L

fá lì

A sign of qi vacuity.

yäo xï wú lì

limp lumbus and knees.

sì zhï qiàn wën

Synonym:  cold extremities .

Mild cold in the extremities; a sign of general yang vacuity. Compare the more severe reversal cold of the extremities.

qï yâo

lacquer sore.

qï chuäng

Synonym:  lacquer bite .

A sore attributed to contact with lacquer sudden redness, swelling, heat, and itching, papules and blisters that when ruptured by scratching exude water and leave an eroded wound. In severe cases, if it spreads over the whole body, generalized signs such as physical cold, heat~effusion, and headache are observed.

Western Medical Concept:  dermatitis rhus* dermatitis rhus. Chinese lacquer is produced from Rhus verniciflua, which contains urushiol, a drastic skin-sensitizing agent that produces severe dermatitis in some people.

Medication:  Use Macule-Transforming Toxin-Resolving Decoction (huà bän jiê dú täng) or Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction (huáng lián jiê dú täng) plus Lonicerae Flos (jïn yín huä), Cicadae Periostracum (chán tuì), Schizonepetae Herba et Flos (jïng jiè), and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (kû shën). For topical application, use a cooled decoction of equal proportions of Euonymi Lignum Suberalatum (guî jiàn yû), and Sanguisorbae Radix Cruda (shëng dì yú), and sprinkle on Indigo Powder (qïng dài sân).

líu lèi

Also written as lachrymation. tearing.

lài

Definition: 

Leprosy.

Definition: 

Synonym:  lai sore .

and lichen etc., that lead to hair loss on the affected area.

lài dà fëng

pestilential wind.

lài tóu chuäng

bald white scalp sore.

lài chuäng

lai.

dà cháng hán jié

Constipation due to cold qi in the large intestine and accompanied by dull abdominal pain, bland taste in the mouth, white tongue with scant fur, and a stringlike sunken pulse.

Medication:  Warm yang and free the stool. Use Pinellia and Sulfur Pill (bàn líu wán) or Spleen-Warming Decoction (wën pí täng). For pronounced abdominal coldpain, add Cinnamomi Cortex (ròu guì) and Saussureae (seu Vladimiriae) Radix (mù xiäng), to warm yang, rectify qi, and relieve pain. If these formulas do not relieve constipation, Angelicae Sinensis Radix (däng guï) and Cistanches Caulis (ròu cöng róng) can be used to provide an acrid moistening stool-freeing action.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on alarm, lower uniting, and back transport points of LI, and on CV and SP. Select BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , ST-37 (shàng jù xü, Upper Great Hollow) , TB-6 (zhï göu, Branch Ditch) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , and CV-8 (shén què, Spirit Gate Tower) ; needle with supplementation or with even supplementation and drainage, and add large amounts of moxa.

dà cháng ké occurring in bouts that cause involuntary loss of urine.

Medication:  Use Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction (bû zhöng yì qì täng) minus Cimicifugae Rhizoma (shëng má) and plus Platycodonis Radix (jié gêng). See five viscera and six bowels cough.

dà cháng shï rè

Synonym:  damp-

heat pouring down into the large intestine ;

Synonym:  downpour of damp-heat into the large intestine .

A disease pattern generally characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea with ungratifying defecation and foul-smelling stool. An alternative pattern is dysentery characterized by frequent defecation and blood and pus in the stool, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and a burning sensation in the rectum. In both cases, general signs include heat~effusion, bitter taste in the mouth, and a slimy yellow tongue fur.

Western Medical Concept:  colitis* dysentery* colitis, dysentery.

Medication:  Clear heat and disinhibit dampness; resolve toxin. Use medicinals such as Pulsatillae Radix (bái tóu wëng), Fraxini Cortex (qín pí), Coptidis Rhizoma (huáng lián), Scutellariae Radix (huáng qín), Phellodendri Cortex (huáng bâi), Sanguisorbae Radix (dì yú), and Portulacae Herba (mâ chî xiàn). A basic formula is Pulsatilla Decoction (bái tóu wëng täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LI and ST. Select BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , ST-37 (shàng jù xü, Upper Great Hollow) , and ST-44 (nèi tíng, Inner Court) ; needle with drainage and add moxa.

dà cháng bìng

Any morbidity of the large intestine. Large intestinal disease is attributable to evils such as heat, cold, stagnation, dampness, and wind, or to vacuity. Rumbling intestines or pain around the umbilicus, constipation or diarrhea, bloody stool or tenesmus with blood and pus in the stool, and prolapse of the rectum are signs of large intestinal disease. The main patterns are listed below.

Large Intestinal Disease Patterns large intestinal vacuity colddà cháng xü hán large intestinal humor depletiondà cháng yè kuï large intestinal damp-heatdà cháng shï rè large intestinal heat binddà cháng rè jié large intestinal cold binddà cháng hán jié

dà cháng zhàng

A distention pattern described in The Magic Pivot (líng shü) as follows: ``Large intestinal distention is rumbling intestines with pain. When cold evil is again contracted in winter, there is swill diarrhea containing untransformed food.'' Large intestinal distention may also be observed in distention disease patterns.

Medication:  Add large intestine channel medicinals such as Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (bái zhî), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (shëng má), Scutellariae Radix (huáng qín), and Gypsum (shí gäo) to formulas for treating distention such as Magnolia Bark Center-Warming Decoction (hòu pò wën zhöng täng) combined with Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction (wèi líng täng) for cold-damp, and Center-Rectifying Decoction (lî zhöng täng) or Magnolia Bark, Fresh Ginger, Pinellia, Licorice, and Ginseng Decoction (hòu pò shëng jiäng bàn xià gän câo rén shën täng) for vacuity cold.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on alarm, back transport, and lower uniting points of LI, and on CV and ST. Select BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , ST-37 (shàng jù xü, Upper Great Hollow) , CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) ; needle with even supplementation and drainage and moxa.

dà cháng rè jié in the large intestine causing the stool to become dry and hard;

characterized by constipation, abdominal pain that refuses pressure, dry yellow tongue fur, and a sunken replete pulse. Large intestinal heat bind is seen in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease manifesting as yang brightness bowel repletion patterns (corresponding to qi-aspect patterns in the warm disease school).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on alarm, back transport, and lower uniting points of LI, and on ST and LI. Select BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , ST-37 (shàng jù xü, Upper Great Hollow) , LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , SP-14 (fù jié, Abdominal Bind) , and KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) ; needle with drainage.

dà cháng yè kuï

Synonym:  intestinal humor depletion ;

Synonym:  large intestinal liquid depletion ;

Synonym:  large intestinal yin vacuity dryness bind .

A disease pattern of the large intestine caused by general lack of liquid and blood in the body. Large intestinal humor depletion is observed in postpartum blood vacuity, liquid depletion in the aged, and in enduring and severe diseases. It may also occur in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease prior to replenishment of the fluids. Signs comprise dry hard stool and difficult defecation. Generally, no pronounced abdominal distention or pain is observed. The patient is in a weak state of health.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, SP, ST, and KI. Select BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , BL-21 (wèi shü, Stomach Transport) , BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , and KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) ; needle with supplementation, and moxa, if necessary. For large intestinal humor depletion occurring in externally contracted heat (febrile) disease, add LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , and GV-14 (dà zhuï, Great Hammer) ,

dà cháng xü

Large intestinal qi vacuity; characterized by enduring diarrhea, nontransformation of food, pale stool without malodor, rumbling intestines, and prolapse of the anus. It usually takes the form of large intestinal vacuity cold.

dà cháng xü hán

Vacuity cold affecting the large intestine's governing of conveyance. Large intestinal vacuity cold is usually associated with spleen-kidney yang vacuity, and is characterized thin diarrhea, reduced food intake, cold of the limbs, aching lumbus, aversion to cold, thin tongue fur, and a fine sunken pulse.

Western Medical Concept:  dysentery*!chronic chronic dysentery* enteritis*!chronic chronic enteritis* This pattern is often observed in chronic enteritis or chronic dysentery.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on alarm, back transport, lower uniting points of LI, and on CV and ST. Select BL-25 (dà cháng shü, Large Intestine Transport) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , ST-37 (shàng jù xü, Upper Great Hollow) , CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , LR-13 (zhäng mén, Camphorwood Gate) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , and CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) ; needle with supplementation and moxa. For spleen-kidney yang vacuity, add BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , and GV-4 (mìng mén, Life Gate) .

Comparison:  Spleen and stomach and the large and small intestine are all part of the digestive tract. Spleen-stomach yang vacuity and large intestinal vacuity cold are similar, but slightly different. The stomach is the sea of the grain and water; when spleen-stomach yang fail to take in food, decompose, move and transform it, the stool is sloppy and thin and contains undigested food; at the same time there is poor appetite, glomus and oppression in the stomach duct and abdomen after eating, signs that the disease is in the center burner. In large intestinal vacuity cold, by contrast, the disease in the lower burner; diarrhea and rumbling intestines are pronounced, and there may be constipation instead of diarrhea. There is no reduction in appetite and no oppression in the stomach duct after eating.

dà cháng yöng of the large intestine;

an intestinal welling-abscess characterized by pain at ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) . See intestinal welling-abscess.

dà cháng yïn xü zào jié

large intestinal humor depletion.

dà cháng

One of the six bowels; an organ that stands in exterior-interior relationship with the lung, and whose function is to receive waste passed down from the small intestine and then form it into stool before discharging it from the body. Thus, the large intestine is said to govern transformation and conveyance of waste. Since it absorbs further fluid from the waste, it is also said to govern liquid. Diseases of the large intestine commonly manifest as diarrhea, dry stool, or constipation. See large intestinal disease.

dà cháng jïng

hand yang brightness large intestine channel.

dà cháng zhû chuán dâo

large intestine holds the office of conveyance, whence mutation emanates.

dà cháng zhû jïn

The large intestine is said to govern liquid because it absorbs fluid from the food waste to form it into firm stool.

dà cháng zhû chuán huà zäo pò

From Elementary Questions (sù wèn) The large intestine conveys waste downward and out of the body, transforming it into stool as it does so. See large intestine holds the office of conveyance, whence mutation emanates.

dà cháng zhe3, chuán dâo zhï guän ye3, biàn huà chü yän <

large intestine holds> From Elementary Questions (sù wèn) The large intestine takes the waste passed on from the small intestine, and conveys it downward to the anus, further transforming it as it does so. Statements such as large intestine governs transformation and conveyance of waste and large intestine governs conveyance derive from this.

dà mài

A broad pulse, i.e., the opposite of a fine pulse. Compare surging pulse.

jié hóu

Adam's apple.

hóu

The lower part of the throat.

Western Medical Concept:  pharynx*!laryngeal part of laryngeal part of the pharynx. Compare pharynx; throat.

shén pí

See next entry.

shén pí fá lì

Synonym:  fatigued spirit and lack of strength .

Lack of mental vigor and physical strength. A principal sign of qi vacuity.

cán dëng fù míng

The final flaring of an oil lamp when, after the oil has run out, the flame burns briefly on the wick; a metaphor for the sudden brief regaining of vigor before death in certain critical conditions. See last radiance of the setting sun.

huí guäng fân zhào

A brief brightening of the sky after the sun's descent below the horizon; a metaphor for a sudden brief strengthening of the spirit before death; it means the same as last flicker of the lamp. See false spiritedness.

rì bu1 suô cháo rè

Heat~effusion that becomes higher at the Late Afternoon watch, i.e., 3-5 p.m.; one form of postmeridian tidal heat~effusion. See tidal heat~effusion.

wân fä

Latent qi warm disease. A warm disease attributable to contraction of cold in the winter and emerging in the new year between Pure Brightness (5th solar term) and Summer Solstice (10th solar term). Warm disease attributed to contraction of summerheat-damp in the summer that, after remaining latent in the interior, is made to emerge in the autumn by a newly contracted evil.

fú

Present but not visible or active.

fú qì

Any evil qi that remains latent in the body and that causes disease after some time.

fú qì wën bìng

Any warm disease attributable to external evil that has lain latent and brewed in the interior for some time or internal heat that is made to emerge by a new contraction. Elementary Questions (sù wèn) mentions such diseases in the following terms: ``Damage by cold in winter inevitably gives rise to warm disease in the spring.'' Latent qi warm disease differs from exterior patterns of initial contractions in that they are associated with pronounced signs of internal heat or transformation into dryness and scorching of yin, and manifest as qi or blood aspect patterns. Signs include a fine rapid pulse or a sunken rapid agitated pulse, a thick slimy tongue fur, or a red tongue without fur, reddish urine, thirst, and heat~effusion.

