The Common Liver Syndromes

1 - Liver Energy Congestion

Primary Symptoms: Acute dull pain and distension whilst eating – particularly over the right flank, heartburn, acid regurgitation, nausea, constipation, fat intolerance, jaundice, moodiness, headache- especially if frontal or occipital, amenorrhoea, loss of willpower and depression.

Individual herbs: Celandine, Blessed Thistle, Milk Thistle, Barberry, Yellow Gentian, Wormwood, Wilde Als and Peppermint.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Liver and Gall, Resist and Recover, Natural Antibiotics, Lower the Pressure, Anti-Fungal, Worms Out.

Foods: Favour cooling and drying foods. Avoid stimulants and greasy, oily or fried foods.

2 - Liver Fire Flaming Upward

Primary Symptoms: Red face, constipation or small, dark stool, High blood pressure, Intense congestive headaches, sweating, thirst, feverishness, irritability, delirious speech.

Individual herbs: Kelp, Bladderwrack, Cascara Sagrada bark, Rhubarb root, Yellow Gentian, Goldenseal, Barberry, Dandelion Root, Passionflower, Mistletoe.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Peristalsis, Liver and Gall, Natural Antibiotic,

Foods: Favour cooling and moistening foods

3 - Liver Blood Deficiency

Primary Symptoms: Fatigue, dizziness, a dull, white or sallow complexion, anaemia, pale lips, nails and lower eyelids, scanty, delayed, irregular or absent periods, cold extremities, emotional apathy, shallow breathing, palpitations, weakness, premature ageing or mental dullness.

Individual herbs: Stinging nettle, Alfalfa, Fenugreek seed, Ashwagandha, Spirulina, Artichoke leaf, Rehmannia root, Alfalfa, Chicory root and Dang Gui.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Herbal Multi, Moisten and Soothe, Elixir, Stamina, Nerve Nourish, Digestion and Absorption.

Foods: Favour blood-building foods such as: Beef, mutton, chicken liver, black sesame seeds, chive seed, mulberry, raspberry, royal jelly, strawberry, beef, eggs, grape, ham, oxtail, oyster and spinach.

4 - Liver Yin Deficiency

Primary Symptoms: Loss of stamina, worsening energy as the day progresses, loss of motivation, excessive introversion, increase of appetite – whilst remaining underweight, frequent infections, dizziness, blurred vision, headache that drags on, ringing in the ears, insomnia, night sweats, absent or delayed menstruation, or hot sensation in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

Individual herbs: Artichoke leaf, Alfalfa, Chicory root, Chickweed, Liquorice Root, Kelp, Marshmallow root, Astragalus root and Schisandra Berry.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Moisten and Soothe, Herbal Multi.

Foods: Favour moistening foods. Avoid drying foods and particulary warming and drying foods, such as coffee and alcohol.

5 - Liver Yang Upsurging (Yin Deficiency of the Liver and the Kidneys Affecting Liver Yang)

Primary Symptoms: Anger, reddish complexion, mental depression, hot sensations in the body, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, forgetfulness and/or deafness.

Individual herbs: Mistletoe, Yellow Gentian, Yarrow, Dang Gui, plus those for liver yin deficiency, listed above.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Lower the pressure, Headache and Migraine Ease, Liver and gall, Moisten and Soothe.

Foods: Favour cooling and moistening foods. Avoid warming and drying foods.

6 - Internal Liver Wind Blowing

Primary Symptoms: Shaking, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, tremors, jumping or twitching muscles, high fever, numbness of limbs, eyes flickering and looking sideways or up, convulsions, partial paralysis, grinding or clenching of teeth, pale complexion, epilepsy, hysteria or fainting.

Individual herbs: Asafoetida, Basil, Black Cohosh, Cramp Bark, Hops, Jamaican Dogwood, Feverfew, Lily of the Valley, Passionflower, Rue, Skullcap, Valerian, Wilde Als and Wormwood.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Tension Ease, Anxiety Ease, Heart Strengthen, Pain Ease, Headache and Migraine Ease, Brain Circulation.

Foods: Favour grease-free and bland foods, such as apple, banana, beef, brown sugar, cabbages, cottage cheese, cow’s milk, fish, fruit, honey, lean meats, lemon, lettuce, millet, noodles, peach, pear, rice, pork, oranges, sweet potato, soybean, tomato, tofu, vegetables, watermelon and wheat. Avoid hot and spicy foods, stimulants, mushrooms, spinach, shrimp and lobster.

7 - Cold Obstructing the Liver Meridian

Primary Symptoms: Abdominal pain, menstrual pain, testicular/scrotal stretching pain, headache involving top of head – to front and sides, cold limbs, scrotal hernia, pale complexion, watery stools, long, clear streams of urine.

Secondary Symptoms: Lethargy and fatigue in the morning, drowsiness after meals, oestrogen deficiency, amenorrhoea, depression or weepiness.

Individual herbs: Calamus, Rosemary, Horseradish root, Angelica root, Garlic bulb, Cardamom pod, Elecampane and Ginger root.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Digestion and Absorption, Classic Warmth, Stamina, Herbal Multi,

Foods: Favour warming foods, especially beef, beef liver, chicken egg, grape, ham, oxtail, soybean and spinach.

8 - Damp Heat Attacking the Liver and Gallbladder

Primary Symptoms: Slow painful digestion, epigastric bloating, poor appetite, nausea, poor appetite and/or sour regurgitation.

Individual herbs: Golden Seal, Berberis, Pau d’Arco, Celandine, Yellow Gentian, Centaury, Blessed Thistle, Dandelion Root, Yellow Dock, Blue Flag root and Milk Thistle.

Energetic Herbals Formulae: Liver and Gall, Natural Antibiotic, Anti-Bacterial and Viral.

Foods: Favour cooling and drying foods.