Spring is all about the WOOD element

The season of beginnings + renewal

The YIN organ system of WOOD is the LIVER:
* spring season
* wind shows disharmony
* color green
* responds to the sour taste
* opens into the eyes
* controls the sinews
* emotion of anger

WOOD /|\ LIVER

The functions of the TCM LIVER organ system is very different from the western functions

The LIVER store our blood + regulates blood volume, it nourishes our eyes and tendons, plays a role in our immunity, regulates our menstrual cycle, it ensures a smooth flow of Qi, balances our emotions, and ensure clear vision

In TCM, we do not “detoxify” the LIVER, but we rather harmonize it to ensure smooth flow of Qi and Blood

Chinese Medicine precedes the knowledge of hormones

Hormones (secretin) where “discovered” in 1902 (PMID: 11129062) and estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone were identified in the 1920’s/1930’s (PMID: 15940278)

The first documentation of Chinese Medicine was in the 3rd Century BC (over 2000 years ago) (1)

In TCM, the LIVER is directly correlated to menstruation. We do not “treat hormones”, we treat the LIVER which has an influence on “hormones”

How so? (2)
The Liver stores the blood.

If the blood of the Liver is deficient, there can be amenorrhea or scanty bleeding.

If the blood of the Liver is in excess or hot, there will be heavy periods.

If the blood of the Liver is stagnant, there will be pain.

If the Qi of the Liver is stagnant, the blood of the Liver will become stagnant, and then you will experience PMS and clots.

The Liver has an influence on both the Conception Vessel and the Penetrating Vessel, the two extraordinary vessels that relate to the Uterus.

Yes, we can understand and correlate your hormone health to your TCM pattern, but we always treat you according to our TCM diagnosis.

“The LIVER ensures the smooth flow of Qi” (1)

It assists in the descent of Lung Qi, the ascent of Spleen Qi, the descent of Stomach Qi, and the descent of Intestine Qi

Smooth flow of LIVER Qi will affect the emotions, the digestion, and the secretion of bile

(1) Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 120). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

When your Doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine asks to see your tongue, the left side of the tongue reflects the state of the Liver.

When your doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine feels your pulse, the Liver energy is felt on the left wrist.

When you’re presenting with migraines or headaches primarily on the left side of your head, this can indicate that the Liver is involved in a disharmony.
And if the migraines or headaches occur in windy weather, we absolutely correlate this to a Liver disharmony, as the Liver dislikes the wind.

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 126). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

What can cause Liver disharmonies?

• windy weather | this will not affect the Liver directly, but rather aggravate an existing Internal Wind pattern. It can also stir the blood, giving rise to skin rashes or aggravate existing skin issues

• emotions | anger is the predominant emotion that can bind the Liver Qi, but it is also affected by worry and sadness

• diet | overindulgence in spicy food, red meat, and alcohol, can disrupt the Liver, but so can a lack of grain and meat in your diet

• blood loss | especially after child birth, which can lead to Liver blood deficiency. In TCM, the restoration of blood after giving birth is very important. It is crucial to support the Liver blood when treating post partum anxiety and depression

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 502-503). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

The LIVER meridian begins at the big toe, travels along the inside of the leg, all the way up to the groin to curve around the genitals. It will continue on to curve around the stomach and enters the liver and gallbladder. It passes through the diaphragm where it will branch to cover the hypochondriac and costal regions. It will continue traveling upwards to the throat and then the eyes. It will end at the very top of the head.

Since the Liver meridian covers you from head to toe, we can use points along the meridian to treat:
* issues concerning the genitals
* treat a headache presenting at the top of the head
* treat the eyes
* treat issues presenting on the leg, uterus, abdomen, chest, and throat

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 1061). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Image of book: Pálos, S. (1994). Consilium CEDIP acupuncturae: Therapie in Wort und Bild. Ismaning bei München: CEDIP, Med.-Techn. Verl.- und Handelsges.

The 5th point on the Liver meridian is commonly used for genitourinary issues (UTI, BV, hernia, retention of urine, etc), as it has the ability to clear Damp Heat.

This point also has the function of promoting the smooth flow of Liver Qi, and since the Liver meridian goes all the way up to the throat, this point is great at resolving a “lump in throat”.

We call this sensation “plum pit Qi” and it is due to emotional tension causing Liver constraint. Severe cases of Plum Pit Qi can also impede on the ability to swallow food or drink.