Medication:  Clear interior heat, paying attention to the need to safeguard the fluids. See warm disease; spring warmth; warm malaria; late emergence.

fú shû

A disease in the autumn attributable to summerheat-damp evil contracted in the summer lying latent in the body.

hòu hàn

The name of a dynasty ( 25--220).

hòu tiän

That in an individual's makeup which is determined after conception; the acquired constitution. Later heaven is considered to be governed by the spleen and stomach, which as the source of engendering transformation produce from food what is required for the growth of the body and maintenance of its activities.

hòu jìn

The name of a dynasty (936--946 ).

hòu liáng

The name of a dynasty (907--923 ).

hòu táng

The name of a dynasty (923--936 ).

hòu zhöu

The name of a dynasty (951--960 ).

qïng xuè

Bloody stool.

lân yán

Reduced frequency of speech and lack of vigor in enunciation reflecting general weakness due to qi vacuity.

wü lòu mài

See seven strange pulses.

lòu hàn

One form of great sweating. Great sweating that results from inappropriate sweating treatment. On Cold Damage (shäng hán lùn) states, ``In greater yang disease, when sweat-effusing treatment causes incessant leaking of sweat, and causes the patient to have aversion to cold, difficult urination, and slight tension in the four limbs making stretching difficult, this is treated with Cinnamon Twig Decoction (guì zhï täng) plus Aconiti Tuber Laterale (fù zî).'' The term sweat leak was subsequently coined from this. Incessant leaking of sweat can lead to external desertion of yang qi and internal desertion of yin humor, causing short scant voidings of urine, hypertonicity, or even jerking sinews and twitching flesh; it is treated by supporting yang and securing the exterior using Cinnamon Twig Decoction Plus Aconite (guì zhï jiä fù zî täng) or True Warrior Decoction (zhën wû täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LI, SI, and BL. Select LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , SI-3 (hòu xï, Back Ravine) , HT-6 (yïn xï, Yin Cleft) , BL-13 (fèi shü, Lung Transport) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , BL-64 (jïng gû, Capital Bone) , BL-62 (shën mài, Extending Vessel) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) ; needle with supplementation and moxa.

lòu jiän fëng

Synonym:  fifty-

year-old's shoulder ;

Synonym:  frozen shoulder .

Pain and reduced movement in the shoulder. Leaky shoulder wind is attributed to excessive fatigue creating vacuity that wind-cold exploits to enter the body; hence the name ``leaky shoulder wind.'' In accordance with the observation made in The Inner Canon (nèi jïng) that cold is associated with contracture and tautness, the wind-cold invades the sinews and vessels, causing qi and blood to stagnate; hence the popular English name ``frozen shoulder'' accords with the pathomechanism described by the Chinese. Since is most common in people of approximately 50 years old, it is often called fifty-year-olds' shoulder.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on three yang channels of the hand. Select LI-15 (jiän yú, Shoulder Bone) , SI-9 (jiän zhën, True Shoulder) , LI-14 (bì nào, Upper Arm) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , and ST-38 (tiáo kôu, Ribbon Opening) ; needle with drainage. Selection of points according to causes: For prevalence of wind, add GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , TB-5 (wài guän, Outer Pass) , and LU-7 (liè quë, Broken Sequence) . For prevalence of cold, add TB-14 (jiän liáo, Shoulder Bone-Hole) and SI-10 (nào shü, Upper Arm Transport) , using warm needle (burning moxa on needles) or moxa on ginger. For prevalence of dampness, add SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) . Selection of points according to location: For pain on the greater yin channel, add LU-5 (chî zé, Cubit Marsh) and SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) . For pain on the yang brightness or lesser yang , add ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) . For pain on the greater yang channel, add SI-3 (hòu xï, Back Ravine) and ST-38 (tiáo kôu, Ribbon Opening) joining BL-57 (chéng shän, Mountain Support) .

shòu lêng gän

See cold-heat gan.

medicated leaven.

An intestinal welling-abscess attended by severe pain causing the patient to keep his leg bent.

A streaming sore occurring in the iliac fossa iliac fossa* and causing hypertonicity of the sinews on the affected side that prevents movement and pain and discomfort that is partly relieved by flexing the leg; hence the name. A lump can be felt in the iliac fossa, which ripples under the fingers when pus has formed. There is no change in skin color. Other signs may include heat~effusion, aversion to cold, absence of sweating or presence of slight sweating, and reduced eating.

Western Medical Concept:  abscess of the iliac fossa* abscess of the iliac fossa. See summerheat-damp streaming sore; streaming sore.

cholera cramps.

tuî tòng

Pain in the upper or lower leg. Leg pain is mostly attributable to wind-cold-damp and sometimes to damp-heat; less commonly, it is a sign of a damp phlegm streaming sore.

Wind-cold-damp  (fëng hán shï) leg pain is due to wind-cold-damp with prevalence of cold and manifests in severe pain (sometimes accompanied by numbness and swelling) and aversion to cold and desire for warmth.

Medication:  Warm and dissipate with Ovate Atractylodes and Aconite Decoction (bái zhú fù zî täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV, SP, ST, and GB. Select GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , according to the area affected, add GB-31 (fëng shì, Wind Market) , ST-32 (fú tù, Crouching Rabbit) , BL-40 (wêi zhöng, Bend Center) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , for upper leg, and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , BL-57 (chéng shän, Mountain Support) , GB-39 (xuán zhöng, Suspended Bell) , BL-60 (kün lún, Kunlun Mountains) , and GB-40 (qïu xü, Hill Ruins) , for the lower leg; needle with drainage and moxa. For prevalence of cold, warm-needle GV-4 (mìng mén, Life Gate) , and apply moxa at CV-8 (shén què, Spirit Gate Tower) .

Damp-heat  (shï rè) leg pain is characterized by pain in either the upper or lower leg often with redness, swelling, and heat, and accompanied by reddish urine.

Medication:  Clear heat and transform dampness with Tangkuei Pain-Assuaging Decoction (däng guï niän tòng täng). Wind, cold, dampness or other evils invading in yin vacuity, yang vacuity, or kidney vacuity requires treatment that takes account of the vacuity.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on SP, LI, and ST. Select ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , ST-41 (jiê xï, Ravine Divide) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , ST-44 (nèi tíng, Inner Court) , SP-5 (shäng qïu, Shang Hill) , and GV-14 (dà zhuï, Great Hammer) ; needle with drainage. For selection of points according to the area affected, see wind-cold-damp above. See impediment .

A disease characterized by numbness, pain, limpness, and in some cases any of a variety of possible signs such as hypertonicity or swelling, withering, redness and swelling of the calf, heat~effusion, and in advanced stages by abstraction of spirit-mind, heart palpitations, panting, oppression in the chest, nausea and vomiting, and deranged speech. Leg qi arises when externally contracted damp evil and wind toxin or accumulating dampness due to damage by excessive consumption of rich food engenders heat and pours down into the legs. Chest and abdominal signs are attributed to leg qi surging into the heart.

Western Medical Concept:  beriberi* vitamin B1 deficiency* beriberi (attributed to vitamin B deficiency).

Medication:  Treat primarily by diffusing congestion and expelling dampness and secondarily by dispelling wind and clearing heat. Formulas such as Cockcrow Powder (jï míng sân) can be used. Different forms include damp leg qi, dry leg qi, cold-damp leg qi, damp phlegm leg qi, and leg qi surging into the heart.

leg qi surging into the heart.

leg qi surging into the heart.

Synonym:  leg qi attacking the heart ;

Synonym:  leg qi entering the heart .

manifesting in heart palpitations, panting, nausea and vomiting, and, in severe cases, by abstraction and deranged speech. Leg qi surging into the heart is attributed to evil toxin ascending to attack the heart and chest.

Medication:  When attributable to damp toxin attacking upward damaging yang, treat by warming yang and dissipating cold and by expelling dampness and discharging toxin with Evodia Decoction (wú zhü yú täng) plus Pinelliae Tuber (bàn xià), Aconiti Tuber Laterale (fù zî), Asiasari Herba cum Radice (xì xïn), Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum (gän jiäng), Cinnamomi Cortex Rasus (guì xïn), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (gän câo). When attributable to damp-fire attacking upward, treat by diffusing congestion and expelling dampness and by cooling the blood and clearing fire with Evodia Decoction (wú zhü yú täng) combined with Bovine Bezoar Heart-Clearing Pill (níu huáng qïng xïn wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment on SP, ST, and PC. Select PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , CV-14 (jù què, Great Tower Gate) , PC-8 (láo göng, Palace of Toil) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , KI-1 (yông quán, Gushing Spring) , and LU-5 (chî zé, Cubit Marsh) ; needle with drainage. Selection of points according to signs: For heart palpitations, add PC-4 (xï mén, Cleft Gate) . For panting, add CV-17 (shän zhöng, Chest Center) and . For vomiting, add CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) . For clouded spirit, add GV-26 (shuî göu, Water Trough) . For vacuity desertion, moxa CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) and CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) .

lì fëng

pestilential wind.

shào fù

Definition: 

The lateral lower abdomen, i.e., sides of the smaller abdomen.

Definition:  The smaller abdomen.

shào fù tòng

Definition: 

smaller-abdominal pain.

Definition:  Pain in the abdomen below the umbilicus on either the left, right or both sides. It is due to cold stagnating in the liver channel, binding depression of liver qi, large intestinal damp-heat or lower burner vacuity cold.

Cold stagnating in the liver channel  (gän zhì gän mài) causes lesser-abdominal pain stretching into the testicles. The pain is acute with sagging distention. In some cases the scrotum retracts. The pain is exacerbated by cold and slightly relieved by heat. Other signs include bright white facial complexion, physical cold and cold limbs, a white glossy tongue fur, and a sunken slippery stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Warm and dissipate liver channel cold. Use Tangkuei Counterflow Cold Decoction (däng guï sì nì täng) plus Evodiae Fructus (wú zhü yú) and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (shëng jiäng).

Binding depression of liver qi  (gän qì yù jié) causes qi stagnation in the lesser abdomen with pain stretching into the testicles. The pain is fluctuating and intermittent, and is brought on by emotional stimulus or excessive exertion. Alternatively, in the lesser abdomen or to the side of the umbilicus there is a lump that gathers and dissipates at irregular intervals and that is associated with periodic acute, even unbearable, distending pain exacerbated by pressure.

Medication:  Course the liver and rectify qi. Use Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (chái hú shü gän sân) plus Toosendan Fructus (chuän liàn zî), Foeniculi Fructus (huí xiäng), Psoraleae Semen (bû gû zhï), and Foeni-Graeci Semen (hú lú bä).

Large intestinal damp-heat  (dà cháng shï rè) causing lesser-abdominal pain occurs in dysentery with stool containing pus and blood, tenesmus, and thirst with desire to drink.

Medication:  Clear heat, disinhibit dampness; quicken the blood and relieve pain. Pulsatilla Decoction (bái tóu wëng täng).

Lower burner vacuity cold  (xià jiäo xü rè) causes continuous lesser abdominal pain, usually more severe on the left side, together with a bright white facial complexion, fatigue and lack of strength, physical cold and fear of cold, and lack of warmth in the extremities. Other signs include vomiting or diarrhea. The tongue is pale with white fur, and the pulse is stringlike and slow. Lower burner vacuity cold, like liver channel qi stagnation, causes cold pain. However, in lower burner qi vacuity, the liver viscus is affected rather than the liver channel, and instead of pain stretching into the testicles, there is vomiting or diarrhea.

Medication:  Warm and dissipate cold in the liver viscus. Use Evodia Decoction (wú zhü yú täng).

shào huô

From Elementary Questions (sù wèn) The healthy fire (i.e., yang qi) of the body that maintains life; it is distinct from vigorous fire, which is pathological fire. The lesser fire is probably so named because in a healthy body it is yang contained by yin.

shào yáng

The hand lesser yang triple burner and foot lesser yang gallbladder channels. ``Lesser'' implies the waning of yang. The lesser yang is between the greater yang and yang brightness ; hence it is said that the lesser yang is the pivot. The lesser yang has copious qi and scant blood. See opening, closing, and pivot.

shào yáng jïng

See lesser yang.

shào yáng bìng

Synonym:  midstage pattern .

Disease of the hand lesser yang triple burner and the foot lesser yang gallbladder channels. Because the lesser yang is located between the greater yang and yang brightness , lesser yang disease is often referred to as a midstage disease pattern. The essential signs are alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, chest and rib-side pain and fullness, bitter taste in the mouth, and vomiting. Other signs include no desire for food and drink, heart vexation, desire to vomit, dizzy vision, painful hard glomus under the rib-side, and a stringlike pulse. Lesser yang disease occurs when, owing to debilitation of right qi, an evil invades the body through the interstices and binds in the gallbladder, impeding qi dynamic and disrupting upbearing and downbearing. Bitter fullness in the chest and rib-side is explained by the lesser yang gallbladder channel that traverses this area. Alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold are explained by the struggle between the evil and right. Heart vexation, bitter taste in the mouth, dry pharynx, dizzy vision, as well as vomiting and no desire for food and drink, are the result of gallbladder heat rising counterflow up the channel, disturbing the harmony and downbearing of stomach qi. A stringlike pulse is classically associated with the gallbladder. Lesser yang disease is different from greater yang and yang brightness, lying midway between the two. Greater yang disease can pass to both yang brightness and lesser yang. Lesser yang disease may resolve in an exterior pattern through a constant sweat, or may pass to the yang brightness to form an interior pattern. It may pass to the yin channels, causing vacuity patterns. Consequently, lesser yang disease is commonly termed a midstage pattern. However, it may occur in combination with an exterior pattern characterized by heat~effusion, aversion to cold, and vexing pain in the joints of the limbs, or with a yang brightness interior pattern characterized by abdominal fullness and constipation.

Medication:  Lesser yang is treated by the method of harmonization and resolution. This involves outthrusting the evil and clearing the interior, and regulating qi dynamic, in accordance with the principle of supporting right and dispelling evil. The chief formula used is Minor Bupleurum Decoction (xiâo chái hú täng). However, where an exterior pattern is also present, causing a greater yang and lesser yang combination, sweat-effusing action is needed. In such cases, Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction (chái hú guì zhï täng) is used. Where an interior pattern is present, forming a lesser yang and yang brightness combination, an appropriate formula is Major Bupleurum Decoction (dà chái hú täng), which possesses an additional precipitant effect.

shào yáng tóu tòng

Definition:  occurring yin lesser yang disease in cold damage,

i.e., attended by alternative heat~effusion and aversion to cold, and a rapid stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Treat with Minor Bupleurum Decoction (xiâo chái hú täng) and variations.

