Liver Invading the Spleen

The liver, which is responsible for the smooth flow of chi throughout the body, is very close to the spleen which is the main digestive organ. When liver chi stagnates, due to stress, anger, frustration or inappropriate diet, it invades the spleen and disturbs the digestive process. From a psychological perspective liver invading the spleen […]

Liver Invading the Stomach

Lifestyle factors and emotional stress, combined with irregular meals and overwork stagnates liver chi and it invades the stomach. The stomach is the ‘giver of life’, but when disrupted it creates pain and disease. Symptoms: Irritability, distension and pain in epigastrium and hypochondrium, fullness in epigastrium, acid reflux, belching nausea, vomiting, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic […]

Liver Fire Insulting the Lungs

Anger causes the formation of liver fire, which rises upwards towards the chest generating breathlessness and asthma. The underlying cause for this pattern is long standing liver chi stagnation resulting from emotional and psychological issues. Symptoms: Breathlessness, asthma, fullness and stuffy chest and hypochondrium, cough, yellow or blood-streaked sputum, headache, dizziness, red face, thirst, bitter […]

Damp Heat in the Gallbladder

This pattern is affiliated with gallstones and is caused by longterm stress generating anger, and excessive consumption of greasy and fatty foods. The dampness formed by the greasy food combines with the heat caused by strong emotions. The gallstones form over a long period of time from dampness under the ‘steaming and brewing’ action of […]

Gallbladder Deficient

This is a constitutional pattern (you can be born with it) characterised by a lack of courage, timidity and poor decision making, that can then affect the way you live. It can also develop as a result of malnourishment, in particular from a protein deficient diet, or from diets that make you emotionally and physically […]

Liver Chi Stagnation

The liver is responsible for a smooth flow of chi around your body. It ensures that your muscles and organs have a constant supply of chi for movement, digestion, blood flow, and the flow of the emotions. If liver chi stagnates, due to emotional tension, ongoing stress and inappropriate diet, it creates symptoms. Symptoms: Abdominal […]

Stagnation of Liver Blood

Longstanding liver chi stagnation (from emotional tension and ongoing stress and inappropriate diet) is the cause of liver blood stagnation. Chi moves blood so when chi stops flowing, so does blood. When liver blood stagnates it creates the following symptoms: Symptoms: Depression, irritability, abdominal pain, abdominal masses and feeling as if there is a lump […]

Liver Fire Blazing Upwards

The inability to manage stress and anger; a hectic lifestyle, and excessive use of drugs or alcohol causes heat in the liver, makes the chi and blood move upwards and everything becomes a trigger to act urgently and behave reactively. Symptoms: Irritability, outbursts of anger, red face and eyes, tinnitus, deafness, temporary headaches, migraine, muscle […]

Damp Cold in the Urinary Bladder

Dampness is heavy, it obstructs the water passages in the lower body and interferes with the urinary bladder function of chi transformation causing urgent and difficult urination and the feeling of heaviness which is typical for dampness. Excessive exposure to exterior dampness and cold contributes to the development. Symptoms: Frequent and urgent urination, difficult urination […]

Liver Yang Rising Causing Wind

Caused by a combination of emotional factors (continuous states of anger, resentment and frustration) with a hectic lifestyle that depletes kidney yin and jing (your life essence). It can also be caused by physical exertion over a long period of time. Liver wind is serious as it can develop into Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Symptoms: […]