Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
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? The concept of Cold The concept of Liver Channel The Liver in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 寒凝肝脉 Pinyin name: Hán Níng Gān Mài
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver Qi Stagnation
Common causes: Invasion of Exterior Cold
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Testicular pain Feeling of cold Vertical headaches Cold hands and feet Shrinking of the vagina and three other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Pale and wet with a white coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Clear the Liver, expel Cold.
Common formulas: Nuan Gan Jian
Pathology
This is caused by invasion of the Liver Channel by Cold, from the Exterior.
The Liver Channel flows around the genitalia and Cold contracts. This explains the pain and contraction in the scrotum (primarily) as well as the testicules/vagina.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel can derive from Liver Qi Stagnation
Invasion of Exterior Cold:
Diagnosing Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
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): Deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Pale and wet with a white coating
Main symptoms: Testicular pain Feeling of cold Vertical headaches Cold hands and feet Shrinking of the vagina Vomiting of clear fluids Contraction of the scrotum Hypochondrial fullness and distention with pain alleviated by warmth
Diagnosis commentary: The key characteristic symptoms are the hypogastric pain that also gets reflected in the scrotum and testicules (or vagina for some women), the cold hands and feet and the Wiry-Deep-Slow Pulse.
Treating Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
Treatment principle
Clear the Liver, expel Cold.
Herbal formulas used to treat Stagnation of Cold in the Liver Channel
Nuan Gan Jian
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Liver and Kidneys. Promotes the movement of Qi. Alleviates pain.
Formula summary
Nuan Gan Jian is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement.
Diet recommendations
Eat only cooked foods and absolutely nothing raw or Cold in energy or temperature. As such avoid rice, millet and other grains, legumes, winter squash, cooked vegetables and greens.