Acupuncture:  Select TB-4 (yáng chí, Yang Pool) , GB-40 (qïu xü, Hill Ruins) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , and GV-16 (fëng fû, Wind Mansion) .

Definition:  on the pathway of the lesser yang , i.e., the corners of the head or temples.

Medication:  Use formulas with Bupleuri Radix (chái hú) as the conductor.

Acupuncture:  Select , GB-8 (shuài gû, Valley Lead) , TB-2 (yè mén, Humor Gate) , and GB-43 (xiá xï, Pinched Ravine) . See headache.

shào yïn

The hand lesser yin heart and foot lesser yin kidney channels. ``Lesser'' implies a waning of yin qi. The lesser yin is said to have copious qi and scant blood. The lesser yin is located between the greater yin and reverting yin ; hence it is said ``lesser yin is the pivot.'' See opening, closing, and pivot.

shào yïn jïng

See lesser yin.

shào yïn bìng

Disease of the foot lesser yin kidney channel and the hand lesser yin heart channel. Lesser yin disease arises when the heart and kidney are vacuous, and there is a marked drop in resistance to disease. It takes two different forms, vacuity cold and vacuity heat.

Vacuity cold:  (vacuity cold) Cold evil damages yang qi, and the main form is a vacuity cold pattern that manifests as aversion to cold, curled-up lying posture, somnolence, reversal cold of the limbs, and faint fine pulse. Clear-food diarrhea may occur in some cases. Generally there is no heat~effusion, and, in severe cases, the limbs may suffer a drop in temperature, indicated yang collapse vacuity desertion. In On Cold Damage (shäng hán lùn) the section on lesser yin disease is headed with the statement, ``The patient has a faint fine pulse, and desires only to sleep.'' A faint fine pulse indicates vacuity of qi and blood, and desire only for sleep indicates debilitation of the spirit. These are both signs of general vacuity. Wherever a faint fine pulse occurs, whether in disease of recent onset or enduring disease, thought should be given to the possibility of lesser yin disease. Absence of heat~effusion, aversion to cold, curled-up lying posture, and reversal cold of the limbs occurring with such a pulse indicate the presence of exuberant internal cold and the inability of debilitated yang to warm and nourish the skin and muscle and fully permeate the limbs, thereby confirming the presence of lesser yin disease. Clear-food diarrhea is explained by kidney vacuity affecting the spleen (spleen-kidney yang vacuity), causing failure to move and transform food. Great sweating, reversal cold in the limbs, and a faint pulse verging on expiration indicate fulminant desertion of yang qi.

Medication:  This type of lesser yin disease pattern is treated by the method of returning yang and stemming counterflow, and the main formula is Counterflow Cold Decoction (sì nì täng), which can be varied to suit different patterns. Where vacuity is predominant, Ginseng Radix (rén shën) may be added; where cold is predominant, Zingiberis Rhizoma Exsiccatum (gän jiäng) can be increased in quantity. Where exuberant yin repels yang, pig's bile may be added. Patterns that include signs of water qi may be treated with True Warrior Decoction (zhën wû täng), a standard variant of Counterflow Cold Decoction.

Vacuity heat:  (xü rè) Rarely, a transmuted lesser yin pattern of vacuity heat may be observed. Insufficiency of kidney yin and heart fire flaming upward causes signs such as heart vexation, insomnia, and dry pharynx and mouth. On Cold Damage (shäng hán lùn) provides little detail concerning this second pattern, although clinical observation shows that a red or crimson tongue, and a rapid pulse that is either fine or vacuous are determining signs. This form of lesser yin disease is treated by enriching yin and clearing heat, the main formula being Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction (huáng lián ë jiäo täng).

shào yïn tóu tòng attributed to cold evil invading the lesser yin .

Lesser yin headache is attended by cold legs and qi counterflow, heart pain, vexation and oppression, and fine sunken pulse.

Medication:  Warm the channels and dispel cold using formulas such as Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction (má huáng fù zî xì xïn täng) and variations.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on GV, KI, and CV. Select GV-20 (bâi huì, Hundred Convergences) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , GV-4 (mìng mén, Life Gate) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , and KI-1 (yông quán, Gushing Spring) . Needle with supplementation and add moxa. For heart pain with vexation and oppression, add HT-7 (shén mén, Spirit Gate) and BL-15 (xïn shü, Heart Transport) . See headache.

dà cháng

The large intestine or large intestine channel.

liáng

The name of a dynasty (502--557 ).

liâng

Synonym:  tael .

A unit of weight traditionally equal to one sixteenth of a jin, now equal to 31.25~g. It is divided into 10 qian and 100 fen. See tables and , page .

liáo

The name of a dynasty (916--1125 ).

xiân

A skin disease characterized by elevation of the skin, serous discharge, scaling, and itching. Lichen is associated with wind, heat, and dampness. Lichen characterized by dryness and scaling of the skin is called dry lichen, whereas lichen that exudes a discharge is called damp lichen. A number of specific forms exist. An itchy lichen around the nail that causes it to lose its luster and become deformed is ashen nail. Lichen of the foot characterized by itching and scaling of the skin between the toes is traditionally called foot damp qi in Chinese medicine; in China, it is now commonly known as Hong Kong foot, and in the West as athlete's foot. Other forms of lichen include: coin lichen, characterized by clearly circumscribed red macules that often heal from the center; oxhide lichen, marked by thickening and hardening of the skin, like the skin on the neck of an ox; pine bark lichen, a scaling lichen that looks like pine bark; suckling lichen, a papular lichen in infants affecting the head and face and capable of spreading to other parts of the body; yin lichen is a lichen affecting the anterior and posterior yin, i.e., the anus and genitals, and surrounding areas and attributed to wind-heat-damp invading the skin. Furthermore, purple and white patch wind, goose-foot wind, bald scalp sore, and fat sore are also classified in some modern sources as lichen.

Lichen blown blossom lichenchuï huä xiân coin lichenyuán xiân damp lichenshï xiân fetal lichentäi xiân oxhide lichenníu pí xiân peach-blossom lichentäo huä xiân pine bark lichensöng pí xiân suckling lichennâi xiân throat lichenhóu xiân wind lichenfëng xiân yin lichenyïn xiân yin vacuity throat lichenyïn vacuity hóu xiân

mìng guän

One of the three bars of the finger. See infant's finger examination.

mìng huô

life gate fire.

mìng mén

A physiological entity of disputed morphological identity. The term ``life gate'' first appears in The Inner Canon (nèi jïng) where it refers to the eyes. Reference to a ``life gate'' as an internal organ body first appears in The Classic of Difficult Issues (nàn jïng) which states, ``The two kidneys are not both kidneys. The left one is the kidney, and the right is the life gate.'' The question of the life gate invited little discussion until the Ming and the Qing, when various different theories were put forward: a)~both kidneys contain the life gate; b)~the space between the kidneys is the life gate; c)~the life gate is the stirring qi between the kidneys; d)~the life gate is the root of original qi and the house of fire and water, e)~the life gate is the fire of earlier heaven or the true yang of the whole body; f)~the life gate is the gate of birth, i.e., in women the birth gate and in men the essence gate.

mìng mén zhï huô

Synonym:  life fire .

The basic fire of life; kidney yang. The life gate lives within kidney yin, and is the basis of sexual and reproductive functions. It warms and nourishes the five viscera and six bowels, is intimately involved in growth, development, and aging. The spleen and stomach require the warming action of the life gate fire for the function of movement and transformation to be normal.

tí chä fâ

A method of needle manipulation whereby after insertion the needle is retracted (but not removed from the body) and then thrust back to the depth of the original insertion. Lift the needle a short distance relative to the depth of the flesh at the point; then thrust back to the original depth. Keep the direction of insertion constant to avoid local pain and residual discomfort after needling. Keep the distance covered by this motion at 0.3--0.5 body-inches. Take care to avoid raising the needle too far and thus withdrawing the needle or thrusting it too deeply and going below the recommended needling depth. Use quick vigorous movements to drain, and gentle slow ones to supplement. According to one theory, a sharp thrust with a gentle lift supplements (as if pushing the qi in), whereas a sharp lift with a gentle thrust drains (as if pulling the qi out). A moderate lift and thrust produces even supplementation and drainage. See lifting and thrusting supplementation and drainage. Compare needle pounding.

tí chä bû xiè <

lifting and thrusting> A method of achieving supplementation and drainage that involves varying the emphasis on lifting the needle (retracting without extracting) and re-thrusting the needle after insertion. Emphasis on thrusting supplements, whereas emphasis on lifting drains. In other words, vigorous thrusts followed by gentle lifts have a supplementing effect, whereas vigorous lifts followed by gentle thrusts have a draining effect. See needle manipulation technique; lifting and thrusting; heaven, human, and earth supplementation and drainage.

qïng jì

One of the ten formula types. A formula containing medicinals that are light in weight. Light medicinals can eliminate repletion, i.e., medicinals light in weight can be used to treat exterior repletion patterns. For example, Ephedra Decoction (má huáng täng) treats heat~effusion, aversion to cold, headache, generalized pain, lumbar and joint pain, thirst, absence of sweating, panting, and a tight floating pulse.

xuän kê qù shí

Medicinals that are light in weight, such as Ephedrae Herba (má huáng) and Puerariae Radix (gé gën) can be used to treat exterior repletion patterns in initial-stage wind-warmth. See light formula.

wëi châo

Stir-frying of short duration to remove the moisture content of medicinal materials so that they are left dry, at least on the outer surface, but without producing any change in form or medicinal characteristics.

xî lêng (

Of pain and discomfort) to be relieved by the contact with cold objects or by ingestion of cold drinks. E.g., ``thirst with liking for cold things''.

xî rè (

Of pain and discomfort) to be relieved by contact with hot objects or by ingestion of hot drinks. E.g., ``abdominal pain that likes heat.''

xî àn (

Of pain or discomfort, especially in the chest or abdomen) to be relieved by pressure; as sign of interior vacuity. Examples: ``abdominal pain that refuses pressure''; ``pain and distention in stomach duct and abdomen that refuses pressure.''

yì bìng tóng zhì

Using a common method of treatment for different diseases (i.e., patterns). For example, vacuity cold diarrhea, prolapse of the rectum, or prolapse of the uterus are different disease (disease patterns), but when attributable to center qi fall, they may all be treated with Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction (bû zhöng yì qì täng). See determining treatment according to patterns principle of treatment. Compare unlike treatment of like disease.

xî lêng yîn

A preference for drinking cool or chilled fluids a sign of interior heat. It is treated by clearing heat and engendering liquid. Elementary Questions (sù wèn) states, ``When yang is exuberant, there is heat in the outer body; when yin is vacuos, there us heat in the inner body. When there is heat in both the inner and out body, there is panting and thirst; hence a desire for cold drinks.

zhï

An arm or leg.

zhï jié tòng

Pain in the joints of the limbs. Limb joint pain usually attributable to wind-damp, wind-cold, phlegm-rheum, static blood lodged in the channels and network vessels, or to blood vacuity depriving the sinews of nourishment. It falls largely within the category of impediment .

zhï jué

reversal cold of the extremities.

yäo xï suän ruân

Synonym:  aching lumbus and limp knees .

A combined condition of limp lumbus and knees and aching lumbus.

yäo tuî suän ruân

Synonym:  aching lumbus and limp legs .

Aching pain in the lumbus accompanied by limpness or weakness of the knees that creates difficulty rising to a standing posture, impedes physical movement, and prevents prolonged standing or walking. Essentially the same as limp aching lumbus and knees.

shôu sä yí niào

A sign observed in desertion patterns.

yäo xï ruân ruò

Synonym:  lack of strength in the lumbus and knees .

Insufficient power in the lumbus and knees to perform normal movements, in severe cases, called limp or weak wilting lumbus and knees, severely restricting movement. Limpness of the lumbus and knees, especially limpness of the lumbus, often accompanies aching of the lumbus, hence the combined terms limp aching lumbus and knees and aching lumbus and limp knees. Such conditions are attributed to liver-kidney vacuity, cold-damp, or damp-heat (or combinations of liver-kidney vacuity with cold-damp or damp-heat); they differ from simple aching lumbus, which is mostly due to kidney vacuity.

Liver-kidney vacuity  (gän shèn xü) patterns involve persistent aching lumbus or lumbar pain with cold knees, and may be slightly relieved by rest and exacerbated by taxation. Other signs include cold extremities, fear of cold and desire for warmth, tinnitus, deafness, long voidings of clear urine, frequent urination, sloppy stool or diarrhea, hair loss, loosening of the teeth, shortness of breath, general fatigue and lassitude of spirit exacerbated by physical strain, pale tongue, and a deep fine pulse. In severe cases, there may be seminal emission and impotence.

Medication:  Nourish liver blood and supplement kidney qi using Dipsacus Pill (xù duàn wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on BL and GV. Main points for all patterns: BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , GV-3 (yäo yáng guän, Lumbar Yang Pass) , BL-40 (wêi zhöng, Bend Center) , and BL-57 (chéng shän, Mountain Support) ; For liver-kidney vacuity, add BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-52 (zhì shì, Will Chamber) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , and LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , needling with supplementation.

Cold-damp  (hán shï) limp aching lumbus and knees is associated with cold, heaviness, or pain, exacerbated by yin-type cold rainy weather and relieved by warmth, and associated with a normal tongue with white fur and a fine sunken pulse that may be moderate.

