['lizbeth]

Perhaps it is time for a visit to your acupuncturist? Frequent sighing could be a liver disharmony. I received regular acupuncture during treatment and it was wonderful.


Liver Patterns

Etiology

Emotions

According to Five Element theory, anger and other related emotions such as resentment, unfulfilled desires, frustration, etc. are attributed to the Liver. The relationship between an organ and its corresponding emotion is reciprocal. The Liver for instance, is responsible for the free and smooth flow of Qi, which has a deep relationship with a person's emotional state. Conversely, anger, repressed emotions, etc. affect the Liver organ itself, and disrupt the smooth flow of Qi in the body.
If Liver is functioning well, and its Qi is flowing smoothly, the emotional state will be happy, and "relaxed" or "free and easy". Emotions will be freely expressed. When Liver Qi does not freely flow, stagnation of Qi occurs, and affects the emotional state. This causes anger and irritability. Over a long period of time, stagnation of Liver Qi impairs circulation of Qi and can cause emotional states of constant low level anger, depression, and resentment. These may be transferred to and appear in the physical body, such as the chest, breasts in women, hypochondriac region, epigastric region, or throat. Stagnation of Liver Qi, therefore, produces feelings of tightness in the chest and hypochondriac region, often with frequent sighing, pain and swelling of the breasts, tension in the stomach, the sensation of a lump in the throat.

Liver Qi may "rebel" upward and cause Liver Yang to rise. Symptoms include irritability, headaches, and the propensity to lose one's temper.
Diet
Excessive greasy and hot foods can cause Liver Fire. Examples of hot foods are lamb, beef, curry, and other spices. Examples of damp or greasy foods are deep fried food, and alcohol. Not enough warming foods, such as meat and grains, can contribute to inadequate Blood production and Blood Deficiency. Blood Deficiency, in turn, can lead to Liver Blood Deficiency. Women are particularly prone to Blood Deficiency especially at puberty, after childbirth, and somewhat after each period.

Liver Qi Stagnation

Signs:

• Distention and pain in the chest and hypochondriac region
  Areas coursed by the Liver channels
• Frequent sighing
  Releasing Stagnant Qi in the chest
• Depression, moodiness, melancholy, unhappiness, and a general tense feeling
  Flow of Liver Qi affecting the emotions or vice versa
• Sensation of a lump in the throat with trouble swallowing
  Internal branch of the Liver channel ascends along the neck and throat
• nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, reduced appetite, sour reflux, belching, awareness of pulsating (abdominal aorta) in the epigastric region, a sensation of the Stomach churning
  Liver invading the Stomach
• Abdominal distention, borborygmus, diarrhea
  Liver invading the Spleen
• Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea, irregular elimination
  Liver Qi stagnating in the Intestines
• Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual breast tenderness, PMS
  Liver channel is closely associated with menstruation

Tongue

• Normal tongue body

Pulse

• Wiry pulse

Notes

This is an extremely common pattern. Wide range of symptoms, which typically fluctuate considerably in proportion to the amount of stress the person feels. the patient will have periods of depression with worsening of physical symptoms, and times when symptoms improve. Women during the premenstrual time are naturally more prone to stagnation-related problems, since at this time Blood is collecting in the uterus and Qi levels are diminishing.
Stagnation of Liver Qi over a long time induces stasis of Liver Blood
Etiology/Pathology

Emotional disharmony, especially repressed anger, resentment, frustration, over a long time, which impairs the circulation of Liver Qi.
Treatment Principle

Disperse the Liver and regulate Qi
Points

• LIV-3 (Taichong)
  Regulates Liver Qi and especially effective when the throat is involved
• GB-34 (Yanglingquan)
  Regulates Liver Qi and especially useful when the hypochondriac region in involved
• LIV-13 (Zhangmen)
  Regulates Liver Qi in Middle Jiao, especially when it affects the Stomach
• LIV-14 (Qimen)
  Regulates Liver Qi in the Middle Jiao, especially when it invades the Spleen
• SJ-6 (Zhigou)
  Regulates Liver Qi and especially affects the sides
• P-6 (Neiguan)
  Regulates Liver Qi and is especially good when emotional problems are major symptoms