Liver impediment

An impediment (bì) pattern arising when in enduring impediment further contraction of evils or damage to the liver by anger causes depressed liver qì. Liver impediment is characterized by fright during sleep at night, thirst with increased fluid intake, frequent urination, rib-side pain, and enlarged abdomen.

Medicinal therapy: Course the liver and dispel the evil using Five Impediments Decoction (五痹汤 wǔ bì tāng) with the addition of spiny jujube (Ziziphi Spinosi Semen, 酸枣仁 suān zǎo rén) and bupleurum (Bupleuri Radix, 柴胡 chái hú) or with Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (柴胡疏肝散 chái hú shū gān sǎn). For vacuity patterns, use Liver-Supplementing Powder (补肝散 bǔ gān sǎn), whereas for fire patterns, use Green-Blue–Draining Pill (泻青丸 xiè qīng wán) or Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction (龙胆泻肝汤 lóng dǎn xiè gān tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LR, GB, and SP. Select BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and SP-5 (Shang Hill, 商丘 shāng qiū); needle with drainage. For vacuity patterns, supplement BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), and BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù). For fire patterns, drain LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), GB-43 (Pinched Ravine, 侠溪 xiá xī), and TB-6 (Branch Ditch, 支沟 zhī gōu).