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The Liver belongs to Wood in the Five Elements; Wood generates Wind. The so-called "Liver Wind" refers to wind generated internally by the Liver itself, rather than an external pathogenic factor. Its manifestations are diverse. Symptoms include headache, deafness, swollen eyes, numbness of the hands and feet, twitching of tendons, muscle fasciculations (rou kun), vertigo, hypochondriac pain, and vomiting of food. If one mistakenly uses wind-dispersing herbs for treatment, not only will it be ineffective, but it will also exacerbate the severity of the condition.

The treatment method should follow Zhu Danxi's principle of "Harmonizing Yang and Extinguishing Wind" (since wind often carries fire). Herbs that can be selected include Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Danpi), Folium Mori (Sangye), Fructus Gardeniae Praeparatus (Heizhi), Radix Paeoniae Alba (Baishao), Pericarpium Sojae Fermentatum (Douchi Pi), Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (Zaoren), Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fushen), Radix Ophiopogonis (Maidong), Radix Asparagi (Tian dong), Rhizoma Rehumatis Preparatum (Shengdihuang - *Note: Text says Shengdi, usually Rehmanniae Radix*), Tangerine Peel stir-fried with salt water (Yan shui chao Juhong), Achyranthes Bidentata Root stir-fried (Chao Niuxi), Cornu Saigae Tataricae (Lingyangjiao), Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis (Gouteng), Fructus Tribuli (Bajili), and Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gancao), which can be selected according to the situation. Since the Liver is a viscera that prefers softness and dislikes dryness, it is best treated with moistening and softening herbs; using aromatic and drying herbs is incorrect. If cold stagnation in the Liver Wood generates wind, warming agents such as Cortex Cinnamomi (Guixin) and Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens (Laojiang) should be added as adjuvants.

To differentiate Liver Wind, the pulse is wiry and scattered, accompanied by bitter taste and loss of taste. The onset of this disease is rapid, occurring within moments. (Wind moves swiftly.) Once the syndrome is accurately identified, the therapeutic effect is achieved as easily as turning over a hand. However, after recovery, one must take the formula for Nourishing Blood and Moistening the Liver while Draining Wood (Yangxue Zigan Xuemu Wan) to prevent recurrence.

Wind is generated from Fire, but Fire does not necessarily originate from Wind. However, when Fire encounters Wind, it becomes more fierce. Therefore, when treating Liver Wind, one must harmonize Yang; when treating Liver Fire, one should also add herbs to extinguish Wind.

Liver Fire causes symptoms such as red and painful eyes, purulent discharge from the ears, headache, bitter taste with thirst, hypochondriac pain, stomach pain, vomiting, cough, hematemesis, and scrofula (luoli) on the neck. The prescription includes Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Dahuang), Radix Gentianae Longdancao (Longdancao), Aloe (Luhui), Herba Prunellae Spicae (Xiakucao), and Rhizoma Coptidis (Huanglian). These five herbs drain the excess fire of the Liver. For other cases, one should select clearing and softening herbs, such as Sangye, Danpi, and Lingyangjiao, for treatment.

Stomach pain and hypochondriac pain are appended after the section on Liver Fire because their treatment specifically targets the Liver. The Liver desires free flow and dispersion. If anger is suppressed and not expressed, it stagnates and transforms into Fire. Fire has a nature of flaming upward and insulting its conquered element (Earth/Spleen-Stomach), leading to stomach pain. Mild cases present with lack of appetite and inability to eat; severe cases present with vomiting of yellow fluid. The pulse must be wiry, and the mouth bitter. Treatment should resolve the depression and anger, followed by formulas and herbs to drain Wood, calm Earth, and regulate Qi, such as Danpi, Sangye, Gouteng, Baishao, Guangpi (Chenpi), Chao Yanhusuo, Banxia, Fuling, Tongcao, Danggui, and Chuanshanlong (Chuanlianzi); for chronic illness causing Stomach deficiency, Dangshen, Sheng Baizhu, Zhigancao, and Laojiangzha may be added.

Hypochondriac pain is also caused by stagnant Fire in the Liver Meridian moving upward along the channel. The treatment method is the same as for stomach pain, except that Xiaoyao San can be used to disperse it. Generally, treating stomach pain focuses on draining Liver Wood, while treating hypochondriac pain can additionally focus on dispersing depression. One might ask: How about Yueju Wan? The answer is: If depression is complicated by dampness and phlegm, Yueju Wan is the priority; if depression leads to blood dryness, Xiaoyao San is essential. This distinguishes the two formulas. If external cold invades the Stomach causing pain, where the patient rolls on the bed and floor in unbearable agony, the pulse will be deep and hidden, and the complexion pale and dull. In this case, warming and dispersing methods must be used, and this distinction cannot be overlooked.