Heat, called Latent Heat. This Latent Heat then resurfaces after some months, typically (but not
exclusively) in springtime, with symptoms of extreme tiredness, thirst and irritability. This is
also discussed in a separate chapter (see Chapter 25).
Liver-Qi Stagnation
Clinical Manifestations
Tiredness which is worse in the afternoon, depression, feeling of distension under the rib-cage or
chest, sighing, nausea, poor appetite, belching, abdominal distension, "feeling wound-up",
pre-menstrual tension and distension of the breasts in women.
Tongue: the body colour may be normal or, if severe, slightly Red on the sides.
Pulse: Wiry, especially on the left side. In women, the pulse may often feel Choppy or Fine. This
reflects deficiency of Liver-Blood, which in women is often the underlying cause of Liver-Qi
stagnation.
The tiredness deriving from stagnation of Liver-Qi is due to the impairment of the proper
movement and direction of Qi. Liver-Qi aids the smooth flow of Qi and the
ascending-descending of Qi. Tiredness is thus due not to a deficiency of Qi but to obstruction of
Qi.
In men stagnation of Liver-Qi is usually a primary condition, i.e. it arises independently from
emotional problems. It is often due to a state of tension over pressures at work or in the family. It
may also be due to frustration over repression of the feminine side of a man on a psychological
level.
In women, Liver-Qi stagnation is more often than not secondary to Liver-Blood deficiency.
Liver-Blood and Liver-Qi represent the Yin and Yang aspects of the Liver and the two need to
be harmonized. In particular, Liver-Blood needs to "anchor" or "embrace" Qi. If Liver-Blood is
deficient and fails to embrace Qi, Liver-Qi becomes stagnant. Since this stagnation is secondary
to Choppy or Fine even though the woman may display characteristic and prominent symptoms
of Liver-Qi stagnation such as irritability, premenstrual tension and distension of the breasts.
The main characteristics of tiredness deriving from Liver-Qi stagnation are that it is worse in the
afternoon especially between about 3 and 5 pm. It is relieved by slight exercise and it is
associated with some mental depression or irritability.
In women suffering from deficiency of Liver-Blood, it is particularly beneficial to lie down
around 1 to 3 pm in the afternoon. This has the effect of bringing the Blood back to the Liver and
restoring energy.