Chinese Medicine Understanding
Physiological functions of the liver
1.The liver is the master of draining
The liver is the master of draining, which means that the liver has the function of unblocking, soothing, and organizing to keep the qi of the whole body unblocked and unobstructed, not stagnant, and dispersed but not depressed. The liver’s function is to ensure the normal functioning of many physiological functions of the body. Dredge, that is, to unblock, dredge. The discharge, that is, the rise of the hair, venting. Drainage, rise and release, dredge.
The term “dredge” was first found in the Suwen – Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun: “the earth dredge, Cang Qi Da”, and the earth to wood and up to the same meaning: Yuan – Zhu Danxi first explicitly put forward “the Division of dredge, the liver also The first time Zhu Danxi clearly put forward the view that “the liver is the one who is responsible for draining the liver” (Ge Zhi Yu Lun – Yang has a surplus of Yin).
The main role of the liver in the physiological activities of the human body is to
(1) Regulating the qi flow: The physiological function of the liver, which is responsible for draining, is in general related to the smooth regulation of the qi flow in the human body as a whole. Qi Qi, that is, the movement of Qi in and out. Rise and fall is the basic form of qi-chemistry. The human body is an organism that constantly undergoes the qi-chemistry action of rising and falling and going in and out. The process of qi-chemistry is realized through the functional activities of the internal organs.
Human organs and meridians, gas, blood, fluids, yin and yang, all rely on the qi lift and lower in and out of each other to maintain their normal physiological functions: the liver’s draining function, the balance between the qi lift and lower in and out of all the organs and tissues of the body, plays an important role in draining and regulating. “Where the qi of the twelve channels of the internal organs are encouraged by the qi of the liver and gallbladder, they can be regulated smoothly without disease” (“Read Medical Essays. Volume 4”). Therefore, if the draining function of the liver is normal, the qi will be regulated, the qi and blood will be harmonized, the meridians and channels will be facilitated, and the activities of the organs and tissues will be normal and coordinated.
(2) Regulation of mental emotion: Emotion, i.e. emotion, mood, refers to a type of mental process that reflects mainly emotional changes in human mental activities. In Chinese medicine, emotion and will belong to the category of God in a narrow sense, including joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear: fright, also known as the seven emotions. The liver regulates the mental and emotional activities of human beings through its function of regulating the qi flow. In addition to the heart and mind, human mental and emotional activities are also closely related to the draining function of the liver, which is why it has been said that “the liver is the master of thinking” (Suwen. The liver is the master of thinking” (Suwen. Linglan Secret Discourse).
To conceive and consider is to conceive and think, to think deeply and deliberately. The liver is the master of conspiracy, which means that the liver assists the heart and mind in regulating neuropsychic activities such as thinking and emotions. Under normal physiological conditions, the normal function of the liver’s drainage, liver qi rise, neither hyperactive, nor depressed, smooth and organized, then people will be able to better coordinate their own mental and emotional activities, manifested as a happy spirit, moody, rational and clear, sensitive thinking, qi and Zhi Da, blood and qi peace. If the liver is not drained, it will easily cause abnormal mental and emotional activities.
If the draining of the liver is not sufficient, it will be manifested as depression, sadness, etc. Too much drainage will manifest as irritability, headache, redness and redness of the eyes. Therefore, it is said that “the disease of seven laziness must be caused by the liver” (“Liuzhou Medical Talk”). “God is the son of gas, gas is the mother of God, the form of God’s room. If the qi is clear, the spirit will flow, if the qi is turbid, the spirit will faint, if the qi is chaotic, the spirit will go” (Song. Gao Yisun’s “Weft, Volume 10”).
The abnormal discharge of the liver and the abnormal emotions are often the cause and effect of each other. When the liver loses its discharge and the emotions are abnormal, it is called a disease caused by depression. When the liver loses its circulation due to abnormal emotions, it is called a disease causing depression.
