Liver... What the heck does it do anyway?

Well here's what it does in TCM.  It's got 14 points, it's a Yin channel and organ, and it originates at the medial corner of the nail bed on the big toe and runs over the dorsum of the foot, along the medial aspect of the leg and the medial side of the knee.  Then, it ascends along the medial aspect of the thigh, and reaches the inguinal region, and from here it goes to the tip of the 11th rib and runs anteriorly along the costal (rib cage) boarder to it's last point between the 6th and 7th ribs on the nipple line.  The deep branch arises from the channel in the abdomen and then runs along the stomach to enter the organs liver and gall bladder.  From the liver a branch travels upwards to connect with the eyes.  From the eyes a branch communicates with the Du channel at the vertex of the scalp, after traversing the brain.

It communicates with the gall bladder at Liv3 Yuan source and Liv5, Luo-connecting point.

In clinic, the points on the channel can treat disorders of the liver itself, and disorders to areas connected to it's deep branches, such as the eyes and brain.

The points on the leg are used to treat genitourinary disorders (just like every other point on the legs) and diseases along the channel.  Muscles and tendons are connected to the tissues of the liver, so muscles and tendons throughout the body can be treated with the liver channel.

The points on the trunk of the body are used for liver, gall bladder and spleen disorders, and pain in the flanks of the body.

Headaches and mental disorders are treated using Liv3.

Commonly used points

Liv3  Taichong.  2 cun proximal to the margin of the web of the 1st and 2nd toes.  Indicated for eye diseases, hypertension and headaches. This is a good homeostatic point, and is most effective at treating high blood pressure.  However, caution must be use as this point can cause the blood pressure to drop suddenly.  Make sure the patient is lying down if you are going to use this point, or else you'll be picking them off of the floor.  Acupuncture usually causes the body to move towards homeostasis, but this point can overshoot it!

Liv6  Xi-Cleft point.  Special Alarm point for the liver.  This is in the transverse crease of the knee joint, at the medial boarder of the semimembranosus tendon.  This is a specific point for impotence, but is a good local point for the knee too.

Liv13, Influential point for the Zang organs, Alarm point for the Spleen.  Located at the end of the 11th rib, good for liver and spleen disorders.

Liv14,  Dangerous point, alarm point for the liver.  Vertically below the nipple between the 6th and 7th ribs.  Good for hepatitis and chest pain.

Other useful points (academic, mostly)

Liv1  Jing well, wood
Liv2  Fire
Liv3  Yuan source, earth
Liv4  Metal
Liv5  Luo connecting
Liv6  Xi-Cleft
Liv8  Water
Liv13  Alarm for Spleen, Influential point for all Zang organs (Yin organs)
Liv14  Alarm point for Liver.

There are many syndromes of the liver.

Along the channel:  Pain along the channel, fullness of the chest.

As the liver channel curves around the external genitalia, the energy here is easily blocked by seiqi, or disease energy or factors.  Stagnation of the qi and blood may occur.  This causes lower abdominal symptoms and pain in the genitalia.  Frigidity or impotence may also result.

The Liver Organ Syndromes:

Four main syndromes:

1. Depression of the qi of Liver:  this is due to mental disorders.  Apart from cerebral symptoms, pain in the upper abdomen, vertical headaches and dysmenorrhea in women.
2. Excess of fire of the liver:  This is due to excess consumption of alcohol.  Clinical symptoms of headache, red eyes, bitter taste, flushed face.  A red tongue with yellow coating is often seen .  A rapid and wiry pulse may be felt.  The excess of fire may injure the blood vessels causing epistaxis and haematemesis
3. Insufficiency of the blood of the liver:  This is due to anemia following any chronic illness.  Clinically presents itself as dizziness, blurring of the vision, pallor of the skin, scanty menstrual flow in women, impotence in men, weakness of muscles and tendons, numbness of the extermities.
4. Stirring of Wind in the Liver by the Heart:  This is due to an external heat stirring up the endogenous wind.  Features include high fever, convulsions, coma and other signs of liver failure.  A deep red tongue with rapid, wiry pulse may result.

As with all paired organs, the liver and gall bladder are affected together whenever their element is attacked.