Most Organs' normal physiological Qi goes in one direction (up or down) and their pathological Qi normally goes toward the opposite direction.

The Liver is an exceptional one as its Qi goes in all directions, especially upwards. It is because it's responsible for ensuring the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body, in all Organs and in all directions.

Rebellious Liver Qi mostly refers to excessive Qi ascending and it causes symptoms like headache, dizziness and irritability.

In normal times Liver Qi travels horizontally to assists the the Stomach and the Spleen's digestive functions. However, when excessive Liver Qi invades the Stomach, it causes nausea, belching and vomiting. It is one of the precursor patterns for Stomach Qi rebelling upwards.

Excessive Liver can also invades the Spleen and gives rise to symptoms like diarrhoea or alternating constipation and diarrhea.

This pattern differs from Liver Qi Stagnation which gives rise to very pronounced emotional symptoms like irritability or anger. Here the emotional symptoms are milder but the digestive ones are much more pronounced. This is because, far from being slowed down like in Liver Qi Stagnation, the movement of Liver Qi is actually accentuated.

In Women breast distention is a common symptom because of the connection between the Liver and the breasts: when it rebels Liver Qi flows upward to the breasts instead of the contrary.