Medication:  Eliminate dampness and free impediment using Dampness-Eliminating Impediment-Alleviating Decoction (chú shï juän bì täng). When the liver and kidney have been damaged in enduring conditions, the method should be to boost the liver and kidney, supplement qi and blood, strengthen the lumbus and knees, and dispel cold-damp using formulas such as Duhuo and Mistletoe Decoction (dú huó jì shëng täng).

Acupuncture:  To the main points given above, add GV-4 (mìng mén, Life Gate) and SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , needling with even supplementation and drainage and adding moxa.

Damp-heat  (shï rè) patterns are marked by limp wilting lumbus and knees prevent long standing and walking, and in some cases there may be redness and swelling. Other signs include short voidings of reddish urine, constipation, yellow, possibly slimy tongue fur, and a rapid, possibly stringlike pulse. Damp-heat conditions are often observed in wilting and leg qi patterns.

Medication:  Treat repletion pattern with Mysterious Two Pill (èr miào wán), Pain-Assuaging Decoction (niän tòng täng), or Tangkuei Pain-Assuaging Decoction (däng guï niän tòng täng).

Acupuncture:  To the main points given above, add SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , and LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , needling with drainage. BL-40 (wêi zhöng, Bend Center) can be pricked to bleed; for damp-heat occurring in vacuity-repletion complexes, needle these points with even supplementation and drainage, and needle BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-60 (kün lún, Kunlun Mountains) , and KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) with supplementation.

shé wêi

A tongue that is soft and floppy, moves with difficulty, and cannot be extended. The spleen governs the flesh, and the tongue is flesh. A limp tongue is therefore a manifestation of a debilitated spleen, but it may may occur when wearing of yin humor deprives the sinews of nourishment. In a new disease, a limp tongue is the result of heat scorching yin. In an enduring disease, a limp crimson tongue means that yin depletion has reached an extreme, while a limp white tongue indicates dual vacuity of qi and blood.

Medication:  Supplement the center and nourish the blood. Take Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction (bû zhöng yì qì täng) in the morning and Spleen-Returning Pill (guï pí wán) in the evening.

yäo xï wêi ruân

Synonym:  weak wilting lumbus and knees .

Severe lack of strength in the lumbus and knees. Compare limp lumbus and knees.

líu liàn

To remain and resist elimination; said of evils and heat~effusion.

chún

Either of the two folds of flesh that form the opening of the mouth, which are normally redder and darker in the color than the surrounding areas of the face. Pale lips indicate a dual vacuity of blood and qi. Green-blue or purple lips are seen in both blood stasis and cold patterns and indicate impaired flow of blood and qi. Parched lips indicate damage to liquid. Gaping corners of the mouth and shrinking of the philtrum signify imminent desertion of right qi. Drooling from the corners of the mouth during sleep generally indicates spleen vacuity or stomach heat. In infants, this may be a sign of intestinal parasites. Drooling from one side of the mouth is associated with deviation of the mouth and facial paralysis. See cracked lips; lip wind; cocoon lip; harelip. See also mouth.

chún fëng

Synonym:  donkey'

s-mouth wind .

Redness, soreness, and swelling usually of the lower lip that in time can rupture and exude fluid. In China, it is popularly called ``donkey's-mouth wind'' because of the distorted appearance it gives the sufferer's mouth.

jïn

Synonym:  liquid qi .

The thinner fluids of the human body. See fluids.

jïn bù shàng chéng

Breakdown in the upward supply of fluid to head head, face, nose, throat, mouth, eye, and ears. Liquid failing to bear upward is attributable to damage to fluid in a)~externally contracted heat (febrile) disease, b)~diseases of the bowels and viscera preventing normal distribution of liquid, c)~internal static blood obstruction preventing the ascent of fluids. The main signs are dry mouth and lips, dry tongue with little liquid, sore dry throat, nosebleeds, tinnitus and deafness, and dry eyes with scant tear fluid. Other signs include dry cough without phlegm, thirst with taking of fluids, dizzy head and flowery vision. The tongue is red or crimson with a dry or peeling yellow fur. The pulse is large or fine and rapid.

Medication:  Ophiopogon and Asparagus Decoction (èr döng täng) or Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction (qïng zào jìu fèi täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on KI, SP, and LU. Select KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) , KI-2 (rán gû, Blazing Valley) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , TB-2 (yè mén, Humor Gate) , , and ; needle with supplementation or with even supplementation and drainage. If the cause is blood stasis internal obstruction, needle with even supplementation and drainage at BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , and LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) . Selection of points according to signs: For dry sore throat, add LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) and KI-7 (fù lïu, Recover Flow) ; prick LU-11 (shào shäng, Lesser Shang) to bleed. For dry nose and nosebleed, add GV-23 (shàng xïng, Upper Star) , LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , and LI-20 (yíng xiäng, Welcome Fragrance) . For tinnitus and deafness, add BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , TB-17 (yì fëng, Wind Screen) , GB-2 (tïng huì, Auditory Convergence) , and TB-3 (zhöng zhû, Central Islet) . For dry cough without phlegm, add BL-13 (fèi shü, Lung Transport) and LU-5 (chî zé, Cubit Marsh) .

fèi jïn

See lung yin.

jïn qì

liquid.

shäng jîu

Dizziness, headache, nausea, retching and vomiting, agitation and rashness, or clouding sleep attributable to excessive liquor consumption. Liquor is hot in nature and toxic, and tends to cause heat signs. Liquor damage is treated by harmonizing the stomach and promoting soberness, using such formulas as Amomum Splenic Beverage (suö pí yîn) and Pueraria Flower Liquor-Resolving Decoction (gé huä jiê chéng täng). Long-term intemperate drinking causes damage to the stomach and spleen causing glomus blockage in the chest and diaphragm, reduced food intake, and diarrhea. This is treated by fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting dampness using formulas such as Stomach-Calming Poria (Hoelen) Five Decoction (wèi líng täng) or Poria (Hoelen) Five Powder (wû líng sân). For spleen-kidney vacuity, Stomach Gate Brew (wèi guän jiän) can be used. If there is damage to yin-blood marked by tidal heat~effusion and stirring of the blood, treatment should take the form of cooling the blood and nourishing yin, using formulas such as Clearing Transforming Beverage (qïng huà yîn). Severe cases of liquor damage can cause concretions and conglomerations, jaundice, and drum distention.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, CV, SP, LI, and ST. To harmonize the stomach, select BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , BL-21 (wèi shü, Stomach Transport) , CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , and needle with supplementation. To fortify the spleen and disinhibit dampness, select LR-13 (zhäng mén, Camphorwood Gate) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , and SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , and needle with supplementation and add moxa. To supplement the spleen and kidney, select BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , LR-13 (zhäng mén, Camphorwood Gate) , and SP-4 (göng sün, Yellow Emperor) , and needle with supplementation. To cool the blood and nourish yin, select BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) , KI-2 (rán gû, Blazing Valley) , and LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , and needle with even supplementation and drainage. See liquor jaundice; water drum.

shäng jîu tóu tòng due to excessive consumption of liquor.

Liquor damage headache is attended by clouding and dizziness, nausea, retching and vomiting, thirst, rapid pulse, and, in severe cases, clouded spirit.

Medication:  Harmonize the stomach and resolve liquor using formulas such as Pueraria Flower Liquor-Resolving Decoction (gé huä jiê chéng täng). See headache.

Acupuncture:  Select , BL-2 (zân zhú, Bamboo Gathering) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , CV-17 (shän zhöng, Chest Center) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) . Needle with drainage.

jîu dân arising when excessive liquor consumption gives rise to steaming depressed damp-

heat that causes bile leakage. Liquor jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the body and eyes with red macules on the face, anguish, heat, and pain in the heart, dry nose, abdominal fullness with no desire to eat, and periodic desire to vomit.

Medication:  Clear heat and disinhibit damp-heat; resolve liquor toxin. If the pulse is floating and slippery and there is a pronounced desire to vomit, mechanical ejection should be used. If the pulse is sunken and slippery, and there is abdominal fullness and constipation, precipitation should be used. Liquor jaundice can be treated with formulas such as Gardenia and Rhubarb Decoction (zhï zî dà huáng täng) from Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer (jïn guì yào lüè) and Pueraria Flower Liquor-Resolving Decoction (gé huä jiê chéng täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on GB, SP, LI, and ST. Select BL-19 (dân shü, Gallbladder Transport) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) , ST-44 (nèi tíng, Inner Court) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , and GV-9 (zhì yáng, Extremity of Yang) ; needle with drainage. For pronounced heat, add GV-14 (dà zhuï, Great Hammer) . See also jaundice.

wén zhên

One of the four examinations; examination of the body by listening and smelling. In The Inner Canon (nèi jïng) the ``listening and smelling'' examination was limited to listening, and was primarily concerned with the relationship of five notes of the Chinese scale and the five voices (shouting, laughing, singing, crying, and moaning) to the five viscera. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Ji placed voice, breathing, panting, coughing, vomiting, and hiccough sounds within the listening and smelling examination. Since the Chinese wen2 means both listening and smelling, examination of smells was added to the scope of examination without any need for a change in name. On Warm Epidemics Expanded (guâng wën yì lùn) by Dai Bei-Shan, gives ``identification of odors'' as one of five main diagnostic methods, emphasizing that special attention should be paid to unusual smells. Attention is paid to the quality of the patient's voice, spontaneous cries, and coherence of speech, as well as breathing, cough, and hiccough. Changes in quality of voice and breathing are a direct reflection of disease changes in the lung and the state of original qi. Verbal expression and response to questions reflect the state of the spirit. Voice: A faint frail voice with faltering speech, which, in severe cases, hampers comprehension, indicates a vacuity of lung or original qi. Elementary Questions (sù wèn) states, ``If the patient has a faint voice and takes a long time to get his words out, his qi is depleted.'' This condition is most often seen in damage to the lungs by enduring cough, pneumonia affecting the kidney, or vacuous original qi. A rough turbid voice generally indicates a repletion pattern where the lung has been invaded by an external evil, preventing diffusion of lung qi. This may occur in diseases classified in Western medicine as bronchitis and laryngitis. bronchitis* laryngitis* A hoarse voice or loss of voice indicates lung block when it is associated with repletion signs. It indicates detriment to the lung when accompanied by vacuity signs. Diagnosis is made based on accompanying signs. Groaning, outcries, etc., indicate distention, pain, or oppressive sensations. Their significance must be determined by thorough questioning. Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer (jïn guì yào lüè) states, ``If the patient tends to keep still and frequently emits cries, he has pain in the joints. If his voice is weak and indistinct, the pain is in the center of the chest and diaphragm. If he can talk clearly without interruption, but keeps his voice low, the pain is in the head.'' In other words, when the disease is in the joints, movement causes pain. Thus, the patient tends to keep as still as possible, and may utter sounds of pain and discomfort when he moves. When the disease is in the center of the chest and diaphragm, the respiratory tract is constricted, so that the patient's voice is faint and broken. Any attempt to talk only aggravates the pain. In those suffering from headaches, raising the voice causes cranial vibrations that increase pain; however, since the respiratory tract is not affected, the voice is clear and undistorted. Speech: Incoherent expression and response to inquiry indicate diseases of the heart. Elementary Questions (sù wèn) states, ``Failure to keep clothing and bedclothes adjusted, loss of all sense of propriety in speech, and inability to recognize relatives indicate derangement of the spirit.'' The pattern may be repletion or vacuity, the former characterized by a vigorous or strident voice, the latter by a low weak voice. Confused, strident speech in externally contracted heat (febrile) diseases is known as delirious speech and most commonly occurs in repletion patterns. , where the patient talks to himself in a low voice with frequent repetitions, is usually seen in vacuity patterns. is talking to oneself, but ceasing when another approaches, and is a sign of a deranged heart-spirit (insanity). Breathing: Disturbances of normal breathing include panting, wheezing, qi ascent, shortness of breath, shortage of qi, and rough breathing. is hasty, rapid, labored breathing with discontinuity between inhalation and exhalation, in severe cases with gaping mouth, raised shoulders, flaring nostrils, and inability to lie down. It is most commonly due to external evils assailing the lung or to phlegm turbidity obstructing the lung (both repletion), but may also be due to insufficiency of qi and yin of the lung or to the kidney failing to absorb qi (both vacuity patterns). In repletion panting, breathing is rough and the patient feels relief when he breathes out; in vacuity panting he feels relief when he can draw in a long breath. is a whistling phlegm rale in the throat associated with rapid breathing. Since it occurs with panting, it is often called wheezing and panting. Distinction is made between cold wheezing and heat wheezing. Cold wheezing is due to yang vacuity with phlegm-rheum collecting internally or to cold rheum obstructing the lung. Heat wheezing is attributed to effulgent yin vacuity fire or to heat phlegm obstructing the lung. is rapid breathing with more exhalation than inhalation. It is due to phlegm-rheum obstructing the lung, external evils assailing the lung, or effulgent yin vacuity fire. is short rapid breathing with discontinuity between breaths. It is like vacuity panting, but there is no raising of the shoulders. It is mostly due to insufficiency of lung qi, but may also arise when water-rheum causes inhibited lung qi. is low faint breathing with a lusterless facial complexion, fatigue and laziness to speak, a weak voice, and a tendency to take deep breaths in order to continue speaking. It is usually a sign of insufficiency of yang qi of the whole body. is breathing that produces a rough sound in the nose, and generally occurs in repletion patterns where the lung has been invaded by an external evil. Cough: Cough and panting with qi ascent, accompanied by a frog rale in the throat, is caused by phlegm in the respiratory tract obstructing the smooth flow of air. This condition is commonly observed in cold-rheum cough and panting patterns. A heavy turbid cough with a gurgling sound of phlegm indicates phlegm turbidity congesting the lung. A dry cough indicates lung dryness or yin vacuity. A faint forceless cough indicates lung qi or lung yin vacuity. Long bouts of continuous coughing that are finished with a sonorous crow and accompanied by pronounced flushing of the face (which may even turn purple in severe cases) indicate whooping cough. Hiccough: Although occasional bouts of hiccough are not abnormal, when occurring in enduring or severe illness, they must be given special attention. Short, relatively high-pitched, forceful hiccoughs indicate repletion heat. Protracted, low-pitched, weak hiccoughs indicate stomach qi ascending counterflow. The smell of the patient's breath and excreta can give some indication of their condition. Breath and body smells: Bad breath is generally attributable to stomach heat. In some cases, however, it is due to stagnation of food in the stomach and intestines or indigestion; in other cases, it is due to gan of the mouth, gan of the teeth and gum, tooth decay, or throat diseases. Belching of sour foul-smelling qi (gas) is due to food damage. In modern medicine, the unusual malodor given off by patients suffering from hepatic coma is known as the hepatic odor. This odor, which may be the same as the ``cadaverous odor'' referred to in On Warm Epidemics Expanded (guâng wën yì lùn) is due to exuberant toxic heat in the inner body. Excreta odors: The putrid smell of phlegm, pus, urine, or stool that is thick and turbid indicates damp-heat or toxic heat. The ``fishy'' smell of thin excreta is usually due to vacuity cold.

