As the old saying goes, "With a good liver, you'll live to a ripe old age," and that is indeed true. If the liver develops issues, your body will give you early warning signs: premature greying of hair, blurred vision, tossing and turning at night, and frequent cramps in the calves. These are actually your liver crying out for help.

Today, I'm going to teach you three practical methods for nourishing the liver, all of which are wisdom passed down from our ancestors. The first method is called "Unblocking Liver Qi." When Liver Qi is blocked, it's like having a rusty water pipe; you need to unclog it first. The second method is "Unblocking the Blood Vessels." The liver governs the storage of blood. When blood circulates smoothly, the liver can be nourished properly. The third method is the most crucial—"Unblocking the Middle Jiao." The Middle Jiao refers to the spleen and stomach area. The liver and spleen are like neighbors; when the spleen is well-nourished, the Liver Qi naturally dares not act out.

When it comes to liver-nourishing formulas, one must mention the esteemed physician Zhang Zhongjing’s Danggui Shaoyao San (Angelica and Peony Powder). This formula may seem simple, consisting of just six ingredients: Angelica sinensis (Danggui), Paeonia lactiflora (Shaoyao), Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong), Poria cocos (Fuling), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), and Alisma orientalis (Zexie). However, their combination is exceptionally ingenious. Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, a classic pair for activating blood circulation, act like clearing blockages in blood vessels. Poria cocos and Atractylodes macrocephala specifically target the spleen and stomach; when the spleen is strong, dampness is naturally expelled. Traditional Chinese medicine states that "spleen deficiency generates dampness," and these two herbs essentially install a dehumidifier for the spleen and stomach. Most ingeniously, Alisma orientalis is dedicated to clearing dampness from the lower energizer, much like unclogging sludge from a drainage pipe.

The brilliance of this formula lies in its "simultaneous regulation of the liver and spleen." The liver and spleen are like a seesaw: excessive liver qi can overpower the spleen, while spleen deficiency can, in turn, affect liver function. Danggui Shaoyao San works by both activating blood and nourishing the liver, as well as strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, thereby addressing both sides effectively. Common modern issues such as dry eyes, scanty menstrual flow, and lower leg edema are well-suited for this formula. However, it’s worth noting that Chinese herbal medicine must be applied according to specific patterns; it’s best to consult a TCM practitioner for pulse diagnosis and dosage adjustments tailored to one’s constitution to truly nourish the liver effectively.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes pattern differentiation and treatment, using different formulas for different symptoms to achieve effective healing. If you have similar conditions, the first step is to examine your tongue coating. Please send me a photo of your tongue coating along with your symptoms, and I will provide a free pattern differentiation to determine the general direction of your treatment.