Liver Fire Blazing Upward
They burn inside and it shows outside: the head pounds, the eyes are red and stinging, they wake with a bitter mouth, and they snap at the smallest thing.
In plain words
They burn inside and it shows outside: the head pounds, the eyes are red and stinging, they wake with a bitter mouth, and they snap at the smallest thing.
It usually starts as energy stuck for a long time: what is compressed with no way out ends up heating. Fuel is then added from outside — alcohol, fatty or very spicy food, tobacco, short nights. Once that heat has momentum of its own, it rises towards the face and the head, the upper end of the route, and settles on the eyes and ears.
Characteristic symptoms
- Severe, throbbing headache on the sides or forehead
- Red, irritated eyes with burning sensation
- Bitter taste in the mouth, especially in the morning
- Constipation with dry stools
- Dark and scanty urine
- Extreme irritability and easy anger
- Acute tinnitus of sudden onset
- Insomnia and daytime drowsiness
Key clues to recognize it
- A bitter mouth on waking, with nothing eaten that would explain it.
- Red, hot eyes with a throbbing headache that does not ease with rest.
- Heat and dryness together: dry stools, dark and scanty urine, a red tongue with yellow coating.
Tongue and pulse
- Tongue
- Red tongue with yellow, thick and dry coating; may have yellow coating on the sides
- Pulse
- Wiry, rapid and full (xiàn shuò shí) pulse
Treatment principle
Drain Liver Fire, purge Yang excess and calm the mind
Common points
Reference formula
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Drain the Liver Decoction)
What not to confuse it with
What aggravates it
- Alcohol, especially at night
- Very spicy, fried or grilled food
- Arguments and outbursts of anger
- Repeatedly staying up late
Lifestyle advice
Avoid spicy, fried foods, alcohol and excess red meat. Drink plenty of cool water. Practice emotional regulation techniques. Avoid sun exposure and excessive heat. Include bitter, cooling foods: cucumber, celery, chrysanthemum.
When to see a doctor
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