yîn shí shâo sï

See poor appetite.

gän

The viscus located on right side beneath the diaphragm. The liver is an interior organ and is connected by channels to the gallbladder, which is its corresponding exterior organ. In the five phases, the liver belongs to wood. The liver stores the blood, governs free coursing, governs the sinews, governs the making of strategies. It opens at the eyes and its bloom is in the nails. It governs fright and is averse to wind. The liver stores the blood means that the liver can retain blood and regulate the amount of blood flowing throughout the body. The liver governs free coursing means that it makes qi course freely round the body, ensuring normal mental and emotional activity, and secretion and discharge of bile. Impairment of this function leads to binding depression of liver qi, very often associated with rashness, impatience, and irascibility, for which reason it is often said that the liver is the unyielding viscus. The liver governs the sinews means that the liver maintains the proper movement of the sinews and the liver is the root of resistance to fatigue joints. The , an attribute that rests on the liver's relationship to the sinews. Since according to traditional theory, the nails are the surplus of the sinews, it is also said that the liver, its bloom is in the nails. The liver opens at the eyes stresses the important connection between the state of the eyes and the state of the liver. The statement that liver governs the making of strategies comes from a statement in Elementary Questions (sù wèn)``The liver holds the office of general, whence strategies emanate,'' which means that the ability to make plans is related to the state of the liver. Liver qi depression can cause rashness, impatience, and anger, whereas insufficiency of liver qi manifests in a tendency toward fright (compare gallbladder governs decision). Hence it is also said that anger damages the liver and the liver governs fright. The notion that the liver is averse to wind derives from the liver's five-phase associations with wood. Trees (living wood) are bent and shaken by the wind; likewise various forms of spasm affecting the body are seen to be the result of wind. For example, clenched jaw and arched-back rigidity, which may occur in diseases such as lockjaw are attributed to liver wind stirring internally. Fright, like wind, causes tensing of the body, and hence some diseases involving liver wind are labeled as fright, e.g., fright wind. The liver channel is the foot reverting yin channel, which starts from the great toe, passes up the leg, passes through the genitals and lower abdomen, crosses the rib-side and the throat, connects through to the eyes and then continues on to the vertex of the head. Liver disease often manifests in localized morbidity along the channel pathway. The liver's relationships with the other viscera are as follows. Wang Bing's annotations of Elementary Questions (sù wèn) state, ``The liver stores the blood, and the heart moves it; when a person moves, blood moves through all the channels, whereas when he rests, the blood returns to the liver.'' When the body's yin-blood is sufficient, the liver has what it stores and the heart has what it governs, and at the same time heart and liver yang are duly restrained from growing hyperactive. However, if yin-blood is insufficient, the liver has nothing to store and the heart has nothing to govern, and at the same time there is nothing to restrain liver and heart yang. Under such circumstances, a condition of exuberant heart-liver fire can develop. The liver stores blood, whereas the kidney stores essence. Both depletion of kidney essence and insufficiency of liver blood can give rise to a dual condition of liver-kidney yin vacuity. Conversely, liver fire or hyperactivity of liver yang can damage liver blood, and eventually damage kidney essence, which is treated by nourishing the liver and enriching the kidney. For these reasons, it is said that the liver and kidney are of the same source. The liver's governing of free coursing and the kidney's governing of storage are interdependent, mutually counterbalancing functions of the liver and kidney. Disturbance of the functions of the two can cause such signs as advanced menstruation, profuse menstruation, menstrual block, and seminal emission, which are frequently addressed by combined treatment of the liver and kidney. The liver governs upbearing, whereas the lung governs downbearing; the liver is the unyielding viscus, whereas the lung is the delicate viscus. When the liver upbearing is too strong and liver downbearing is too weak, liver fire can invade the lung causing liver fire invading the lung. Healthy spleen and stomach function rely on the free-coursing action of the liver. Liver qi depression can invade the stomach and cause stomach qi disharmony. See liver qi invading the stomach.

gän jï

From The Pulse Canon (mài jïng) See fat qi.

gän yû dân xiäng biâo lî <

liver and gallbladder> See liver is connected with the gallbladder.

gän shèn xiäng shëng

See liver and kidney are of the same source.

gän shèn tóng yuán

The liver and kidney are intimately related. The relationship between the two has three aspects: The liver and kidney are mutually engendering, i.e., they nourish and support each other. The liver relies on the nourishment of liver yin to perform its function of free coursing, whereas the regeneration of kidney yin relies upon the free coursing function. The liver stores the blood, whereas the kidney stores essence; blood and essence are both yin; hence ``the liver and kidney are of the same source'' also reflects the notion that blood and essence are of the same source. The ministerial fire present in both the kidney and the liver is traced to a common source in the life gate.

gän xuè

The blood stored by the liver. The notion of liver blood in inseparable from that of liver yin. However, in clinical practice, the term liver blood vacuity is used to label conditions in which signs of yin vacuity and yang hyperactivity are not necessarily present. See liver stores the blood.

gän xuè xü

The manifestation of insufficiency of liver blood. Liver blood vacuity is attributed to either or both of two causes: a)~damage to yin-blood in the course of enduring illness, which deprives the liver of blood for storage and of adequate nourishment; and b)~continual expectoration of blood, nosebleed, or profuse menstruation due to blood storage failure. In addition to general blood vacuity signs, liver blood vacuity is associated with a variety of patterns: blood failing to nourish the liver, blood failing to nourish the sinews or eyes, and thoroughfare and controlling vessel diseases. Signs include dizziness, insomnia, profuse dreaming, flowery vision, blurred vision, inhibited sinew movement, lusterless nails, reduced menstrual flow, or alternating menstrual block and flooding and spotting. In severe cases, the kidney may be affected, resulting in liver-kidney essence-blood depletion, and consequently in such signs as lumbar pain, seminal emission, sterility, menstrual block, emaciation, and tidal heat~effusion, in addition to the above-mentioned signs.

Medication:  Since liver blood and kidney essence are mutually engendering, treatment usually involves dual treatment of liver and kidney. The basic method of treatment is supplementing the blood and nourishing the liver. Commonly used medicinals that supplement both liver and kidney include Rehmanniae Radix (dì huáng), Paeoniae Radix Alba (bái sháo yào), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (däng guï), Lycii Fructus (gôu qî zî), Corni Fructus (shän zhü yú), Ligustri Fructus (nüê zhën zî), Ecliptae Herba (mò hàn lián), Mori Fructus (säng shèn), Polygoni Multiflori Radix (hé shôu wü), Testudinis Plastrum (guï bân), and Amydae Carapax (bië jiâ). For most simple cases of liver blood insufficiency Liver-Supplementing Decoction (bû gän täng) and Four Agents Decoction (sì wù täng) or their variations can be used. For blood failing to nourish the sinews or network vessels, characterized by signs such as numbness in the extremities or impaired locomotion, blood-nourishing and network-freeing medicinals such as Millettiae Radix et Caulis (jï xuè téng), Carthami Flos (hóng huä), Loranthi seu Visci Ramus (säng jì shëng), Dipsaci Radix (xù duàn), and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (níu xï) are indicated. Blood failing to nourish the head and eyes, marked by loss of visual acuity and dizziness, can be treated with Lycium Berry, Chrysanthemum, and Rehmannia Pill (qî jú dì huáng wán) or similar formulas. Disharmony of the thoroughfare and controlling vessels due to liver blood vacuity can be treated with Black Free Wanderer Powder (hëi xiäo yáo sân) (Free Wanderer Powder supplemented with cooked rehmannia) and its variations. Depletion of liver-kidney essence-blood is generally treated with such formulas as Left-Restoring Kidney Yin Pill (zuô guï wán) and its variations which supplement kidney essence and nourish liver blood.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LR, SP, and ST. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) ; needle with supplementation. For liver-kidney essence-blood depletion, add BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , BL-52 (zhì shì, Will Chamber) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , and CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) ,

gän jïng

foot reverting yin liver channel.

gän jïng ké sòu

liver cough.

gän jïng shï rè dài xià

A continual unabating flow of malodorous thick sticky yellow or mixed white and yellow vaginal discharge accompanied by oppression in the chest and distention of the breasts, dizzy head and vision, bitter taste in the mouth, and dry throat.

Medication:  Drain the liver, clear heat, and disinhibit dampness. Use Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (lóng dân xiè gän täng) or a decoction of 25~g Pulsatillae Radix (bái tóu wëng), Phellodendri Cortex (huáng bâi), and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (kû shën).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV, GIV, SP, and LR. Select GB-26 (dài mài, Girdling Vessel) , BL-30 (bái huán shü, White Ring Transport) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , CV-3 (zhöng jí, Central Pole) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , and LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) . Needle with drainage.

gän jïng shí huô

See liver fire; liver fire flaming upward.

gän hán

Definition: 

Insufficiency of the yang qi of the liver causing melancholy, lassitude, lack of stamina, lack of warmth in the limbs, and a sunken fine slow pulse.

Definition:  Cold evil congealing and stagnating in the liver channel. See cold stagnating in the liver vessel.

gän ké causing pain in both rib-

sides that in severe cases makes it difficult for the patient to turn onto his or her side.

Medication:  Use Bupleurum Drink (chái hú yîn zi) or Green-Blue--Draining Half-and-Half Decoction (xiè qïng gè bàn täng). See five viscera and six bowels cough.

gän nì tóu tòng due to counterflow qi ascent of liver qi due to damage to the liver by anger.

Liver counterflow headache is one form of liver reversal headache.

gän yù

A pattern resulting from binding depression of liver qi.

gän yù jïng xíng xiän qï (

i.e., premature arrival of periods) arising when anger damages the liver, causing liver depression, which transforms into heat, which in turn harasses the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, causing frenetic flow of blood. Advanced menstruation due to liver depression is associated with varying quantity of menstrual flow that is either red or purple and sometimes clotted, distention of the breasts, distending pain in the smaller abdomen, vexation and agitation, and irascibility.

Medication:  Course the liver, resolve depression, and clear heat. Use Moutan and Gardenia Free Wanderer Powder (dän zhï xiäo yáo sân).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment on the CV and three yin channels of the foot. Select CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , and SP-8 (dì jï, Earth's Crux) ; needle with drainage.

gän yù pí xü

A form of liver-spleen disharmony in which binding depression of the liver qi gives rise to or exacerbates impairment of splenic movement and transformation. Liver depression and spleen vacuity is characterized by rib-side pain, aversion to food, abdominal distention, sloppy stool diarrhea, and fatigued limbs. See binding depression of liver qi.

gän yù jïng xíng hòu qï due to liver depression.

Menstrual flow is scant and dark, and is accompanied by smaller-abdominal distention, fullness, and pain, mental depression, glomus in the chest relieved slightly by belching, distention and fullness in the chest, rib-side, and breasts, white tongue fur, and stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Use Liver-Coursing Depression-Resolving Decoction (shü gän jiê yù täng)

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV and the three yin channels of the foot. Select CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , KI-13 (qì xué, Qi Point) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , and LR-5 (lî göu, Woodworm Canal) ; needle with drainage.

gän yù bù yùn attributed to liver qi depression.

Liver depression infertility is associated with painful distention of the breasts during menstruation, irregular cycle, clots in the menstrual flow, affect-mind depression or rashness, impatience and irascibility, distention and fullness in the chest and rib-side, a dark red tongue, and a stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Use Depression-Opening Jade-Planting Decoction (käi yù zhòng yù täng) or Liver-Coursing Depression-Resolving Decoction (shü gän jiê yù täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment on back transport points, LR, CV, and SP. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , CV-3 (zhöng jí, Central Pole) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , SP-4 (göng sün, Yellow Emperor) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; needle with drainage. is three body-inches below the umbilicus and three body-inches to the side. It is noted for its ability to treat infertility.

gän yù xié tòng attributable to binding depression of liver qi,

usually stemming from anger, sorrow, or grief. Pain in both rib-sides may be accompanied by glomus blockage in the chest and diaphragm, hypertonicity of sinews, heaviness of the lumbus and legs. In severe cases, the pain may be unbearable and stretch into the armpits. The rib-side pain may be accompanied by vexation, agitation, and pronounced irascibility.

