Rebellious Qi
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 concept of Qi
Key attributes
Chinese name: 气逆 Pinyin name: Qì Nì
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: General pattern with specific forms like Rebellious Liver Qi or Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Spleen
Causes
Common causes: 1. External Evils, 2. Eating habits, 3. Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Nausea Asthma Belching Vomiting Coughing and one other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Normal (light red), Red sides
Treatment
Treatment principle: Circulate and descend Qi for the Lungs, Stomach and Liver
Common formulas: Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang and two other formulas
Pathology
Rebellious Qi is an Excess/Full condition and it is another form of Qi Stagnation. In this case, Qi flows in the wrong direction from the normal physiological one for a given Organ or Channel.
The Organs whose Qi should descend are Stomach, Lungs, Heart, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Kidneys and Bladder. The Rebellious Qi travels upwards and it mostly happens to the Stomach and the Lungs. When the normal downward flow of Stomach Qi is disrupted, nausea, vomiting, belching or hiccupping results. In case of Rebellious Lung Qi, there are the typical symptoms of coughing and asthma.
Rebellious ascending Kidney Qi can also happen and it causes asthma as well. Ascending Heart Qi gives rise to anxiety, restlessness and insomnia.
When the Spleen Qi is rebellious, it goes downwards instead of ascending. It leads to diarrhea and prolapse.
The Liver is a special Organ as its normal physiological Qi goes in all directions, especially upwards. It is because one of its main function is to ensure the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body, in all Organs and in all directions.
Rebellious Liver Qi mostly refers to excessive Qi ascending and it causes symptoms like headache, dizziness, irritability or even faint. It is often caused by emotional stress
In normal times Liver Qi travels horizontally to assists the the Stomach and the Spleen's digestive functions. However, when excessive Liver Qi invades the Stomach, it causes nausea, belching and vomiting. It is one of the precursor patterns for Stomach Qi rebelling upwards.
Excessive Liver can also invades the Spleen and gives rise to symptoms like diarrhoea or alternating constipation and diarrhea.
Sometimes Blood may also travel with rebellious Qi upwards and cause vomiting of blood.
Use Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang for Rebellious Lung Qi. Use Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang or Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang for Rebellious Stomach Qi. Use Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang or Si Ni Tang for Rebellious Liver Qi.
Causes
External Evils : It is mainly the cause of Rebellions Qi of the Lungs. Due to external Evils (Wind, Cold, Heat, Dryness etc) invading the Lung, the normal descending of Lung Qi is disturbed, hence the symptoms of coughing or asthma. External Evils can also hurt the Stomach and cause Stomach Qi Rebellions.
Eating habits: Unhealthy eating habit can give rise to Stomach Qi rebelling upwards. It includes overeating but it can also be due to eating too quickly, eating in a hurry or eating while worried or stressed.
Emotional stress : When the emotional stresses such as Anger, Joy, Sadness, Worry, Pensiveness, Fear, Shock , are very intensive over a short period of time, it can cause Rebellious Qi. For example, Anger, frustration, worry and resentment can largely disturb the Liver's Qi regulation functions and cause Rebellious Liver Qi.
Diagnosing Rebellious Qi
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)
Tongue color: Normal (light red), Red sides
Main symptoms: Nausea Asthma Belching Vomiting Coughing Hiccuping
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the nausea, vomiting, belching and coughing.
Treating Rebellious Qi
Treatment principle
Circulate and descend Qi for the Lungs, Stomach and Liver
Herbal formulas used to treat Rebellious Qi
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Source date: 1602
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood. Alleviates pain. Harmonizes Blood.
Formula summary
Chai Hu Shu Gan San is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1602, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement.
Besides Rebellious Qi, Chai Hu Shu Gan San is also used to treat Liver Blood Stagnation or Heart Vessel obstructed.
Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Regulates the downward flow of Stomach Qi. Expectorant, treats hiccups.
Formula summary
Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas for a rebellious Qi.
Besides Rebellious Qi, Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang is also used to treat Phlegm-Fluids in the Stomach and Small intestine or Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach.
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Directs rebellious Qi downward. Arrests wheezing. Stops coughing. Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold.
Formula summary
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 650 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas for a rebellious Qi.
Besides Rebellious Qi, Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang is also used to treat Kidneys failing to receive Qi or Rebellious Lung Qi.
