry skin.
Therefore the treatment should be focusing on subduing Rising Yang as well as nourishing Liver Yin and Blood.
Many factors can result in this pattern, emotional stress and diet are the two most dominant reasons. Other causes include excessive exercises and sexual activities, prolonged physical exertion and chronic menorrhagia.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Subdue Liver Yang, nourish Liver Yin and Blood
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat a simple diet of legumes, grains, , cooked vegetables and greens. Avoid foods which are raw and cold, fried and greasy, hot and spicy and any caffeinated drinks including coffee, black tea, cocoa colas. Also avoid chips of all kinds, turkey and red meats, chocolate, nuts and nut butters, avocados, cheese and dairy, alcohol, drugs and stimulants. The foods that decongest and help the Liver include vegetables, bitter foods and dark leafy greens, such as kale, collards, dandelion, mustard, beet and mustard greens. Lemons also clear Heat and congestion from the Liver.
As for exercise, gentle stretches are helpful, such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. You should avoid strenuous exercise and exertion.
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