Medication:  Treat by resolving depression and rectifying qi; complement by discharging depressed fire for depressed qi transforming into fire. Use Toosendan Powder (jïn líng zî sân) or Moutan and Gardenia Free Wanderer Powder (dän zhï xiäo yáo sân). Compare liver qi rib-side pain.

Acupuncture:  See liver qi rib-side pain.

gän yù huà huô

depressed wood transforming into fire.

gän bìng

Any disease affecting the liver. Most liver diseases arise through the following pathomechanisms: a)~damage by the seven affects upsetting free coursing of the liver and causing binding depression of liver qi, which can transform into fire, causing stasis obstruction of the liver's network vessels; b)~insufficiency of yin blood, hyperactivity of liver yang, and liver wind stirring internally; c)~damp-heat brewing internally; or d)~cold congealing in the liver vessel. Signs of liver disease include rib-side pain and distention, dizzy head or dizzy vision, tinnitus, red eyes, irascibility, or susceptibility to fright and fear, blood ejection and spontaneous external bleeding, numbness of the limbs, convulsions and tetanic reversal, menstrual irregularities, and mounting qi .

Liver Disease Patterns binding depression of liver qigän qì yù jié liver fire flaming upwardgän huô shàng yán ascendant hyperactivity of liver yanggän yáng shàng kàng liver wind stirring internallygän fëng nèi dòng liver blood vacuitygän xuè xü cold stagnating in the liver vesselhán zhì gän mài dual vacuity of the liver and spleengän pí liâng xü heart-liver blood vacuityxïn gän xuè xü liver-stomach disharmonygän wèi bù hé liver-spleen disharmonygän pí bù hé liver qi invading the stomachgän qì fàn wèi liver qi invading the spleengän qì fàn pí spleen dampness and liver depressionpí shï gän yù liver fire invading the lunggän huô fàn fèi liver-kidney yin vacuitygän shèn yïn xü liver-gallbladder damp-heatgän dân shï rè

Binding depression of liver qi  (gän qì yù jié) is impairment of the liver's free coursing function. The main signs are mental depression, oppression in the chest, and frequent sighing. Other signs include vexation, agitation, and irascibility, and distending pain along the liver channel such as in the rib-side, breasts, or lesser abdomen. There may be disquieted sleep or a liking for quiet and rest. Binding depression of liver qi can also manifest as epilepsy, concretions and gatherings under the rib-side, drum distention, reduced food intake, belching, or diarrhea. The tongue body usually shows no change, and the tongue fur is thin and white. The pulse is stringlike.

Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang  (gän yáng shàng kàng) is a yin-yang imbalance, usually kidney yin vacuity preventing yin from restraining yang. The main signs are vexation, agitation, and irascibility, red face, and generalized heat~effusion. Other signs include headache, dizziness, sudden clouding collapse, insomnia, profuse dreaming, forgetfulness and heart palpitations, or limp aching lumbus and knees. The tongue is red, and the pulse is stringlike and forceful or stringlike, fine, and rapid.

Liver fire flaming upward  (gän huô shàng yán) is characterized by red face, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, as well as vexation, agitation, and irascibility. Other signs include headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, scorching pain in the rib-side, and insomnia and profuse dreaming, blood ejection or spontaneous external bleeding, constipation, and reddish urine. The tongue is red with a yellow fur. The pulse is stringlike and rapid. Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang and liver flaming flaming upward may both manifest in signs of fire surging upward such as red face and red eyes, headache, and dizziness. Both are characterized by heat signs such as red tongue and a rapid pulse; and both may be exacerbated by affect-mind disturbances. Hyperactivity of liver yang is at root a vacuity pattern, with liver-kidney yin vacuity signs such as limp aching lumbus and knees, dry eyes, and tinnitus. Liver fire flaming upward is a repletion pattern, and manifests in repletions signs such as bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, constipation, yellow urine yellow tongue fur, and a forceful rapid pulse.

Liver blood vacuity  (gän xuè xü) is characterized chiefly by dull rib-side pain, dizziness, and dry eyes. Secondary signs include lusterless facial complexion, numbness or hypertonicity of the limbs, shaking of the extremities, dry, thin or brittle nails, and susceptibility to fright and fear. The tongue is pale and pulse is fine.

Liver wind stirring internally  (gän fëng nèi dòng) is a development of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang, blood vacuity, or exuberant heat evil. Liver yang transforming into wind manifests in dizziness that upsets balance, shaking of the head and tremor of the limbs. It may also also manifest in sudden collapse and hemiplegia wind stroke(). Blood vacuity engendering wind manifests in tremor of the limbs, twitching of the flesh, hypertonicity of the joints, and numbness of the limbs. Extreme heat engendering wind occurs in high fever and is characterized by convulsions of the limbs, rigidity of the nape and neck, arched by rigidity, and clenched jaw acute fright wind().

Cold stagnating in the liver vessel  (hán zhì gän mài) is characterized by lesser-abdominal pain, possibly stretching into the testicles, or with retracted testicles. Secondary signs include bright white facial complexion, physical cold and cold limbs, green-blue or pulse lips, long voidings of clear urine, and sloppy stool.

Liver-gallbladder damp-heat  (gän dân shï rè) results from impaired free coursing due either to internal damp-heat stemming from excessive consumption of fatty or sweet foods, or to externally contracted damp-heat, and is characterized by alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, bitter taste in the mouth, rib-side pain, abdominal pain and distention, nausea and vomiting, aversion to food, yellowing of the skin, and yellow or reddish urine.

Medication:  Methods of treating liver disease include: coursing the liver and rectifying qi; quickening the blood; draining the liver; nourishing the blood and emolliating the liver; subduing yang and extinguishing wind; clearing heat and transforming dampness.

gän zhàng

Definition: 

Rib-side fullness and distention with pain stretching into the lower abdomen. Liver distention is usually caused by cold affecting the liver channel and is treated by coursing the liver and dissipating cold.

Medication:  Use Liver-Warming Brew (nuân gän jiän).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LR, PC, and CV. Select LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , and LR-1 (dà dün, Large Pile) ; needle with even supplementation and drainage and moxa. For lower abdominal pain, add GB-40 (qïu xü, Hill Ruins) , and LR-5 (lî göu, Woodworm Canal) ,

Definition:  The same signs occurring in distention disease.

gän huô

A fire pattern developing from excesses of the seven affects, liver yang transforming into fire, or heat or damp-heat brewing in the liver channel. Liver fire is characterized by red facial complexion, red eyes, dizziness, bitter taste in the mouth, rashness, impatience, and irascibility, red tongue margins, and rapid stringlike pulse. When the upper body signs are pronounced, it is called liver fire flaming upward.

gän huô xuàn yün due to depletion of kidney water and upward flaming of liver-

gallbladder ministerial fire, and associated with headache, upbearing fire flush, bitter taste in the mouth, red eyes, red tongue, and rapid stringlike pulse.

Western Medical Concept:  hypertension* atherosclerosis*!cerebral hypertension; cerebral atherosclerosis.

Medication:  When effulgent fire is prominent, it is treated by clearing the liver and draining fire with Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (lóng dân xiè gän täng); when yin vacuity is prominent, it is treated by enriching yin and downbearing fire with Anemarrhena and Phellodendron Eight-Ingredient Pill (zhï bâi bä wèi wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment on LR, GB, and KI. Main points: GV-20 (bâi huì, Hundred Convergences) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , GB-43 (xiá xï, Pinched Ravine) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; needle with even supplementation and drainage. For effulgent fire, add GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) and LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , needling with drainage. For yin vacuity, add KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , and BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , needling with supplementation. See dizziness.

gän huô shàng yán

Synonym:  upflaming liver fire .

characterized by pronounced upper body signs. Liver fire flaming upward is attributed to liver qi depression transforming into fire, to depressed internal damp-heat evils, or to excessive consumption of sweet and fatty foods or warming and supplementing medicinals. Liver fire flaming upward is characterized by qi and fire rising to the head, and by pronounced heat signs. The main signs are red face, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, as well as vexation, agitation, and irascibility. Other signs include scorching pain in the rib-side, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, insomnia and profuse dreaming, reddish urine, and constipation. In some cases, there is blood ejection or spontaneous external bleeding. The tongue is red with yellow fur. The pulse is stringlike and rapid.

Analysis:  Liver fire flames upward attacking the head and eyes. Hence there is red face and red eyes, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and deafness. When fire lies depressed in the liver channel, there is scorching pain in the rib-side. When it carries gallbladder qi upward, there is a bitter taste in the mouth and dry mouth. Impairment of liver qi's orderly reaching manifests in vexation, agitation, and irascibility. When depressed heat harasses the inner body, there is insomnia and profuse dreaming. When the blood network vessels are scorched and the blood moves frenetically, there is blood ejection and spontaneous external bleeding. Exuberant fire scorches liquid, hence the constipation and red urine. The red tongue with yellow fur, and the rapid stringlike pulse are signs of intense liver channel repletion fire.

Medication:  Clear the liver and drain fire. Use Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (lóng dân xiè gän täng) or Tangkuei, Gentian, and Aloe Pill (däng guï lóng huì wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on GB and LR. Select LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , GB-43 (xiá xï, Pinched Ravine) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , and TB-6 (zhï göu, Branch Ditch) ; needle with drainage.

gän huô fàn fèi

Liver channel qi fire ascending counterflow to invade lung and disturbing the lung's depurative downbearing. Liver fire invading the lung most commonly arises as a result of anger damaging the liver or heat evil invading the inner body. It is often called ``wood fire tormenting metal.'' The chief signs are cough with yellow phlegm, and scorching pain in the chest and rib-side. Other signs include scant sticky phlegm, cough that in severe cases brings ejection of fresh blood, rashness, impatience, and irascibility, dizzy head and red eyes, red face, and a bitter taste in the mouth. In addition, there may be short voidings of red urine and constipation. The tongue is red with dry yellow fur. The pulse is stringlike and rapid or stringlike, fine, and rapid.

Analysis:  When liver fire invades the lung, it scorches the lung and disturbs depurative downbearing, hence the cough. When fire damages the network vessels of the lung, blood spills out, hence the coughing of fresh blood. When liquid is scorched by fire, it is condensed into phlegm, hence the scant sticky yellow phlegm. When liver channel repletion fire lies depressed, it gives rise to scorching pain in the chest and rib-side, rashness, impatience, and irascibility. When liver fire flames upward, there is dizziness, red eyes, and bitter taste in the mouth. The red tongue with yellow fur and the rapid stringlike pulse are signs of exuberant liver fire scorching lung liquid.

Medication:  Clear heat and drain fire; moisten the lung and transform phlegm. Use Indigo and Clamshell Pill (qïng gé wán) combined with Metal-Clearing Phlegm-Transforming Decoction (qïng jïn huà tán täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LU and LR. Select BL-13 (fèi shü, Lung Transport) , LU-10 (yú jì, Fish Border) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) ; needle with drainage.

gän huô bù dé wò

From Pathoconditions, Causes, Pulses, and Treatments (zhèng yïn mài zhì) due to liver fire arising when excessive anxiety and anger damage the liver and cause counterflow of liver qi or when liver blood is damaged and the spirit fails to confine itself. Liver fire sleeplessness is characterized by unquiet sleep, susceptibility to fright, thirst with copious fluid intake, periodic distention in the rib-side, or pain in the lesser abdomen and free ribs reaching into the genitals, and a rapid stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Course the liver and clear fire using Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (lóng dân xiè gän täng) or Liver-Coursing Powder (shü gän sân).

Acupuncture:  To the main points given under sleeplessness, add BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , and PC-7 (dà líng, Great Mound) , needling with drainage.

gän zhuó

A disease pattern arising when liver qi and blood become stagnant and depressed. Liver fixity is characterized by glomus and oppression in the rib-side, in severe cases with pain and distention. Discomfort may be slightly relieved by massage and pummeling. There may also be a desire for warm drinks.

Medication:  Move the blood and dissipate stagnation; free yang and quicken the blood. Use Inula Decoction (xuán fù huä täng) plus Angelicae Sinensis Radicis Tenuis (däng guï xü), Persicae Semen (táo rén), Lycopi Herba (zé lán), and Curcumae Tuber (yù jïn).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LR, GB, LI, HT, and ST. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , CV-6 (qì hâi, Sea of Qi) , and LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) ; needle with drainage.

gän wéi lèi

From Elementary Questions (sù wèn) Tears flow from the eyes; the liver opens at the eyes; and tears are formed out of liver humor. Hence it is said that the liver forms tears.

gän dân shï rè

Synonym:  damp-

heat brewing in the liver and gallbladder .

A disease pattern arising when the liver's free coursing is impaired owing either to internal damp-heat stemming from excessive consumption of fatty or sweet foods, or to externally contracted damp-heat. The chief signs are alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, bitter taste in the mouth, rib-side pain, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distention, aversion to food, yellowing of the skin, and yellow or reddish urine. Stool tends to be dry if heat is more pronounced than dampness, and sloppy if dampness is more pronounced than heat. The tongue fur is yellow and slimy. The pulse is rapid and stringlike.

Western Medical Concept:  biliary tract infections* hepatitis*!icteric Mostly seen in acute icteric hepatitis or biliary tract infections.

