What Is Stagnant Liver Chi In Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Ever feel inexplicably irritable, moody, or just plain stuck? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) might have an answer that goes beyond simple stress: Stagnant Liver Qi.

In this blog post, we'll dive deep into the concept of Liver Qi Stagnation, a common pattern of disharmony recognized in TCM that affects both physical and emotional well-being.

We’ll explore what is the Liver function in TCM, what Stagnant Liver Qi is, how to identify it, what causes it, and, most importantly, how to treat it with the powerful tools of acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Whether you're a student of TCM or someone who's heard the term 'Stagnant Liver Qi,' this guide will provide the clarity and tools you need to understand this common pattern and restore harmony to the Liver system.

The Liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The liver is located underneath the diaphragm, on the right side, behind the ribs. It is one of the most important organs of the body. In TCM the liver is seen in a different way as Western medicine does, let's see from Chinese medicine point of view the most important function of this organ.

Physiological Functions of the Liver:

Storage of Blood:

The Liver has the capacity to store blood and to regulate the volume of circulating blood throughout the body. Dysfunctions in this function can manifest in 2 ways:

Insufficient stored blood; can manifest as dizziness, blurred vision, numbness, insomnia, amenorrhea, etc.
Not storing unneeded blood; leading to various types of bleeding, like epistaxis (nose bleeding), hematemesis (bleeding vomit) , hemoptysis (bleeding cough), etc.

Movement of Qi

1- Controlling the Emotions: In TCM the emotions are a reflexion of the internal organs. If liver qi flow is normal, the mental outlook will be normal, optimistic. But if there is liver qi stagnation, the normal functions would be impaired and the patient would easily experience symptoms like depression, insecurity, stress, insomnia, irritability, anger, etc.

2- Helping Digestion and Absorption: The organ promotes a free flow of liver qi helping the Spleen and stomach to do their functions. It also interacts with its partner the gallbladder to promote the secretion of bile.

3- Promotes the circulation of qi and blood: Problems in this function will produce the liver qi stagnation, with all kind of symptoms throughout the whole body.

4- Assist the Water Metabolism: Imbalances in the energy flow can produce accumulation of Phlegm or water and produce different kinds of edema.

Relationships With Other Organs in the Body

1- Tendons and Nails: The liver controls the functions of the tendons and a person's ability to move.

The nails will reflect the health of the liver. A weak liver will produce weak tendons and weak fragile nails.

2- Opening Into the Eyes: The visual capacity and eye-sight will depend of the nourishment of the liver-blood. In the ancient text "The Spirit Pivot" it says "Liver-Qi reaches the eyes, when the Liver is in harmony, the eyes can distinguish the five colors"

Liver Qi Stagnation Pattern

When the liver is out of balance, it can suffer from many different patterns like Yin Deficiency, Blood Stagnation, Damp-Heat, Stagnatio of Cold, Liver-Yang Rising, etc. In this article we are going to focus only in Liver qi stagnation.

Clinical Manifestation:

The patient would have feeling of tension or distention on the chest, epigastrium or abdomen and it normal to be sighing often.

Feeling chronic stress, emotional irritability, anger, frustration, feeling of a lump in the throat.

In female patients is common pms symptoms, menstrual cramping, irregular periods

*A feeling of distention is the classic sign of Liver Qi Stagnation.

Cause of Liver Qi Stagnation

Emotional Stress

Emotional issues are often the primary cause of Liver Qi stagnation. Prolonged feelings of frustration, repressed anger, or resentment can disrupt the smooth flow of Qi, leading to its obstruction and resulting in Liver Qi stagnation.

Treatment

The goal of the treatment is to smooth the liver energy and stimulate a free flow of Qi through the body.

Acupuncture:

These are the most common acupuncture points to disperse Liver qi stagnation:

GB 34 Yáng Líng Quán: Removes obstruction from the channel, spreads the flow of liver energy.
SJ 6 Zhī Gōu: Removes obstruction from the 3 Jiaos.
Pc 6 Nèi Guān: Moves Qi and Blood in the chest.
Liv 3 Tài Chōng: Spreads Liver Qi.
Liv 13 Zhāng Mén: Promotes smooth flow of Liver Qi.
Liv 14 Qí Mén: Treats stagnation promoting the flow of Liver Qi.

Herbal Formulas:

Using single formulas is a poor way to use TCM. A good herbalist always will customize the herbal formula for the specific characteristics of their patients. That been said, let's talk about the most common herbal formula used in this case.

Xiāo Yáo Sǎn:

This herbal formula is indicated with Liver qi stagnation with Blood deficiency (due to Spleen deficiency).

Ingredients: Chai Hu, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, zhi Gan Cao, Pao Jiang and Bo He.

Indications: If the pattern presentation is correct, it can be used to treat acute or chronic gastritis, headaches, dizziness, irritability, neck pain, tiredness, blurred vision, irregular menses, etc.

Conclusion:

Taking the Next Step Toward Balance and Wellness

I hope this article has provided you with a clear understanding of the liver’s vital role in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the challenges posed by liver qi stagnation, and how acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can offer a path to relief and balance. At Soul Acupuncture & Herbal in Fort Lauderdale - Florida, we’re passionate about sharing knowledge to empower you on your wellness journey.

However, please keep in mind that this post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you’re curious to learn more about how TCM can support your health or would like to explore personalized treatment options for liver qi stagnation, we’d love to hear from you!

Feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page, and let’s start a conversation about how we can help you achieve harmony and vitality.