What is the liver of traditional Chinese medicine?
The liver is located in the upper abdomen, below the diaphragm. Its main physiological function is to drain and store blood, enlighten the liver to the eyes, bind the muscles in the body, and shine in the claws. The liver and gallbladder are directly connected, both inside and outside. The meridians of the liver run along the hypochondriac, lower abdomen and external genitalia, so the diseases in these parts are mostly treated from the liver. The liver governs the discharge, which generally refers to the comprehensive physiological functions such as the discharge, ascending and discharging of liver qi. The ancients compared the function of the liver with the image of wood spirit and ideographic expression, so it belongs to wood in the five elements. Therefore, the Secret Book of Su Wen Ling Lan says: "The liver is the official of the general, and the Theory of Six Dirty Images of Su Wen says:" The liver is the foundation of the extreme, and the soul is also the home. "The function of the liver governing the discharge is mainly manifested in three aspects: regulating mental mood, promoting digestion and absorption, and maintaining the operation of qi, blood and body fluid. 1. Adjust the spirit and mood. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that people's spiritual activities are not only dominated by the heart, but also related to the excretory function of the liver. If this function of the liver is normal, the human body can better coordinate its own mental and emotional activities, showing cheerful, comfortable and sensitive; If you can't relieve yourself, it will be manifested as depression, sentimentality, boredom, belching, breathlessness, chest tightness and so on. Excessive catharsis is manifested as excitement, such as irritability, dizziness and pain, insomnia and dreaminess. 2. Promote digestion and absorption. The catharsis function of the liver contributes to the rise and fall of the spleen and stomach and the secretion of bile, thus maintaining the normal digestion and absorption function. If the liver loses the function of regulating qi, it can affect the rise and fall of the spleen and stomach and the excretion of bile, thus causing symptoms of abnormal digestive function, such as loss of appetite, indigestion, belching and acid swelling, diarrhea and so on. Chinese medicine is called "disharmony between liver and stomach" or "disharmony between liver and spleen". 3. Maintain the operation of qi, blood and body fluid. The function of relieving qi of the liver directly affects the smooth flow of qi. Chest pain, breast pain or abdominal pain may occur when the liver loses its function and qi is blocked. Qi is the driving force of blood circulation, while qi circulation leads to blood circulation, and qi stagnation leads to blood stasis. If the liver qi is not discharged, qi stagnation and blood stasis can be seen, there will be tingling in the chest and hypochondrium, and even symptoms and lumps. Women may also have menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea. The antidiarrheal function of the liver also has the functions of relieving triple energizer and dredging waterways. Therefore, the liver fails to excrete, and sometimes ascites and edema occur. The liver controls blood storage. The liver has the functions of storing blood and regulating blood volume. When the human body is at rest or emotionally stable, the human body's demand for blood decreases, and a large amount of blood is stored in the liver; At work or emotional excitement, the human body's demand for blood increases, and the liver discharges its stored blood to meet the needs of physical activities. If the liver has abnormal blood storage function, it will cause blood deficiency or bleeding. If liver blood deficiency can't look good, his eyes are dry and dim, or he is night blind; Without the nourishment of the tendons, the tendons are tight, the limbs are numb, and the flexion and extension are unfavorable. The visual function of the liver for the purpose of resuscitation mainly depends on the nourishment of the yin and blood of the liver; The meridians of the liver are connected with the order system. Therefore, whether liver function is normal or not is often reflected in the eyes. For example, liver blood deficiency may have blurred vision and night blindness; Loss of liver yin leads to dry eyes and decreased vision; When liver fire is inflamed, eyes are red and swollen. Reinforce the tendons in the body and spend them on the claws. The activity of the main muscle tendons of the liver depends on the nutrition of liver blood. Liver blood deficiency, tendon failure can lead to a series of symptoms, as mentioned earlier. If excessive pathogenic heat burns liver yin and blood, limb convulsions, clenched teeth, and inverted horn arch may occur. Chinese medicine calls it "liver wind moving internally." Claws "include nails and toenails, and there is a saying that" claws are tendons ". If the liver blood is sufficient, the nails will be ruddy and resilient; Liver blood deficiency, the claw nails are withered, soft and thin, or dented and deformed.