and Spleen when the irregular diet is associated with emotional strain.

Overwork and Excessive Sexual Activity

Both overwork and excessive sexual activity weaken Liver-Yin (as well as Kidney-Yin).
Longterm deficiency of Liver-Yin may induce a secondary stagnation of Liver-Qi.

Secondary stagnation of Liver-Qi may also arise from a deficiency of Liver-Blood. This is very
common in women suffering from Blood deficiency, which, in itself, may be caused by poor
diet, childbirth or blood loss.

In terms of pathology, hypochondrial pain is always related to a Liver disharmony. A feeling of
distension in this area indicates stagnation of Qi, while an intense, stabbing pain indicates Blood
stasis. A feeling of fullness in this area indicates Damp-Heat.

The typical pulse of Liver-Qi stagnation is Wiry. There are many cases, however, when the
symptoms all point very clearly to Liver-Qi stagnation and the pulse is not Wirty but Weak or
Choppy. This indicates that, in such cases, Liver-Qi stagnation is secondary to either
Liver-Blood or Liver-Yin deficiency. In such cases, although all symptoms point to Liver-Qi
stagnation the pulse, being Weak or Choppy or Fine, reflects a deficiency of Liver-Blood or
Liver-Yin.

Deficiency of Liver-Blood leading to stagnation of Liver-Qi is very common especially in
women.

Differentiation and Treatment

There are three Full patterns and one Empty pattern.

EXCESS TYPE

Stagnation of Liver-Qi

Stasis of Blood

Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gall-Bladder

DEFICIENCY TYPE

Deficiency of Liver-Blood

Deficiency of Liver-Yin