Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Liver in Chinese Medicine The concept of Wind The concept of Liver Blood Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肝风内动 - 血虚生风 Pinyin name: Gān Fēng Nèi Dòng - Xuè Xū Shēng Fēng
Pattern nature: Full/Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver Blood Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Diet, 2. Emotional stress, 3. Physical over-exertion, 4. Profuse Blood lose
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Insomnia Dizziness Facial tic Fine tremor Poor memory and four other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale and thin tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: Nourish Liver Blood, extinguish Wind
Common formulas: E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang Bu Gan Tang Si Wu Tang
Pathology
If there is Liver Blood Deficiency, especially if the condition lasts a long time without being treated, the Blood vessels become 'empty' and the space is taken over by Internal Wind. Like an empty building will often get a lot of wind in its corridors, the concept here is the same.
This kind of Wind is less severe compared to the one caused by Internal Fire. Patients typically get tremors, same for all Internal Wind patterns, but in this case they are less important.
The typical manifestations for Liver Wind are tremor, tic, numbness or tingling, dizziness, convulsions or paralysis.
While the typical symptom of Liver Blood Deficiency are blurred vision, poor memory, scanty period, insomnia and etc.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency can derive from Liver Blood Deficiency
Diet: The Spleen is responsible for making Blood which then get stored in the Liver. The Spleen function can be largely weakened due to a diet poor in nutrition or lacking in Blood generating foods, such as red meat or grains. As a result, less Blood for the Liver. Then Liver Blood Deficiency occurs. If not treated for some years, it become internal Liver Wind.
Emotional stress: Emotional stress such as sadness and grief can consume Liver Blood directly. On the other hand, these emotions may also first harm Qi, which then resulting in poor Blood formation. Both actions cause Liver Blood Deficiency. If not treated for some years, it leads to internal Liver Wind.
Physical over-exertion: Excessive physical exercise mainly harms the Spleen Yang. As a result, the Spleen's foods transforming and transporting function is impaired, thus less Blood can be generated and stored in the Liver. Excessive exercise also injures the sinews. Since the Liver controls, moistens and nourishes sinews, which in long run, can give rise to Liver Blood Deficiency. If not treated for years, it can eventually agitate internal Liver Wind.
Profuse Blood lose: The Liver stores the Blood. Therefore a serious haemorrhage, such as long term heavy periods, can lead to Liver Blood Deficiency. If not treated for many years, it can agitate internal Liver Wind.
Diagnosing Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: Pale and thin tongue
Main symptoms: Insomnia Dizziness Facial tic Fine tremor Poor memory Blurred vision Scanty periods Tingling of limbs Numbness in the limbs
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the fine tremor, facial tic, blurred vision and insomnia.
Treating Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Treatment principle
Nourish Liver Blood, extinguish Wind
Herbal formulas used to treat Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency
Si Wu Tang
Source date: 846 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Restores and nourishes Blood. Stimulates Blood circulation.
Formula summary
Si Wu Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 846 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency, Si Wu Tang is also used to treat Blood Deficiency or Blood Stagnation.
Bu Gan Tang
Source date: 1742 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and regulates the Blood. Nourishes the Liver Yin.
Formula summary
Bu Gan Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1742 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Blood.
Besides Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency, Bu Gan Tang is also used to treat Liver Blood Deficiency or Interior Wind.
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Source date: the Qing dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin. Nourishes Blood. Calms the Liver. Extinguishes Wind.
Formula summary
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in the Qing dynasty, it belongs to the category of formulas that pacify and extinguish Internal Wind.
Besides Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Blood Deficiency, E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang is also used to treat Interior Wind or Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising.
Diet recommendations
Same diet suggestion as under Liver Blood Deficiency. It is recommended to take lamb, clang gui and ginger soup, bone soups, milk, black and aduki beans, congee, all cooked foods. Also be careful to not skip meals.
Try other therapies such as meditation, contemplation, oil massage, moxibustion over the lower abdomen and kidneys.
Avoid aerobic and strenuous exercises as they stir up more Wind. Mild movement and stretches are recommended such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.