Recently, a lady asked me: “My eyes are getting very dry and sore, I am very moody and stressful, soft nails, sleeping is not very well, numbness of the fingers, how does my body come, what is the problem?” I said: “That is because Liver.”

As we all know, the liver is situated in the right hypochondriac region. Its meridian connects with the gallbladder with which it is internally-externally related. Its main physiological functions are: storing blood, maintaining the free flow of qi, controlling the tendons, manifesting in the nails and opening into the eyes.

Storing blood

Liver stores blood and regulates the volume in circulation. During vigorous movement and other daytime activities, the blood is released from the liver, increasing the volume of blood in circulation. During rest and sleep, the volume of blood required decreases, and part of the blood remains in the liver. The liver is closely related to all the activities of the zang-fu organs and tissues. When the liver is diseased, dysfunction of the liver in storing blood will affect the normal activities of the body. For example: deficiency of liver blood may give rise to blurred vision, spasm and convulsion of the tendons and muscles, numbness of the four limbs, and oligomenorrhea or even amenorrhoea on females.

Maintaining the free flow of qi
The liver is responsible for the unrestrained, free going, and harmonious functional activity of all the zang-fu organs, including it. Emotional activity is closely related to the liver qi. When the function of the liver in maintaining the free flow of qi is normal, and can the qi and blood be harmonious and the mind at ease. Dysfunction of the liver, therefore, is often accompanied by emotional changes such as mental depression, when liver qi is hyperactive, there may be insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, dizziness and vertigo. 

Controlling the tendons and manifesting in the nails
The tendons are the main tissues linking the joints and muscles and dominating the movement of the limbs. Since the liver nourishes the tendons of the whole body to maintain their normal physiological activities, when liver blood is consumed, it may deprive the tendons of nourishment and give rise weakness of the tendons, numbness of the limbs, and dysfunction of the joints in contraction and relaxation. The state of yin and blood of liver affects not only the movement of tendons but also the condition of the nails. When liver blood is ample, the tendons and nails are strong, and when liver blood is deficient, the tendons will be weak and the nail soft and thin, withered, or even deformed and chipped.

Opening into the eyes
The liver is the main organ affecting the eyes and vision. The liver stores blood and its meridian ascends to connect with the eyes. For example: deficiency of the yin and blood of the liver may lead to dryness of the eyes, blurred vision or even night blindness. Wind heat in the Liver Meridian may give rise to redness swelling and pain of the eyes.
So I performed Acupuncture for her. I selected the points of the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians as main points to regulate the Liver qi and blood. After three times treatments she felt much better, no dry eyes, the numbness of fingers had gone, emotion was calmer. Two weeks later, she felt her body was balanced, emotion was getting much better, nails getting stronger and harder. She was very happy with the treatment of Liver.

Naturalane Health Centre — Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic in Brisbane

Cupping is a method of applying acupressure by creating a vacuum next to the skin. In Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it involves placing glass, plastic, or bamboo cups on the skin with a vacuum. The therapy is used to relieve what is called “stagnation” in TCM terms, and is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Cupping is also used to help back, neck, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal pain. Its advocates claim it has other applications as well. This technique, in varying forms, has also been found in the folk medicine of Vietnam, the Balkans, modern Greece, Mexico, and Russia, among other places, including Iran where it is called “bod-kesh” meaning literally “pull with air”.

1. Types of Jars

There are a great variety of jars, but the commonly used clinically are as follows:

    a. Bamboo jar:

    Cut down a section of bamboo 3–7cm, shaped as a drum. One end is used as the bottom, should be made smoothy. The bamboo jar is light, economical, easy to make and available in many places.

     b. Glass cup:

     Since the glass cup is transparent, the local congestion at the site can be seen so as to control the treatment.

3. Indications and Clinics Application

    The cupping therapy has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of qi and blood in the meridians, dispelling cold dampness, diminishing swellings and pains. In clinics, the cupping method is mainly used dampness, such as pain of the low back, shoulders and leg, gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhoea, and the lung disease such as cough and asthma.

    Cupping therapy has been further developed as a means to open the “Meridians” of the body. Meridians are the conduits in the body through which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue.

    Also, cupping therapy has been found to affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, help activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks and improve varicose veins. Cupping is the best deep tissue massage available.

Naturalane Health Centre — Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic in Brisbane