(3) Maintaining the flow of qi and blood: The detoxification of the liver can directly affect the smooth regulation of qi. Only when the qi is well regulated, can the heart fully play its role as the main blood vessel, the lungs help the heart to move blood, and the spleen to regulate blood, thus ensuring the normal operation of qi and blood. Therefore, the liver qi is smooth and well organized, so that the blood can run with it and hide and drain appropriately. Blood follows the flow of Qi, and the flow of blood is non-stop” (“Wind and Labor Dropsy in the Diaphragm: Four Evidences and Treatment”). The source of blood lies in the qi, qi flow is blood flow, qi stagnation is blood stasis.
If the liver is not drained and the qi is not regulated, it will definitely affect the flow of qi and blood. If Qi is stagnant, Qi stagnation and blood stasis will be seen in the chest and hypochondriac pains, even obstruction, masses, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea. If the qi is rebellious, the blood may not follow the normal path and bleed. As the saying goes, “Blood is a match for qi. If qi is hot, it is hot; if it is cold, it is cold; if it is rising, it is rising; if it is falling, it is falling; if it is condensing, it is condensing; if it is stagnant, it is stagnant” (Ge Zhi Yu Lun? The discussion of “The water of the meridians is either purple or black”).
(4) Regulating sex and reproduction, regulating sperm discharge in men and menstruation in women.
The special physiological activities of women, such as menstruation, belt, fetus and childbirth, are related to the functions of many internal organs, among which the role of the liver is very important, and it has been said that “women take the liver as the first day”. Women’s life is blood-oriented, due to menstruation blood consumption, pregnancy blood gathering to feed the fetus, childbirth bleeding, etc., all involved in blood, so women have a surplus of qi but not enough blood. The two channels are closely related to the physiological functions of women.
The Liver is the Sea of Blood, and the Punch and Ren channels are connected to the Liver meridian and belong to the Liver. The liver regulates the physiological activities of the two channels. If the liver’s draining function is normal, the qi of the foot sympathetic Yin meridian is regulated smoothly, and the two channels of Chong Ren are helped by it, then the Ren channel will be open and favorable, and the Tai Chong channel will be strong, so that menstruation will fall at the right time, the secretion of the belt will be normal, and pregnancy and childbirth will be smooth. If the liver is not drained, the Qi and blood will not be harmonized, resulting in menstruation, hypodynamy, fetal delivery, abnormal sexual function and infertility.
②Regulate the sperm chamber: The sperm chamber is where men hide their sperm. When a man is full of kidney qi and when the sperm arrives (the substance that promotes sexual maturity and maintains reproductive function), the sperm overflows and has the ability to reproduce. The opening and closing of the male sperm chamber and the collection and discharge of semen are related to the functions of the liver and kidneys. “The one who is in charge of closing and hiding is also the kidney, and the one who is in charge of draining is also the liver” (Ge Zhi Yu Lun? Yang has surplus and yin is not enough”). If the liver and the kidney are in balance, the sperm chamber will open and close properly, and the semen will be excreted in a controlled manner, so that the sexual and reproductive functions of men are normal.
If the liver is not normal, it will lead to the opening and closing of the drainage inappropriate. If the liver is not in control, it will lead to low libido, impotence, low semen and infertility; if it is too much, it will lead to high libido, strong yang and dream emission. Therefore, it is said that “the liver is the yang of the yin, its pulse around the yin device, strong, then lustful, deficient, jealous of yin, when hating women” (“Class Jing? Tibetan elephant class”).
2.The liver is the main reservoir of blood and the main producer of blood
(1) The liver is the main reservoir of blood: the liver is the reservoir of blood refers to the function of the liver in storing blood, preventing bleeding and regulating the amount of blood. Therefore, the liver is known as the main blood sea.
① Storage of blood: blood comes from water and grain essence, biochemical in the spleen and hidden in the liver. The liver stores a certain amount of blood, which can not only moisten itself to regulate the liver’s yang energy and maintain the balance of liver’s yin and yang, qi and blood, but also prevent bleeding. Therefore, if the liver does not store blood, not only can liver blood be insufficient and Yang Qi rise too much, but it can also lead to bleeding.
②Regulation of blood volume: Under normal physiological conditions, the amount of blood in all parts of the body is relatively constant. However, the blood in each part of the body often changes its volume with different physiological conditions. When the body’s activities are intense or emotional, the blood needs of all parts of the body increase accordingly, so the blood stored in the liver is transfused to the periphery of the body for the needs of the body’s activities.
