Damp heat in the liver and gallbladder

The gallbladder functions, to store and excrete the bile and thus assist in the digestion of food. The qi of the gallbladder is closely related to the human emotions. Since the gallbladder and liver are extremely and internally related, the two organs are often diseased at the same time.

Clinical manifestations : Hypochondriac distension and pain, bitter taste in the mouth, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, scanty and yellow urine, a yellow, sticky tongue coating and a string - taut, rapid pulse. In addition there may be yellow sclera and skin of the entire body or fever. The occurrence of eczema of scrotum, swelling and burning pain in the testes or yellow foul leucorrhoea with pruritus vulvae suggests damp heat in the Liver Meridian.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may be due to invasion of exogenous pathogenic damp heat or to excessive eating of greasy food which produces damp heat in the interior. In either case, damp heat accumulates in the liver and gallbladder. The accumulation of damp heat impairs the function of the liver and gallbladder in promoting the free flow of qi, causing hypochondriac pain. The upward overflow of the qi of the gallbladder leads to a bitter taste in the mouth. The accumulation of damp heat also impairs the function of the spleen and stomach in ascending and descending, eliciting poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension. Downward infusion of damp heat into the bladder brings on scanty, yellow urine. A yellow, sticky tongue coating and a string - taut, rapid pulse are both signs of damp heat in the liver and gallbladder. Once the function of the liver and gallbladder in promoting the free flow of qi is impaired, the bile, instead of circulating along its normal, route, spreads to the exterior and results in yellow sclera and skin of the entire body. The presence of damp heat induces the qi to stagnate and fever may appear. Since the Liver Meridian curves around the external genitalia, downward infusion of damp heat along the Liver Meridian may produce eczema of the scrotum, or swelling and pain of the testes ; and in women, pruritus vulvae and yellow foul leucorrhoea may result.