06 The Deficiency of liver and kidney

At the later stage of liver disease, the common consequence of the exuberance of yang (vital function) of the liver would be :

(i)      The deficiency of yin (vital essence) of liver & kidneys;

(ii)     The exuberance of yang due to deficiency of yin; and

(iii)    The deficiency of both yin and yang.

The deficiency of yin (vital essence) of the liver and kidney

     It is a morbid condition typically marked by the following symptoms : heat sensation in the chest, palms and soles, dizziness, tinnitus, impairment of hearing, insomnia, palpitation, aching of the loins and weakness of the knees and legs, red and dry tongue with scanty or no coating, dry throat and mouth, swollen and tender gum, reddened tongue with little coating or even cracks, halitosis, ulcer of mucous membrane, dull color of the hair, dull face, thready and rapid pulse.

 

The exuberance of yang due to the deficiency of yin

It is a morbid condition which incorporate the symptoms of deficiency of yin and the exuberance ofyang of the liver.

The deficiency of yin and yang

It is a morbid condition built on the basis of the first condition – the deficiency of yin (vital essence)of the liver and kidney as a result of lost of treatment in time or not taking continuous care of the liver (for example taking anti-liver drugs, alcoholic drinks, infection, or other course of treatment) which increase the mal-functioning of the liver and further the development of liver disease.  Clinically, patients are found to have symptoms of both the deficiency of yin and yang of the liver and kidney.  In addition to that, patients would increase in weight within a short period of time, known as edema, which can be easily seen on the face, lower limbs, and marked by tiredness, short of breath, somnolence, aching all over the body and the loins (e.g. bony spur, stubborn pain around the waist, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporostic arthritis).  For some serious cases, patients would have difficulty in walking, urine at night, impotence, tongue substance is soft and plump and marked with teeth prints around the border, shedding of loose teeth, thin and heavy pulse.

 

Patients with poor functioning of the heart and lungs may even have “black jaundice”, with dark face, skin colour and colour pigment at the forelimbs (for the elder, it is known as “senile plaques” and would increase and grow in size).

Such situation would then progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer later.

 

Conclusion

It is a very long history that human beings are affected by hepatophilic viruses and caused different types of diseases.  It is only with the discovery of electronic microscope that scientists began to identify the different types of viruses and had a better understanding of the development of hepatitis as well as the different syndromes by TCM classification together with the relevant ex-hepato symptoms.  It is now important to realize that the non hepatitis virus (ie. non-A non-B non-C type ) which caused pathological changes of the liver may also cause the inflammation of the liver and the change of liver dullness as well as abnormal liver function.

We believe that when a patient undergone a systemic TCM treatment, the inflamed liver boundary can be returned to normal level.  His chief complaints and clinical symptoms can be reduced and may disappear and attain the level of clinically cured.  The result will help to improve the well being of mankind so that many common and recurring diseases can be treated correctly without delay.  The wide-spread of the concept of systemic TCM Treatment is indeed important and may perhaps help to reduce cirrhosis, liver cancer and other ex-hepatic diseases.

(February 2002)