When people are resting quietly and emotionally stable, because the activity of all parts of the body decreases, the need for blood in the periphery of the body also decreases accordingly, and some of the blood will be stored in the liver. As the saying goes, “When people move, blood is transported through the meridians; when people are quiet, blood is returned to the liver”. Because the liver has the function of storing blood and regulating the amount of blood, it is called the “sea of blood”.
When the liver’s blood storage function is impaired, two conditions can occur: one is blood deficiency. If the liver is deficient in blood, the blood distributed to all parts of the body cannot meet the needs of physiological activities, and the pathological changes of blood deficiency and loss of nourishment can occur. If there is a loss of blood nourishment, the eyes will be dry and faint, or night blindness; if the tendons are not nourished, the tendons and veins will be constricted, the limbs will be numb, and the flexion and extension will be unfavorable, as well as women will have a low menstrual flow, or even amenorrhea. The second is blood delusion. If the liver does not store blood, pathological changes of bleeding tendency may occur, such as vomiting blood, epistaxis, excessive menstruation, and leakage.
The relationship between the draining of the liver and the collection of blood: the liver is responsible for the draining and the collection of blood. Blood collection is the material basis of blood draining, and blood draining is the functional expression of blood collection. The draining of the liver depends on the moisturizing effect of the blood, and the normal function of the liver in order to play its role. Therefore, there is a close relationship between the draining of the liver and the function of blood collection, which is complementary to each other. Physiologically, the liver is responsible for the draining of the blood, and when the qi is well regulated, the blood can be properly collected and regulated.
The movement of blood not only requires the promotion of the heart and lung qi and the regulation of the spleen qi, but also requires the regulation of the liver qi to ensure the smooth regulation of the qi and to keep the blood from stagnating. In the pathology, the loss of liver drainage can affect the storage and operation of blood. If the liver is depressed and the qi is stagnant, the blood will be stagnant, i.e., the blood will be stagnant due to qi stagnation. If draining is too much, liver qi will rebel and blood will rebel with qi, which can lead to bleeding.
In terms of the liver’s blood collection and drainage, physiologically, the liver is the main blood collector, and blood can nourish the liver so that liver yang does not become hyperactive, ensuring that the liver’s function of drainage is normal. In the pathological situation, the liver’s blood collection is insufficient or the liver does not collect blood and bleeding occurs, eventually resulting in liver blood deficiency. If the liver blood is insufficient, the blood does not nourish the liver, and the draining of the liver is out of order, then night sleep and dreams will occur, and women will suffer from menstrual disorders.
(2) The liver is responsible for the production of blood: The liver is responsible for the production of blood, which refers to the role of the liver in the production of blood. The liver not only collects blood, but also produces blood. “The liver …… its filling in the tendons to produce blood and qi” (“Su Wen? The six sections of the dirty elephant theory”), “Qi is not depleted, it is returned to the essence of the kidney and is essence. If the essence does not leak, it is returned to the liver and becomes clear blood” (Zhang’s Medical General? The Blood Gate”). It can be seen that the liver is involved in the production of blood.
Western Medicine Understanding
The physiological functions of the liver
I. Excretion of bile and digestion of fat
One of the important functions of the liver is the excretion of bile. Bile is a yellow liquid produced by liver cells. The liver synthesizes and excretes about 500~1000 ml of bile daily in which the main component is bile salt, which consists of sodium salts such as bile acid and deoxycholic acid. Bile is an important digestive fluid, and its functions are.
①Help emulsify fat and make fat droplets smaller and finer for digestion and absorption.
②Promote fatty acid absorption.
③Vitamins A, D, E and K are absorbed in the intestinal tract by bile salts as there, forming water-soluble wai particles.
④ Accelerate the absorption of iron and calcium.
⑤ Stimulate small intestine and colon peristalsis.
⑥Inhibit the growth and multiplication of intestinal spoilage bacteria.
⑦ Excrete hormone dish harmful substances, such as gonads, thyroid hormones and heavy metal salts such as mercury and arsenic.
