Liver stores blood

The liver is capable of retaining blood and regulating the amount of blood in the body. The amount of blood in the various parts of the body varies in accordance with physiological needs. During physical exertion, blood is distributed throughout the body, meeting the increased need for nutrients. When the body is at rest or asleep, blood flows back to the liver to be stored. Therefore it is said, When the body moves, blood flows through the channels, and when the body is at rest, the blood flows back to the liver where it is stored; and the legs receive blood and walk, the hands receive blood and grip.

When the liver’s blood-storing function is disturbed, two possible conditions may arise. In the first case, the storage capacity of the liver is reduced so that there is not enough blood in the body to supply all needs; if the blood does not nourish the eyes, such diseases as flowery vision (blurred or mottled vision), dry eyes, and night blindness may occur; if the blood fails to nourish the sinews, hypertonicity (tension, stiffness) of the sinews gives rise to inhibited bending and stretching; in women, blood may fail to flow into the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels, causing reduced menstrual flow or amenorrhea. In the second case, the blood-storing function of the liver is impaired, causing a tendency toward bleeding, such as profuse menstrual flow, flooding and spotting, and other forms of bleeding, such conditions being known as failure of the liver to store blood (or blood storage failure).