Liver-Qi, eliminates stagnation and stops pain. The dosage of Bai Shao
was increased to stop pain.Mu Xiang was added to move Qi in the epigastrium and stop pain.He Huan Pi was added to move Liver-Qi and relieve irritability and
depression. This herb is particularly effective in treating depression
from Liver-Qi stagnation.Dang Shen was added to tonify Spleen-Qi to prevent it being weakened
by the stagnant Liver-Qi.This patient was treated for 1 year with minor variations to the above
treatment. With the help of some psychological counselling her
epigastric pain disappeared and she became much happier in herself.Case History 14.4
Epigastric Pain: Stagnation of Liver-Qi-Male, Age 45
A 45-year-old man had been suffering from epigastric pain for 22 years. The pain radiated from
the epigastrium to the right hypochondrial region. It was worse at night and better after eating.
He belched a lot, his stools were slightly dry and he felt very tired.
His pulse was Fine, slightly Empty at the deep level in general, and Floating-Empty and very
slightly Wiry on the right Middle position. His tongue was Red on the sides, Stiff and with a
slightly rootless coating.
Diagnosis This, like the previous one, is also a case of stagnant Liver-Qi invading
the Stomach, but with a more complex condition. The stagnation of
Liver-Qi is apparent from the radiation of the pain to the right
hypochondrium, the belching, the Red sides of the tongue and the very
slightly Wiry quality of the pulse. Because of the long duration of the
condition, the stagnant Liver-Qi has weakened not only Stomach-Qi,
but also Stomach-Yin. Stomach-Yin deficiency is apparent from the
rootless coating on the tongue, the Stiff tongue body, the aggravation of
the pain at night, the dry stools and the Floating-Empty quality on the
right Middle position of the pulse. His tiredness is obviously caused by
the long-standing deficiency of Stomach-Qi and Stomach-Yin.
Treatment principle A two-stage treatment strategy was adopted: first move Liver-Qi, with
caution so as not to injure Stomach-Yin further, and then tonify
Stomach-Yin. It was decided to start by moving Liver-Qi first rather
than tonifying Stomach-Yin to alleviate the epigastric pain.
He was treated with both acupuncture and herbs.