QiLifeLiver 肝
The Liver governs free coursing — the smooth movement of Qi throughout the body — and stores blood between uses.
Pinyin: Gan · Five Element: Wood · updated
The Liver's stated job in classical Chinese medicine is free coursing: making sure Qi moves freely everywhere, and keeping the course unobstructed. When that function is impaired, the signature symptom is a sense of things being stuck — in the chest, in the flanks, in the throat, in the mood.
It also stores blood. Between uses the blood is held in the Liver, which is why patterns involving the Liver so often present as blood-related problems — scanty periods, muscle cramps, dizziness on standing, numbness. The classical view links this directly to adequate rest, which is where the Liver is said to be replenished.
The Liver's element is Wood, and its season is spring. Its self-care profile is movement, especially stretching and walking, and reliable sleep. Suppression of anger is a recurring classical theme here; whether or not one accepts that framing, it reliably tracks with the tension symptoms this pattern produces.
Signs that suggest this pattern
No single sign establishes a pattern — Chinese medicine reads combinations, not isolated symptoms. If several of these are familiar and have been for a while, it is worth running the Zang-Fu Organ Check to see what the combination scores.
- Tension or distension in the flanks
- Irritability or frustration that builds slowly
- Sighing as an automatic response
- Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
- Menstrual irregularity or premenstrual tension
- A feeling of things not moving through, generally
Acupoints used for this pattern (1)
Every point below opens the full library entry, including location, technique, frequency and the cautions attached to it.
Foods listed against this pattern (12)
Nature and flavour are the traditional classification. Read the avoid note before changing anything you eat regularly.
Chrysanthemum
Clears heat from the head and eyes: red eyes, headache, irritability, wind-heat at the start of a cold.
Slightly cool · Sweet, bitter
Goji berry
Traditionally used for eyes, lower back, stamina and the Kidney-Liver pair.
Neutral · Sweet
Celery
Clears mild heat and calms a rising Liver: headaches, red eyes and irritability in warm weather.
Cool · Sweet, bitter
Black sesame
Nourishes Yin and blood. Traditionally used for dry hair, early greying, dry stool and lower back weakness.
Neutral · Sweet
Spinach
Nourishes blood and moistens the intestines. Traditionally used for dry stool and a pale complexion.
Cool · Sweet
Rose bud
Moves stuck Liver Qi and lifts a low mood, while gently moving blood.
Warm · Sweet, slightly bitter
Mulberry
Nourishes Yin and blood. Traditionally used for dizziness, early greying and dry stool.
Cool · Sweet
Mint
Disperses wind-heat and frees stuck Qi. Used for a sore throat, a headache and a tight chest.
Cool · Pungent
Chamomile
Settles tension and frees stuck Qi. A gentle evening drink for a tight chest or a busy mind.
Cool · Bitter, sweet
Finger citron (Buddha's hand)
Moves Liver Qi and harmonises the stomach. Used for a tight chest, sighing and bloating when stressed.
Warm · Pungent, bitter
Turmeric
Moves blood and breaks stasis. Traditionally used for fixed, stabbing pain and stiff joints.
Warm · Pungent, bitter
Peach kernel
Moves blood and breaks stasis. Traditionally used for fixed pain and dry stool.
Neutral · Bitter, sweet
Tea formulas listed against this pattern (1)
These are traditional reference formulas. Doses shown are traditional reference amounts, not a prescription — check with a qualified practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, on medication, or managing a condition.
Which assessment identifies this pattern
Zang-Fu Organ Check
Twenty questions across the five Zang-Fu systems. You get a score for each and the two weakest named explicitly, with what to do about them.
TCM Body Constitution Test
Nine types, 27 questions, about five minutes. No email, no sign-up — you get the result immediately and an explanation of what it means.
TCM Symptom Pattern Decoder
Twenty-eight questions across eight patterns, ranked by fit rather than a single verdict. Free, no email, results you can act on.
Patterns that often appear alongside this one
Qi Stagnation
Qi stagnation is Qi that cannot move — emotion, breath and digestion pile up, and the pressure shows up in the chest, throat or mood.
Yin Deficiency
Yin deficiency is insufficient cooling, moistening fluid — you run warm and dry, and rest does not fully restore you.
Qi Constraint
Qi constraint describes Qi that moves but distends and refuses to disperse — the pressure builds in a specific place instead of clearing.
Blood Stasis
Blood stasis describes circulation that has slowed or become obstructed — dark complexion, fixed pain and a purple or dark tongue.
Kidney
The Kidney stores Jing — the constitutional essence that governs growth, ageing and reproduction — and governs water metabolism.
Qi Obstruction
When Qi stagnation persists long enough it impedes the blood, and the two together produce fixed pain and obstructed circulation.
Related vocabulary
Search terms this page covers: liver tcm, liver qi, smooth flow, livermeridian, free coursing liver qi.