Liver (Zang)
Encyclopedia
The Liver is one of the zàng organs stipulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.
organ. Its associated yang organ is the Gallbladder
. Both Liver and Gallbladder are attributed to the Wood element.
Regarding its stipulated functions, the Liver
Its associated body fluid is tears.
The Liver function is regarded to be strongest between 1-3am. Its blood is responsible for the repetitive cycles of human life, for example menstruation. The Huang Di Nei Jing describes the Liver as “the general of an army”. It secretes bile, which is stored in the Gallbladder
.
A properly functioning Liver organ will ensure that the tendons are properly nourished and not too tense or gristly. The normal direction of Liver qi is downward. When it "rebels" it can attack the Spleen, causing nausea and poor appetite. Dysfunction of the Liver typically presents as irritability, anger, headaches, dysmenorrhea
, belches, bitter taste in the mouth, distension, pain under the costal arches, pain in the upper abdomen, tremors/numbness/stiffness of the limbs, blurry vision, or jaundice. Liver blood stagnation may lead to amenorrhea, blood clotting, or a bearing down sensation with menstruation.
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
(TCM). It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.
In the context of the zang-fu concept
As a zàng, the Liver is considered to be a yinYin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
organ. Its associated yang organ is the Gallbladder
Gallbladder (Chinese medicine)
Distinct from the Western medical concept of gallbladder, the concept of the Gallbladder in Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ....
. Both Liver and Gallbladder are attributed to the Wood element.
Regarding its stipulated functions, the Liver
- governs "unclogging and deflation" (疏泄) primarily of qì and emotions. The free flow of qì in turn will ensure the free flow of blood, digestion, and water.
- the free flow of qì and xuě (blood) is particular significant since TCM stipulates that stagnation of that flow will cause pain.
- by association via its respective element each zàng organ is embracing a certain emotion. The free flow of these five (and other) emotions is thus linked to the unrestrained circulation of the qì of the zàng organs.
- ‘’stores‘’ (藏) blood
- opens into the eyes
- governs the tendons
- reflects in the nails
- governs anger (怒)
- houses the húnHun and poHun and po are types of souls in Chinese philosophy and religion. Within this ancient soul dualism tradition, every living human has both a hun spiritual, ethereal, and yang soul that leaves the body after death and a po corporeal, substantive, and yin soul that remains with the corpse...
(魂, "Ethereal Soul")
Its associated body fluid is tears.
The Liver function is regarded to be strongest between 1-3am. Its blood is responsible for the repetitive cycles of human life, for example menstruation. The Huang Di Nei Jing describes the Liver as “the general of an army”. It secretes bile, which is stored in the Gallbladder
Gallbladder (Chinese medicine)
Distinct from the Western medical concept of gallbladder, the concept of the Gallbladder in Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ....
.
A properly functioning Liver organ will ensure that the tendons are properly nourished and not too tense or gristly. The normal direction of Liver qi is downward. When it "rebels" it can attack the Spleen, causing nausea and poor appetite. Dysfunction of the Liver typically presents as irritability, anger, headaches, dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is a gynecological medical condition of pain during menstruation that interferes with daily activities, as defined by ACOG and others. Still, dysmenorrhea is often defined simply as menstrual pain, or at least menstrual pain that is excessive...
, belches, bitter taste in the mouth, distension, pain under the costal arches, pain in the upper abdomen, tremors/numbness/stiffness of the limbs, blurry vision, or jaundice. Liver blood stagnation may lead to amenorrhea, blood clotting, or a bearing down sensation with menstruation.