Medication:  Course the liver and disinhibit bile; clear and drain damp-heat. Use medicinals such as Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (yïn chén häo), Bupleuri Radix (chái hú), Curcumae Tuber (yù jïn), Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (zhî shí), Scutellariae Radix (huáng qín), Phellodendri Cortex (huáng bâi), Gardeniae Fructus (shän zhï zî), Rhei Rhizoma (dà huáng), Gentianae Radix (lóng dân), Isatidis Radix (bân lán gën), Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma (hû zhàng), and Sedi Sarmentosi Herba (shí zhî jiâ). Capillaris Decoction (yïn chén häo täng) is used for damp-heat jaundice. Major Bupleurum Decoction (dà chái hú täng) is mainly used for liver-gallbladder damp-heat characterized by high fever or alternating heat~effusion and aversion to cold, distending pain in the rib-side, severe pain the upper abdomen, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea and vomiting of bitter fluid, constipation, or jaundice.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV and the three yin channels of the foot. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-19 (dân shü, Gallbladder Transport) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , GB-24 (rì yuè, Sun and Moon) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , TB-6 (zhï göu, Branch Ditch) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , and SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) ; needle with drainage. Where heat is predominant, add GV-14 (dà zhuï, Great Hammer) and LI-11 (qü chí, Pool at the Bend) . Where dampness is predominant, add SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) .

gän zhû shü xiè

The liver, like wood in the five phases, ``thrives by orderly reaching.'' This is seen in the following areas:

Qi dynamic:  (qì jï) The liver's governing of free coursing is reflected in the regularity and smoothness of qi dynamic. When this function is normal, qi dynamic is smooth and regular, so that qi and blood remain in harmony, the channels are kept free, and the organs all function normally. When it is impaired, qi dynamic is disturbed and a whole variety of diseases may arise as a result. If liver qi is depressed in the liver itself and its associated channel, distending pain develops in the chest and rib-side or lesser abdomen or the breasts become painfully swollen. If liver qi invades the stomach, such signs as attacks of pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and belching appear; if liver qi invades the spleen, there is distending pain in the chest, rib-side, and abdomen, with rumbling intestines and diarrhea. In severe cases, qi stagnation may lead to blood stasis and the development of concretions, accumulations, or glomus lump. Transformation of depressed qi into fire may cause wearing of the blood or frenetic blood movement affecting the liver's blood-storing function.

Bile:  (dân zhï) The gallbladder is located behind the right lobe of the liver and stores bile. It is physically connected to the liver, interlinked with it through the ``homing'' and ``netting'' connections between the channels of the two organs, and stands in interior-exterior relationship with the liver. Production and secretion of bile depends on surplus qi from the liver being channeled into the gallbladder, where it then accumulates and forms into bile. This means that bile secretion and discharge represents an important aspect of the liver's function of governing free coursing. Disruption of free coursing may thus lead to irregularities in bile secretion and discharge, characterized by jaundice, bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting of yellow fluid, distending pain in the rib-side, distention qi in the abdomen, and reduced food intake.

Emotional factors:  (qíng zhì) Joy, anger, anxiety, thought, sorrow, fear, and fright are the seven affects, which are natural human responses to the environment. Chinese medicine regards the seven affects as capable of influencing the functions of the bowels and viscera. This is called ``internal damage by the seven affects'' or simply ``affect damage.'' Especially vulnerable is the free coursing function of the liver. Impairment of free coursing can lead not only to disturbances of qi dynamic and secretion and discharge of bile, but also to emotional disturbances such as mental depression, rashness, impatience, and irascibility. These three aspects of free coursing are clearly interrelated. Impairment of qi dynamic may affect either emotional activity or the secretion and discharge of bile. Emotional disturbance may similarly affect qi dynamic. Disturbances of bile secretion and discharge can cause spleen, stomach, and intestinal dysfunction and thereby upset qi dynamic, which in turn may affect normal mental and emotional activity. The three different aspects of free coursing cannot, therefore, be looked at in isolation. Only by a comprehensive approach can this aspect of the liver be fully understood in clinical practice.

gän zhû jïng

The liver is vulnerable to shocks such as produced by loud noises, fearful sights, or emotional stimuli. The liver is the ``viscus of wind and wood.'' Wind blows trees and makes them bend and shake. Fright similarly causes the body to become tense and shake. See fright.

gän zhû yùn dòng

See liver governs the sinews.

gän zhû mù

The liver opens at the eyes, and its channel is connected with the eye tie. Exuberance and debilitation of the essential qi of the kidney can affect visual acuity. The Magic Pivot (líng shü) states, ``Liver qi flows through to the eyes; when the liver is in harmony, the eyes can distinguish the five colors.'' liver fire flaming upward can manifest as red swollen eyes, whereas liver vacuity can give rise to dry eyes and unclear vision.

gän zhû móu lüè

See liver holds the office of general, whence strategies emanate.

gän zhû xuè hâi

Wang Bing's annotations of Elementary Questions (sù wèn) state, ``The liver stores the blood, and the heart moves it; when a person moves, blood moves through all the channels, whereas when he rests, the blood returns to the liver. Why is this so? Because the liver governs the sea of blood.'' ``The liver governs the sea of blood'' is therefore understood to mean that the liver stores the blood and has a regulating action on its movement. See liver stores the blood.

gän zhû jïn

From The Magic Pivot (líng shü) The sinews (tendons, muscles; see sinew) are dependent on the liver. ``The liver governs the sinews'' means essentially the same as the liver governs physical movement``.'' Only when liver blood is abundant can their nourishing influence reach the sinews and enable them to move normally. If liver blood is insufficient, the resulting failure of the blood to nourish the sinews adequately brings on hypertonicity (tension and stiffness) or numbness in the limbs, with difficulty in bending and stretching. When liver wind stirs internally, tremors, convulsions, and arched-back rigidity are observed.

gän zhû shëng fä

Liver qi bears upward and outward, like the branches of a tree stretch up and out. When upbearing effusion is overly strong, signs such as headache and dizziness appear.

gän rè

Any condition involving heat evil in the liver, or transformation of depressed liver qi into fire. Characteristics include vexation and oppression, bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, heat extremities, yellow or reddish urine, and, in severe cases, manic agitation and inability to rest.

gän rè è zû (

vomiting in pregnancy) arising when blood gathers to nourish the uterus, and thoroughfare vessel becomes exuberant, and ascends counterflow carrying liver and stomach qi with it. Liver heat malign obstruction usually occurs in women who are normally of a rash and impatient disposition. It is characterized by vomiting of sour fluid and sometimes immediate vomiting of ingested food, dizziness, and bitter taste in the mouth.

Medication:  Clear the liver and harmonize the stomach; downbear counterflow and check vomiting. Use Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (wën dân täng) minus Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (shëng jiäng) and Ziziphi Fructus (dà zâo) and plus Scutellariae Radix (huáng qín), Coptidis Rhizoma (huáng lián), Phragmititis Rhizoma (lú gën), and Ophiopogonis Tuber (mài mén döng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV, PC, ST, and LR. Select CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , SP-4 (göng sün, Yellow Emperor) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , ST-44 (nèi tíng, Inner Court) LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , and needle with drainage.

gän rè zì hàn attributable to liver heat,

often accompanied by bitter taste in the mouth and profuse sleeping.

Medication:  Clear the liver and constrain sweat using Free Wanderer Powder (xiäo yáo sân) and variations.

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on LR, GB, LI, HT, and ST. Select LI-4 (hé gû, Union Valley) , KI-7 (fù lïu, Recover Flow) , SI-3 (hòu xï, Back Ravine) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; needle with drainage.

gän zhe3, jiäng jün zhï guan1, móu lüè chü yän <

liver holds the office of general> Phrase from Elementary Questions (sù wèn) The ability to make plans is dependent upon a healthy liver. Liver qi depression can give rise to ascendant liver yang, and to rashness, impatience, and anger. Insufficiency of liver qi manifests in a tendency toward fright. Both emotional tendencies can prevent the individual from ``keeping a cool head'' in matters of planning. Compare liver is the unyielding viscus.

gän bì

An impediment pattern arising when in enduring impediment further contraction of evils or damage to the liver by anger causes binding depression of liver qi. Liver impediment is characterized by fright during sleep at night, thirst with increased fluid intake, frequent urination, rib-side pain, and enlarged abdomen.

Medication:  Course the liver and dispel the evil using Five Impediments Decoction (wû bì täng) with the addition of Ziziphi Spinosi Semen (suän zâo rén) and Bupleuri Radix (chái hú) or with Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (chái hú shü gän sân). For vacuity patterns, use Liver-Supplementing Powder (bû gän sân), whereas for fire patterns, use Green-Blue--Draining Pill (xiè qïng wán) or Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (lóng dân xiè gän täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LR, GB, and SP. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , SP-10 (xuè hâi, Sea of Blood) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , SP-9 (yïn líng quán, Yin Mound Spring) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , and SP-5 (shäng qïu, Shang Hill) ; needle with drainage. For vacuity patterns, supplement BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , BL-21 (wèi shü, Stomach Transport) , and BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) . For fire patterns, drain LR-2 (xíng jiän, Moving Between) , GB-43 (xiá xï, Pinched Ravine) , and TB-6 (zhï göu, Branch Ditch) .

gän wù fëng

The liver is the viscus of wind and wood; many of the diseases associated with the liver, such as wind stroke, child fright wind, wind-damp, itching, tetanic disease, and epilepsy, all bear characteristics of wind.

gän hé dân

The liver stands in interior-exterior relationship with the gallbladder. The liver channel connects with the gallbladder, and the gallbladder channel connects with the liver. Effulgent gallbladder heat and ascendant liver yang can both manifest in rashness, impatience, and tendency to anger. Liver-calming medicinals can also drain gallbladder fire, and medicinals that drain gallbladder fire can also calm the liver. A connection between the liver's association with the ability to plan and the gallbladder's role in judgment is also quite obvious.

gän hé jïn

See liver governs the sinews.

gän cháng yôu yú

From Dan Xi's Experiential Methods (dän xï xïn fâ) Children have delicate livers that are susceptible to evils. When externally contracted evils enter the pericardium and give rise to clouded spirit and heart palpitations, heart fire can affect the liver and thereby stir liver wind that manifests in the form of convulsions. Mutual exacerbation of liver wind and heart fire causes damage to true yin and deprives the sinews of nourishment, hence there is vigorous heat~effusion, fright convulsions, clouded spirit, and, in severe cases, arched-back rigidity.

The liver is related to physical stamina. Elementary Questions (sù wèn) states, ``The liver is the root of resistance to fatigue, the abode of the ethereal soul; its bloom is in the nails; its fullness is in the sinews.'' The sinews depend on nourishment supplied by liver blood, whose health is also reflected in the nails.

gän wéi gäng zàng

The liver thrives by orderly reaching, and is averse to being repressed or constrained and to hyperactivity of its yang aspect. The unyielding nature of the liver is mainly seen in liver qi: mental stimulus gives rise to rashness and impatience, and bouts of anger, which is called excess of liver qi. Conversely, insufficiency of liver qi gives rise to susceptibility to fright and fear. The liver and gallbladder stand in interior-exterior relationship, and the unyielding nature is a combined manifestation of both organs.'' See also sinew.

gan1, tî yïn ér yòng yáng

The polarity between yin substance and yang function, seen in all the organs to some extent, is most clear in the case of the liver. Liver blood is the substance of the liver, whereas liver qi and liver yang are its function. The liver governs free coursing and houses the ministerial fire. It governs the sinews and physical movement, the most active aspect of the body. It is the ``viscus of wind and wood,'' and is susceptible to stirring of wind and transformation into fire, which often manifest in dynamic signs.

gan1, qí huá zài zhâo

From the line of Elementary Questions (sù wèn) that states, ``The liver its bloom is in the nails.'' Bloom means the outward manifestation of glory. The phrase reflects the observation that when liver blood is abundant, the nails are red, lustrous, and healthy. When liver blood is insufficient, the nails are pale in color and brittle.

gän shèn kuï sûn

See liver-kidney yin vacuity.

gän shèn kuï sûn tòng jïng due to liver-

kidney depletion that occurs when general vacuity, early marriage, or excessive childbirth cause damage to the liver and kidney and depletion of essence-blood, and the resulting thoroughfare and controlling vessel blood vacuity deprives the uterine vessels of nourishment. Liver-kidney depletion menstrual pain is characterized by continual unabating menstrual pain that refuses pressure, and is accompanied by dizziness and tinnitus, and limp aching lumbus and knees.

Medication:  Regulate and supplement the liver and kidney using formulas such as Liver-Regulating Decoction (tiáo gän täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, and KI. Select CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , KI-6 (zhào hâi, Shining Sea) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , and needle with supplementation. Selection of points according to signs: For dizziness and tinnitus, add KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) . For limp aching lumbus and knees, add .

gän shèn jïng xuè kuï sûn

insufficiency of essence-blood.

gän shèn yïn xü

Synonym:  liver-

kidney depletion .

A disease pattern comprising signs of both liver yin vacuity and kidney yin vacuity, that may be caused by insufficiency of either liver or kidney yin. Liver-kidney yin vacuity is characterized by dizziness, distention in the head, unclear vision, tinnitus, dry pharynx and dry mouth, vexing heat in the five hearts, seminal emission, insomnia, aching lumbus and knee, red tongue with little fur, and a forceless fine stringlike pulse.

Medication:  Use Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill (lìu wèi dì huáng wán) or Left-Restoring Kidney Yin Pill (zuô guï wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, KI, and LR. Select BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , BL-52 (zhì shì, Will Chamber) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; needle with supplementation.

gän shèn yïn xü bëng lòu <

liver-kidney yin vacuity> attributed to liver-kidney yin vacuity arising when congenital insufficiency, early marriage, or marriage wears qi and blood, causing liver-kidney yin vacuity which engenders heat that damages the thoroughfare and controlling vessels and gives rise to frenetic movement of the blood. YIN VACUITY ENGENDERING HEAT, WHICH DAMAGES} The flooding and spotting is characterized by sudden onset and persistent bright red discharge of varying intensity, and is accompanied by dizzy head and tinnitus, limp aching lumbus and weak knees, reddening of the cheeks, heat in the hearts of the palms and souls, and in some cases postmeridian tidal heat~effusion.

