Lecture on the Liver Channel in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Introduction

• Focus on the foot jue yin liver channel.
• Overview plan:
  • General functions and characteristics of the liver channel.
  • Channel pathways (primary, law connecting, sinew, divergent).
  • Individual point functions and indications.
• Optional slides available online.

General Characteristics and Functions of the Liver Channel

Liver as the General

• Chapter 8 of the Su Wen: "The liver holds the office of general and is the issuer of strategy and planning."
• Healthy Liver: Firm, resolute, but relaxed and quiet.
• Disharmonious Liver: Angry, shouting, barking orders.
• Liver qualities reflected in patients' behavior.

Liver's Responsibilities

• Managing Resources: Liver manages reserves of yin blood.
• Free Coursing: Governs free coursing (regulating and moving qi, maintaining free flow).
• Related to Sinews: Dominates and nourishes sinews (affected by liver blood's quality).
• Nails: Condition of nails reflects liver health.
• Eyes: Liver health impacts vision and eye health.

Liver's Emotional and Physical Associations

• Holds the Hun (Ethereal Soul): Related to courage, timidity, sleep (insomnia due to wandering hun).
• Wood Phase: Represents growth, flexibility, associated with wind.
• Emotions: Anger, irritability, frustration, resentment, depression, mood swings.
• Pathological Signs: Blood storage issues impacting menses, free flow issues impacting emotions and overall body functions, liver yang rising causing head symptoms.

Channel Pathways

Primary Pathway

• Starting Point: Liver 1 at the hairy region of the big toe.
• Pathway: Up foot, medial leg, around external genitalia, up abdomen, into liver and gallbladder organs, also enters the stomach.
• Connections: Hypochondriac region, throat, eye system, vertex (DU-20), wraps around inner lips, branch connecting to lung.
• Notable Points: Connections with external genitals, lower jiao, chest and flanks, and specific conditions like throat issues, visual symptoms, vertex headache.

Secondary Pathways

• Law Connecting Channel: Starts at Liver 5, links to gallbladder channel, travels up leg to genitals.
• Divergent Channel: Diverges on top of foot, ascends to pubic region, merges with gallbladder channel.
• Sinew Channel: Up from big toe, binds at ankle, knee, and genitals.

Pathologies and Indications

• Pathological symptoms typically include lower back pain, chest fullness, genital issues, hernia pain, vertex headache, throat dryness, hiccups, mental disturbances.

Liver Point Functions

Key Acupuncture Points on the Liver Channel

Liver 1 (Big Mound)

• Location: 0.1 cun from the corner of the big toe nail.
• Functions: Regulates qi in the lower jiao, treats hernia, genital issues, regulates menstruation, revives consciousness, calms the shen.
• Indications: Excess conditions like uterine bleeding, painful menses, and genital issues.

Liver 2 (Moving Between)

• Location: Between first and second toe.
• Functions: Clears liver fire, descends liver yang, spreads liver qi, clears heat and damp heat, cools blood.
• Indications: Headache, dizziness, red eyes, liver fire and yang rising, liver qi stagnation, liver blood heat symptoms.

Liver 3 (Great Rushing)

• Location: In the hollow distal to the junction of first and second metatarsals.
• Functions: Moves liver qi, subdues liver yang, extinguishes wind, nourishes liver blood and yin, regulates lower jiao.
• Indications: Liver qi stagnation, emotional disturbance, headache, dizziness, menstruation and urination problems.
• Notable: Part of the Four Gates point combination, Madong Yang's Heavenly Star Point.

Liver 4 (Middle Seal)

• Location: Around the ankle, medial to tibialis anterior tendon.
• Functions: Spreads liver qi, clears heat in lower jiao.
• Indications: Lower abdominal pain, genital pain, inguinal hernia.

Liver 5 (Woodworm Canal)

• Location: 5 cun above the ankle.
• Functions: Moves liver qi, benefits genitals, clears damp heat, treats plum pit qi.
• Indications: Itching, painful genitals, urination issues, emotional disorders causing throat issues.

Liver 6 (Central Capital)

• Location: 7 cun above the medial malleolus.
• Functions: Not prominently used clinically.
• Indications: Lower jiao pain, blood stasis, dampness issues.

Liver 7 (Knee Gate)

• Location: Posterior to spleen 9.
• Functions: Benefits knee, dispels wind-damp.
• Indications: Knee pain, swelling due to external wind-cold-damp-heat.

Liver 8 (Spring at the Crook)

• Location: Superior to medial popliteal crease.
• Functions: Clears damp-heat, regulates menstruation, invigorates blood, nourishes blood and yin.
• Indications: Lower jiao damp heat, menstrual issues, blood stasis.

Liver 13 (Camphorwood Gate)

• Location: Anterior/inferior to free end of 11th rib.
• Functions: Harmonizes liver and spleen, fortifies spleen.
• Indications: Liver overacting on spleen, digestive issues.

Liver 14 (Cycle Gate)

• Location: 6th intercostal space.
• Functions: Harmonizes liver and stomach, regulates liver qi.
• Indications: Rebellious stomach qi, epigastric distension, liver qi stagnation.

Conclusion

• Learned the liver channel pathways and how they relate to point functions and indications.
• Covered primary functions of liver channel points and how to address specific pathologies related to liver channel (e.g., genital, urination, menstrual, emotional issues).
• Essential understanding of liver channel helps in diagnosing and treating related TCM conditions.