Second, metabolize nutrients and inactivate hormones
The food eaten is digested and absorbed in the intestine, and then enters the liver for “processing” through the portal system. In the liver metabolism of substances are mainly the following: 1.
1, sugar: The liver is the main organ to maintain a constant sugar content in the blood. After a meal, the blood sugar concentration rises, and most of the glucose is synthesized into liver glycogen and stored in the liver. Fasting into the liver glycogen is again properly decomposed into glucose, which enters the blood and raises the blood glucose level. The liver converts absorbed glucose, fructose and galactose into hepatic glycogen. If the supply of sugar is insufficient during starvation, liver glycogen stores are reduced and the liver can act through gluconeogenesis. Adult liver contains about 100-150g of glycogen.
2. Lipids: The liver is the only place to manufacture fats, and bile directly affects the digestion and absorption of fats. The liver can oxidize fatty acids to produce ketone bodies, which can provide energy for extrahepatic tissues.
The liver synthesizes a variety of lipid-like substances, such as plasma phosphate esters, cholesterol and cholesterol lipids. The liver can deliver insufficient protein synthesis to the blood, and fat can accumulate in the liver, forming a fatty liver.
3, protein: the liver can use amino acids to synthesize protein, but also the use of sugar, fat into protein. The process of amino acid metabolism such as transamino and deamino are carried out in the liver. In the process of amino acid metabolism off the ammonia is a toxic substance, when the blood ammonia increased poisoning, can cause hepatic encephalopathy, that is, ground coma. The liver also plays an important role in the metabolism of hemoglobin, which can transform the indirect bilirubin transported by the blood into direct bilirubin, which is excreted into the intestine by the bile.
4, vitamins: the liver can transform carotene into vitamin A and store it. B vitamins can form various coenzymes in the liver and participate in the metabolism of various substances. For example, vitamin B forms a coenzyme for decarboxylase, which is involved in sugar metabolism. Vitamin C in the liver can promote the formation of liver glycogen.
5, hormones: many hormones in the liver after processing to lose activity. For example, aldosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, antidiuretic hormone and various sex hormones can be inactivated in the liver by combining with glucose or sulfate, and then excreted with bile or urine. When liver function is impaired, these hormones are not inactivated at the point, which can be seen clinically as ascites, gynecomastia, female hirsutism and menstrual irregularities, spider nevus and liver palm on the skin, etc.
Third, detoxification and detoxification, swallowing foreign substances
The liver is the main detoxification organ of the body. Toxic substances produced by external or internal metabolism have to be processed by the liver so that the toxic substances become non-toxic or more soluble, and then bile or urine is excreted from the body.
The detoxification principles of the liver are.
1, chemical action: the liver has oxidation, reduction, decomposition and binding, of which the binding effect is the most important way of liver detoxification. Toxic substances combined with substances in the liver into harmless substances and then excreted.
2.Secretion: Some heavy metals such as mercury and bacteria from the intestine can be excreted by bile secretion.
3.Accumulation effect: Some alkaloids such as morphine can be accumulated in the liver, and then gradually released in small quantities to reduce the degree of poisoning.
4.Phagocytosis: Bacteria, dyes and other granular substances can be phagocytosed and digested by the stellate cells of the liver. Therefore, the liver has a defensive role.
4.Blood production and blood collection, blood clotting and hemostasis
Ancestral medicine considers the liver as an organ for blood collection. In the Nei Jing, it is said that “the heart collects the spirit, the lungs collect the qi, and the liver collects the blood”. This statement is in full agreement with modern physiological studies that confirm the liver’s ability to regulate blood flow and coagulation.
The liver can produce red blood cells during the embryonic period, and iron and copper in the liver can catalyze the synthesis of hemoglobin in the later stages. In addition, the liver itself reserves large amounts of blood for timely output during acute bleeding to maintain the balance of circulating blood volume. The liver plays a major role in the coagulation process. 12 coagulation factors are synthesized in the liver, except for factor M and N (inorganic calcium ions). When the blood flows out of the blood vessels, the enzyme thrombin acts on fibrinogen to convert it into fibrin, which then forms a blood clot. The liver can also synthesize the anticoagulant heparin. The blood is kept in the same state of blood flow in the blood vessels.