Differentiation

Symptoms

Formula

E x c e s s

Liver Qi stagnation with Spleen blood deficiency

hypochondriac distending pain which varies in intensity and location; induced or aggravated
by emotion or stress

headache, dizziness or vertigo, dry mouth and throat, fatigue, poor appetite, or alternating chills and fever, irregular menstruation, breast distention, pale tongue, wiry and weak pulse

Xiao Yao San

Liver Qi stagnation with heat

cold fingers and toes; possible epigastric and abdominal pain; possible diarrhea with tenesmus; red tongue with yellow coating, wiry and rapid pulse

Si Ni San

Shao Yang Syndrome

mild pain and discomfort in hypochondriac region that is fixed in location, alternating chills and fever, bitter taste in mouth, dizziness, irritability, nausea, poor appetite, thin white tongue coating, wiry pulse

Xiao Chai Hu Tang

Damp-heat in the Liver and Gallbladder channels

hypochondriac pain possibly with a burning sensation; bitter taste in mouth, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, stifling sensation in chest, red eyes, yellow scanty urination; possible jaundice; a red tongue with yellow greasy coat, wiry and rapid pulse

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Liver Qi stagnation with constraint

fixed hypochondriac pain with focal distention and stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen, belching, nausea or vomiting, acid regurgitation, poor appetite, purple tongue with yellow greasy coating, wiry and rapid pulse

Yue Ju Wan

Blood and Qi stagnation

prickling hypochondriac pain that is fixed in location and worse at night; or fixed masses in the hypochondriac area which is resistant to pressure, purple tongue with black spots on the side, wiry or choppy pulse

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

D e f

Liver blood deficiency

persistent, hypochondriac pain that is dull or vague, restlessness, insomnia,
possible night sweating, irritability, dizziness, and a thin pulse

palpitations, dry eyes, blurry vision, possible irregular menstruation

Suan Zao Ren Tang + Si Wu Tang

Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency

weak lower back and knees, tinnitus, spermatorrhea, hot flashes, and loose teeth

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan modified