Chapter 14: The Liver stores and releases Blood, generates interior wind, controls muscle tension, and opens to the eyes. The Gall Bladder stores and releases bile.
Wood — Generation and Free Flow
Emotion
Anger
Flavor
Sour
Color
Green
Climate
Wind
Sensory Organ
Eye
Tissue
Muscle & tendons (nails)
Liver functions: Stores and releases Blood, Secretes bile, Generates interior wind, Controls muscle strength and tension, Opens to eye, Nourishes nails.
Gall Bladder functions: Stores and releases bile, Couples with Liver, Governs decision-making.
The Liver — An Extreme Yin Organ
Liver has a high Yin to Yang ratio and can quickly inter-transform into Yang. This is why placid people can explode suddenly over a small issue, and be quite out of character. Take care not to over-tonify Liver Yin — could get more Yang symptoms.
Interior Wind — The Free Flow of Energy
Liver Qi generates interior wind for free flow of Blood, energy and body fluid. When Liver Qi is deficient or depressed, energy, fluid or Blood stagnates: 'frog in throat', fullness in upper abdomen, emotional frustration with unvented anger, rigid movements (Parkinson's), fluid blocks (hydrocele, localized oedema), Blood blocks (varicose veins, varicocele).
Diseases of the Wood Element
Point Prescription Builder
Select Organ
Energy State
Add Symptomatic Point (optional)
Suggested Prescription
Rationale
• Tonification (Mother) point — tonifies 90% house energy of Liver.
• Mu-Front point — tonifies cooling/calming Yin of Liver.
• Back-Shu point — tonifies functional Yang of Liver.
• Influential point: GB 34 (Muscles/tendons) — treats related tissue group.
Educational use only. Point prescriptions should only be applied by licensed practitioners.
How is your anger — the Wood element emotion? Are you expressing it (growth) or suppressing it (stagnation)? How is your vision and planning (Liver) vs. decision-making (Gall Bladder)?