Medication:  Enrich the liver and kidney; clear heat and secure the thoroughfare vessel. Use Rehmannia and Lycium Root Bark Decoction (liâng dì täng) or Clear Sea Pill (qïng hâi wán).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on CV, SP, KI, and LR. Select CV-4 (guän yuán, Pass Head) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , BL-23 (shèn shü, Kidney Transport) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , KI-3 (tài xï, Great Ravine) , KI-2 (rán gû, Blazing Valley) , KI-10 (yïn gû, Yin Valley) , and LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) ; needle with supplementation.

gän shëng yú zuô

From Elementary Questions (sù wèn) According to the theory that the ``upbearing is on the left and downbearing is on the right,'' so that the place where liver qi moves is the left.

The liver and the eyes are intimately related. The phrase ``the liver opens at the eyes'' appears in an enumeration of five phase correspondences in Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer (jïn guì yào lüè) The Magic Pivot (líng shü) states, ``Liver qi flows to the eyes; when the liver is in harmony, the eyes can identify the five colors,'' and Elementary Questions (sù wèn) states, ``The liver receives blood, so there is sight,'' These lines emphasize that the eyes are dependent on the nourishing action of liver blood. Insufficiency of liver blood may provoke such conditions as night blindness, dry eyes, and blurred vision; liver fire flaming upward can cause reddening of the eyes and painful swelling of the eyes; ascendant liver yang can manifest as dizzy vision; and internal liver wind may cause a sideways or upward squint. Although the eyes are the specific orifice of the liver, the essential qi of all the organs is reflected in them. The Magic Pivot (líng shü) states, ``The essential qi of the five viscera and the six bowels flows up into the eyes and becomes essence.'' Thus to some degree the eyes are associated with all the organs, and apart from their special relationship with the liver, the heart and the kidney are perhaps the next most closely related. Effulgent heart fire, for instance, is associated with reddening of the eyes, and insufficiency of kidney yin is associated with diminished visual acuity. See eye.

gän mài xián

Liver disease is typically characterized by a stringlike pulse. The stringlike pulse is also associated with the season spring. This is discussed in Elementary Questions (sù wèn) and in The Classic of Difficult Issues (nàn jïng) See stringlike pulse.

gän qì

Definition: 

The qi of the liver. See liver governs free coursing.

Definition:  A disease characterized by rib-side qi distention and pain, and oppression in the chest. Usually seen in conjunction with digestive problems.

fèi qì shàng nì

Synonym:  counterflow liver qi .

Upsurge of liver qi characterized by dizziness, headache, red facial complexion, tinnitus, deafness, pain and fullness in the chest and rib-side. The pulse is stringlike and forceful. If the stomach is affected, belching, swallowing of upflowing acid, and, in severe cases, retching of blood are observed.

gän qì yù

binding depression of liver qi.

gän qì töng yú mù The Magic Pivot (líng shü) states,

``Liver qi flows to the eyes; when the liver is in harmony, the eyes can identify the five colors.'' See liver opens at the eyes.

gän qì fàn pí

Synonym:  liver-

wood exploiting the spleen .

A form of liver-spleen disharmony in which liver free coursing is excessive and liver qi moves cross counterflow and affects the spleen. Liver qi invading the spleen is characterized by headache, irascibility, bitter taste in the mouth, oppression in the chest and rib-side, glomus and fullness after eating, sloppy diarrhea, and a moderate stringlike pulse. This pattern differs from liver qi invading the stomach by a predominance of spleen signs such as distention and diarrhea.

Medication:  Use Pain and Diarrhea Formula (tòng xiè yào fäng) plus Corydalis Tuber (yán hú suô) and Saussureae (seu Vladimiriae) Radix (mù xiäng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on back transport points, SP, and ST. Needle with supplementation at BL-20 (pí shü, Spleen Transport) , CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , LR-13 (zhäng mén, Camphorwood Gate) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , SP-3 (tài bái, Supreme White) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; and with drainage or even supplemenation and drainage at BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , hzdzl}

gän qì fàn wèi

Excessive free coursing of liver qi affecting the stomach. Liver qi invading the stomach manifests in stomach signs such as stomach duct pain, vomiting of sour fluid, torpid stagnant stomach intake, aversion to food, abdominal distention, and diarrhea, in addition to liver signs such as dizziness, rib-side pain, irascibility, smaller-abdominal distention, and a stringlike pulse. If the condition persists, it may develop into liver-spleen disharmony. This condition differs from liver qi invading the spleen by a predominance of stomach signs such as vomiting of sour fluid and torpid intake.

Medication:  Use Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (chái hú shü gän sân) or Counterflow Cold Powder (sì nì sân).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on ST, LR, and PC. Needle with supplementation at BL-21 (wèi shü, Stomach Transport) , CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , ST-25 (tiän shü, Celestial Pivot) , and SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) ; and with drainage or with even supplemenation and drainage at BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , hzdzl}

gän qi4, gän yang2, gän xue4, gän yïn <

liver qi, liver yang, liver blood> The four basic aspects of the liver. Liver qi and liver yang, physiologically speaking, form a single entity, but the term liver yin is considerably broader in meaning, including the ``essence'' referred to in Elementary Questions (sù wèn) which states, ``Food qi enters the stomach and sends essence to the liver.'' The liver's yang-qi and its yin-blood under normal circumstances are interdependent and mutually counterbalancing. Liver yin and liver blood nourish liver yang qi, and also prevent it from stirring upward excessively, and when they fail to, a condition that easily develops is ascendant liver yang. At the same time, liver yin and liver blood are dependent on the liver qi's function of governing free coursing to be able to nourish the limbs, the sinews and vessels, the eyes, and the thoroughfare and controlling vessels. Diseases of the liver are most clearly understood in terms of the duality of yin and yang. The yang qualities of the liver are seen in the phrases ``the liver thrives by orderly reaching'' and is ``prone to upbearing and stirring,'' for which reasons it is said to be the unyielding viscus. The diseases on the yang side, liver qi depression and ascendant liver yang, can both affect the yin side. Liver qi depression can lead to liver blood stasis or qi can also transform into fire, damaging liver yin and liver blood. Diseases on the yin side can affect the yang side. If liver yin or liver blood are insufficient, the yang qi of the liver is no longer kept in check and bears upward. Two other liver diseases demonstrate the yin-yang duality. Liver fire is the result of a transformation of depressed liver qi or else it occurs when damp-heat becomes depressed internally. Liver fire tends to affect the blood storage function, causing vomiting of blood, nosebleed, and profuse menstruation. The other of the two diseases, liver wind, is regarded as a movement of yang qi due to severe yin-yang or qi-blood imbalance. Ascendant liver yang, liver fire flaming, and insufficiency of liver yin-blood (yin, blood or both) can all give rise to liver wind.

gän qì xié tòng

Pain at the sides of the ribs attributable to constrained affect-mind and consequent disturbance of the liver's governing of free coursing. Liver qi rib-side pain is distending pain in the rib-side associated with oppression in the chest, and reduced food intake. The pain is a periodic scurrying pain of unfixed location, relieved by belching and exacerbated by emotional stimulus.

Medication:  Course the liver and rectify qi using formulas such as Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (chái hú shü gän sân) or Free Wanderer Powder (xiäo yáo sân).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on hand and foot reverting yin PC/LR, TB, and GB. Select BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , BL-17 (gé shü, Diaphragm Transport) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , TB-6 (zhï göu, Branch Ditch) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) , and ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) . Needle with drainage.

gän qì xü

The manifestation of insufficiency of liver qi; characterized by lusterless complexion, pale lips and lack of strength, tinnitus and deafness, and tendency to fright and fear. Liver qi vacuity is often accompanied by signs of liver blood vacuity.

gän shòu xuè ér néng shì

Visual acuity is related to the state of liver blood. If liver blood is insufficient, the eyes can suffer lack of nourishment, and signs such as dry eyes, blurred vision, or night blindness arise. In liver fire flaming upward, the eyes become red with discharge. Compare liver opens at the eyes.

gän shí

Any repletion pattern of the liver, including liver cold, liver heat, liver fire, and liver qi.

gän jué and upward surging of liver qi,

characterized by reversal coldof the extremities, retching and vomiting, and dizziness and clouding as in epilepsy, sometimes with loss of consciousness. The patient usually displays yin vacuity and effulgent liver signs, and the bouts of liver reversal are often brought on by emotional stimulus.

gän jué tóu tòng

Synonym:  reversal headache .

attributed to disturbance of liver qi. Distinction is made between liver counterflow headache and reverting yin headache.

Liver counterflow headache  (gän nì tóu tòng) occurs when anger damages the liver causing liver qi to rise counterflow to the head. The pain is more pronounced on the left side of the head, and there may also be rib-side pain.

Medication:  Course the liver and downbear counterflow. Use Aquilaria Qi-Downbearing Decoction (chén xiäng jiàng qì täng), Perilla Seed Qi-Downbearing Decoction (sü zî jiàng qì täng), or Minor Bupleurum Decoction (xiâo chái hú täng).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on GB, LR, and GV. Select GV-20 (bâi huì, Hundred Convergences) , GB-20 (fëng chí, Wind Pool) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , SP-6 (sän yïn jiäo, Three Yin Intersection) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , BL-18 (gän shü, Liver Transport) , and LR-1 (dà dün, Large Pile) ; needle with drainage.

Reverting yin headache  (jué yïn tóu tòng) occurs in patients ordinarily suffering from stomach qi vacuity, when upsurge of liver qi carries with it cold turbidity qi from the stomach. The pain is at the vertex, and is accompanied by reversal cold of the limbs, and vomiting of drool and foam. See reverting yin headache.

gän pí bù hé

A generic term for liver qi invading the spleen and liver depression and spleen vacuity.

tiáo hé gän pí

harmonizing the liver and spleen.

gän wèi bù hé

A pattern arising when binding depression of the liver causes imbalance between the liver and spleen and causes counterflow and derangement of stomach qi. Liver-stomach disharmony is characterized by distending pain in both rib-sides, belching, glomus and fullness in the upper abdomen, torpid intake, stomach duct pain, swallowing of upflowing acid, and clamoring stomach. It differs from liver-spleen disharmony in the predominance of stomach signs as opposed to spleen signs.

Medication:  Course the liver and harmonize the stomach. Use Counterflow Cold Powder (sì nì sân) combined with Left-Running Metal Pill (zuô jïn wán). Alternatively, use Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (chái hú shü gän sân).

Acupuncture:  Base treatment mainly on ST, PC, LR, and SP. Select CV-12 (zhöng wân, Center Stomach Duct) , ST-36 (zú sän lî, Leg Three Li) , PC-6 (nèi guän, Inner Pass) , SP-4 (göng sün, Yellow Emperor) , LR-3 (tài chöng, Supreme Surge) , LR-14 (qï mén, Cycle Gate) , and GB-34 (yáng líng quán, Yang Mound Spring) ; needle with drainage

gän wèi qì tòng

Synonym:  qi depression stomach duct pain .

arising when affect-mind binding depression (mental or emotional imbalance) causes liver qi to invade the stomach. Systematized Patterns with Clear-Cut Treatments (lèi zhèng zhì cái) states, ``When stomach duct pain is due to the liver exploiting the stomach, there is surging qi and rib-side distention.

Medication:  Restrain the liver with acridity and sourness, using medicinals such as Evodiae Fructus (wú zhü yú), Paeoniae Radix Alba (bái sháo yào), Citri Exocarpium Immaturum (qïng pí), Chaenomelis Fructus (mù guä), Magnoliae Cortex (hòu pò), Corydalis Tuber (yán hú suô), and Fortunellae Fructus (jïn jú).'' See qi depression stomach duct pain. Compare stomach qi pain.

gän cáng xuè

The liver is capable of retaining blood and regulating the amount of blood in the body. The amount of blood in the various parts of the body varies in accordance with physiological needs. During physical exertion, blood is distributed throughout the body, meeting the increased need for nutrients. When the body is at rest or asleep, blood flows back to the liver to be stored. Therefore it is said, ``When the body moves, blood flows through the channels, and when the body is at rest, the blood flows back to the liver where it is stored''; and ``the legs receive blood and walk, the hands receive blood and grip.'' When the liver's blood-storing function is disturbed, two possible conditions may arise. In the first case, the storage capacity of the liver is reduced so that there is not enough blood in the body to supply all needs; if the blood does not nourish the eyes, such diseases as flowery vision (blurred or mottled vision), dry eyes, and night blindness may occur; if the blood fails to nourish the sinews, hypertonicity (tension, stiffness) of the sinews gives rise to inhibited bending and stretching; in women, blood may fail to flow into the thoroughfare and controlling vessels, causing reduced menstrual flow or menstrual block. In the second case, the blood-storing function of the liver is impaired, causing a tendency toward bleeding, such as profuse menstrual flow, flooding and spotting, and other forms of bleeding, such conditions being known as failure of the liver to store blood (or blood storage failure).

gän cáng hún

The ethereal soul is closely related to the liver. The Magic Pivot (líng shü) states, ``That which goes hither and thither with the spirit is called the ethereal soul.'' It also says, ``The liver stores the blood, and the blood houses the ethereal soul.'' When the liver fails to store the blood or liver blood is insufficient, there are signs such as profuse dreaming, disquieted spirit, sleep walking, and sleep talking. These signs are regarded as failure of the ethereal soul to be stored.

gän láo

Definition: 

A