Harmonizing the liver and stomach

A method of treatment used to address disharmony between the liver and stomach from impaired liver free coursing and stomach qì downbearing, characterized by the classic liver sign of distending pain in the chest and rib-side, and by stomach signs such as pain, fullness, and distension in the stomach duct, poor appetite, belching, vomiting of sour matter, or retching and nausea.

Medicinal therapy: Liver-coursing medicinals such as evodia (Evodiae Fructus, 吴茱萸 wú zhū yú) and perilla (Perillae Folium, Caulis et Calyx, 紫苏 zǐ sū) are used in combination with stomach-harmonizing medicinals such as pinellia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 半夏 bàn xià) or fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 生姜 shēng jiāng), or with stomach heat-clearing medicinals such as coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma, 黄连 huáng lián) and bamboo shavings (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia, 竹茹 zhú rú). The emphasis may be variously placed on coursing the liver, harmonizing the stomach, or clearing the stomach, depending on the nature of the pattern. Four-Seven Decoction (四七汤 sì qī tāng) is prescribed for conditions with prominent depression of liver qì, whereas Left-Restoring [Kidney Yīn] Pill (左归丸 zuǒ guī wán) is used to treat patterns in which impaired harmonious downflow of stomach qì is prominent.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on ST, LR, and PC. Needle with supplementation at BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and with drainage or with even supplementation and drainage at BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), LR-14 (Cycle Gate, 期门 qī mén), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), and GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán).