Effulgent heart-liver fire

A disease pattern chiefly characterized by insomnia; distension and fullness in the chest and rib-side; and generalized heat effusion.

Description: Insomnia; distension and fullness in the chest and rib-side; generalized heat effusion; red face and red eyes; thirst; bitter taste in the mouth; vexation and agitation; irascibility; reddish urine. There may also be mania, vomiting of blood, or spontaneous external bleeding.

Pathogenesis: The main factors are

• impaired free coursing due to excesses among the seven affects, giving rise to depressed liver qì that transforms into fire; and
• excessive consumption of deep-fried foods, hot spicy food, sweet fatty foods, pickles, processed foods.

Analysis of signs

• Heart fire: Insomnia; vexation and agitation.
• Liver fire: Red eyes; bitter taste in the mouth; irascibility.
• Frenetic movement of hot blood: Vomiting of blood; spontaneous external bleeding.
• Tongue: Red with yellow fur.
• Pulse: Stringlike and rapid.

Comparison: Liver fire flaming upward is also characterized by heat effusion, red eyes, thirst, reddish urine, and dry stool. Effulgent heart-liver fire differs by the additional presence of signs of heart fire flaming upward, such as insomnia, mania, vomiting of blood, and spontaneous external bleeding.

Treatment

Medicinal therapy: Clear the liver, drain fire, and quiet the heart. Use Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction (黄连解毒汤 huáng lián jiě dú tāng).

Comparison: Effulgent heart-liver fire is similar to liver fire flaming upward. Both have heat effusion, red eyes, thirst, yellow urine, and dry stool. Effulgent heart-liver fire differs by the additional presence of signs of heart fire flaming upward such as insomnia, mania, and blood ejection or spontaneous external bleeding.