Liver Yin Deficiency
Liver Yin Deficiency
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Diagnostic Signs
Normal or red color on the sides with no coating or rootless coating
Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Wiry (Xian), Floating (Fu)
Key Characteristic Symptoms
Other Associated Symptoms
Diagnostic Considerations
Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the blurred vision, dry eyes and tongue without coating.
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 to store, hence the pattern of Liver Blood Deficiency, which is always the precursor of Liver Yin Deficiency.
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.
Therefore, the pattern of Liver Blood Deficiency occurs, which is always the precursor of Liver Yin Deficiency.
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, which is always the precursor of Liver Yin 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, which is always the precursor of Liver Yin Deficiency.
Pathological Mechanism
This is a type of Empty-Heat pattern arising out of Liver Blood Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as Liver Blood Deficiency, such as blurred and impaired vision, numbness or tingling of limbs, scanty menstruation or amenorrhoea, dull-pale complexion, muscle pain and weakness and etc.
Liver Yin Deficiency's major differences from Liver Blood Deficiency are the extra signs of Dryness and Yin Deficient Heat, such as dry eyes, red cheekbones and tongue without coating.
When Liver Yin Deficiency is developed as a pattern, it sometimes causes Empty-Heat. The Heat is called "Empty" because it appears not due to an Excess of Yang energy but rather due to lack of Yin cooling factors in the body. This causes the cheekbones to get redder, thirst with desire to drink in small sips, night sweats and a feeling of heat in the palm.
Patients' mental health also sometimes gets affected. When there is Liver Yin Deficiency and Empty-Heat at the same time, it disturbs the Ethereal Soul which loses its root and not anchored in the Liver. Therefore, it ‘comes and goes’ excessively, resulting in anxiety, insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, mental restlessness and an excessive mental activity in terms or plans, projects, dreams, aims which are pursued in a rather ‘scattered’ way.
Treatment Approach
Treatment Principle
Tonify the Liver, nourish Yin, clear Empty-Heat
Recommended Herbal Formulas
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations
Eat plenty of grains, legumes, a little meat, cooked vegetables, greens, milk and black and aduki beans. The foods which decongest and aid the Liver include vegetables, bitter foods, dark leaf greens, such as kale, collards, dandelion, beet and mustard greens. Lemons also clear Heat and congestion from the Liver.
Avoid spicy, greasy and fried foods, caffeinated foods and drinks including coffee, black tea, cocoa, colas and chocolate, nuts and nut butters, chips of all kinds, avocados, dairy (except warm milk with cardamom and honey), alcohol, drugs, chips of all kinds, turkey and red meats and stimulants.
Try other therapies such as meditation, contemplation, cupping over the back and oil massage. Otherwise, resting is also very important in nourishing Yin.
Avoid mental over-work, physical over-exertion, overwork or excessive sexual activity. Also avoid saunas or hot tubs and it will consume more Blood and Yin.
Try stretching or light exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong, swimming or walking.
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Pattern Relationships
Related Conditions
This pattern can manifest as: