Flare up of the liver fire

Clinical manifestations : Distending pain in the head ; dizziness and vertigo ; redness, swelling and pain of the eyes ; a bitter taste and dryness in the mouth ; irritability ; burning pain in the costal and hypochondriac regions ; tinnitus like the sound of waves ; yellow urine and constipation ; hematemesis, hemoptysis or epistaxis ; a red tongue with yellow coating and a string - taut, rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may be due to obstruction of the liver qi turning into Fire with upward disturbance of the qi and fire or to excessive indulgence in cigarette smoking, alcoholic drinking or greasy food, which may lead to accumulation of heat and production of fire. Since fire is characterized by upward movement, the effect of the liver fire on the head and eyes may produce distending pain in the head, dizziness and vertigo, redness, swelling and pain of the eyes and a bitter taste and dryness in the mouth. The liver relates to the emotion of anger and irritability is the consequence of hyperactivity of the liver fire. Excessive liver fire burns the Liver Meridian and brings about a burning pain at the costal and hypochondriac region. When the liver fire attacks the ear along the Gallbladder Meridian, there may be tinnitus, which has abrupt onset, sounds like waves and is not alleviated by pressure. The injury of blood vessels by the liver fire may produce hematemesis, hemoptysis or epistaxis. Yellow urine, constipation, a red tongue with yellow coating and a string - taut, rapid pulse are all signs of hyperactivity of the liver fire in the interior.