The Four Gates /|\ keep your calm

If you’re my patient, then you have heard me talk about the Four Gates

This treatment protocol consists of Liver 3 + Large Intestine 4

They are both source points, expel wind, and calm the mind. When used together, they can treat:
• expel interior wind (bell’s palsy)
• expel exterior wind (headaches)
• stop pain (menstrual pain)
• calm the mind (anxiety, irritability, worry, overwhelm)

Large Intestine 4 will induce labor, and should never be needled or massaged while pregnant. Liver 3 will invigorate blood in the uterus, and can ease pain (menstrual cramps or labor pains)

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 901, 1064). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

Scleranthus | Cerato | Cherry Plum /|\ flower essences

You might know by now, if you’ve been reading my posts, that Liver imbalances can be highly influenced by the wind.

We see moving pain, skin issues, headaches, deviation, and irritability when the Liver is affected by wind.

Many points on the Liver meridian will extinguish wind, both internal + external.

The flower Essence of Scleranthus is known to diminish wind disorders:
• emotional instability
• erratic thoughts
• lack of coordination

These little bottles of support, are a great way to send patients home with a remedy. Custom blended after a treatment, and you’ll feel empowered.

Noriega, P., & Colebeck, L. (2016). Bach flower essences and Chinese medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

Free + Easy Wanderer /|\ SOOTHE LIVER QI

This 8 ingredient formula is one of my favorite formulas to have on hand.

XIAO YAO SAN:
• soothe the Liver
• spread Liver Qi
• strengthen the Spleen
• nourish the Blood
• harmonize Liver + Spleen

We use this formula for: anxiety, irritability, pms, neck tension, abdominal bloating, headaches, breast distribution, depression, tightness in the chest

Disclaimer: all of these symptoms above need to be diagnosed by a Doctor of Acupuncture + Chinese medicine, as we need to look at your tongue + feel your pulse to diagnose you. This formula does come with cautions! (Breast cancer patients consult with your Oncologist + Acupuncturist before using)

A study published in 2019, showed that XYS was comparable in treating anxiety + depression to sertraline (SSRI). It actually worked faster with longer lasting effects for anxiety.
PMID: 32186013

I like to make patients a tea of this formula as it can take the edge off of stress + irritability. It allows you to walk freely + untethered by constraint through life. This formula dates back to the Song Dynasty around 1078-1085 BC.

I caution that you should be diagnosed by a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine when considering this formula.

The reason being that we need to distinguish your presentation. Let’s look at depression:

“Depression” can range from mild despondency to severe despair, and as licensed Acupuncturists + herbalist, we break down depression into two categories: FULL or EMPTY

FULL | Liver Qi stagnation, Stagnant Liver Qi turning to heat, Liver Qi stagnation with Qi-Phlegm, Phlegm-Fire harassing the Mind, Heart Blood stagnation, Gall Bladder Heat, Diaphragm Heat

EMPTY | Spleen + Heart Blood deficiency, Heart Yang deficiency, Liver Blood deficiency, Kidney + Heart Yin deficiency, Kidney Yang deficiency

With all these pattern differentiations, you might understand why a diagnosis is crucial to your correct + effective care

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

From a spiritual aspect, the Liver houses the Ethereal Soul - the Hun

The Ethereal Soul is “Yang in nature and […] enter the body three days after birth and is imparted to the baby by the father. […] The Ethereal Soul is described es as the ‘coming and going of the Mind (Shen)’”

It is anchored by the Blood + Yin of the Liver; if the Liver Blood of deficient, the Hun is not anchored + wanders at night (dreaming a lot)

The Hun influences our planning + purpose of life, as it is the source of our goals, visions, creativity, and aspirations.

Maciocia, G. (2005). The foundations of Chinese medicine. (pp. 100, 124). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

Maybe you have noticed by now, that all my Element /|\ Organ system posts have a specific color theme

There is a specific color, which we can use as a diagnostic tool, that each Organ System correlates to. It is typically observed in the complexion of our face.

WOOD | GREEN
• greenish complexion - Liver Qi stagnation
• greenish vaginal discharge - Dampness in the Liver meridian

WATER | BLACK
• grayish/dark under eyes or cheeks - Kidney Yin deficiency
• dark bluish cheeks - Kidney Yang deficiency

METAL | WHITE
• pale white cheeks - Lung Qi deficiency

EARTH | YELLOW
• dull yellow forehead, cheeks, or chin - Spleen deficiency
• bright yellow forehead, cheeks or chin - Damp-Heat

FIRE | RED
• red complexion - Heart Fire