Liver Blood and Kidney Yin 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.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern?
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Tinnitus Sore back Dizziness Scanty periods and four other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Pathology
Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency is a pattern of disharmony in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine views the human body as a complex system that tends toward harmony. A pattern of disharmony is a disorder that prevents that harmony from occurring.
Patterns give rise to symptoms that may at first glance seem unrelated from a Western standpoint but that actually make a lot of sense when one understands Chinese Medicine theory. For instance here Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency gives rise to such diverse symptoms as sore back, scanty periods, dizziness and pain relieved with massage (as well as five others).
To diagnose a pattern, analyzing a patient's pulse as well as their tongue is common practice. In the case of Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency patients tend to exhibit empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as a red tongue with complete absence of coating.
Patterns aren't exactly the Chinese Medicine equivalent to Western diseases, they're rather the underlying causes behind diseases or health conditions. Here Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency is thought to sometimes induce conditions such as menstrual cramps.
Diagnosing Liver Blood and Kidney Yin 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.
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Main symptoms: Fatigue Tinnitus Sore back Dizziness Scanty periods Blurred vision Delayed period Dull menstrual cramps Pain relieved with massage
Treating Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Herbal formulas used to treat Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.
Formula summary
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Yin Deficiency.
Tiao Gan Tang
Formula summary
Tiao Gan Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1827 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency, Tiao Gan Tang is also used to treat Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency.
Gui Shao Di Huang Tang
Formula summary
Gui Shao Di Huang Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1706 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency, Gui Shao Di Huang Tang is also used to treat Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency.
Special highlight: the link between menstrual cramps and Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Dong Quai (Dang Gui) is the key herb for Tiao Gan Tang, a formula used for menstrual cramps caused by Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Typical symptoms for menstrual cramps caused by Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency: Fatigue Tinnitus Sore back Dizziness Scanty periods Blurred vision Delayed period Dull menstrual cramps Pain relieved with massage
Recommended herbal formulas: Tiao Gan Tang, Gui Shao Di Huang Tang, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Like with the Blood and Qi Deficiency pattern, dysmenorrhea caused by Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency also causes dull pain and often come towards the end of or after the period. It is more often seen in older, premenopausal women.
In this pattern, the menstrual cramps occur because there is no sufficient Liver Blood and Kidney Yin to fill the Uterus and to nourish the sinews. The pain often extends to the top of the thighs along the course of the Liver Channel. The treatment principles...Read more about menstrual cramps