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Liver fire causing hypochondriac pain is due to Liver Qi excess (Liver Qi Excess). Such individuals have a reserved nature and are prone to anger. The Classics state: "In Liver diseases, there is pain in both hypochondria radiating to the lower abdomen, and irritability." It also states: "Excess of Liver Qi leads to anger." The pulse should be wiry (Xian), rapid (Shu), forceful (Shi), and tense (Ji). The mouth may taste sour and bitter. The pain must be severe, possibly accompanied by vexation and heat, thirst, or hot and obstructed urination and defecation.

Longhui Wan (Dragon Gallbladder Pill) Formula. Zhu Danxi stated: This is an essential medicine for treating hypochondriac pain caused by liver fire.
Ingredients: Longdan Cao (Gentianae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, both washed with wine), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) (each 1 liang); Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, soaked in wine), Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Lushen (Aloe) (each 5 qian); Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) (2.5 qian); Shexiang (Moschus) (0.5 fen).
Make into honey pills the size of small beans. Take 20-30 pills with ginger decoction.

Yuanshu records: A person with an irritable temperament suffered heat exposure in summer and suddenly experienced pain in the left hypochondrium. The skin was red like a bowl, with 3-5 water blisters appearing. The pulse was wiry and rapid. The physician diagnosed it as constrained fire in the Liver channel and prescribed herbs such as Huanglian, Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). After one dose, the pain worsened, fever increased, the redness expanded to the size of a plate, and the blisters increased to over thirty. The physician applied white Yujin (Curcumae Radix) powder mixed with water externally and added Qingdai and Longdan Cao to the internal prescription. At night, the pain became excruciating, feeling like hooks tearing at the hypochondrium. The next morning, redness had spread to half the body, and new blisters numbered over a hundred. Later, consulting Huang Gutan, he used one large Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus), mashed with the peel, added Fugcao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) 2 qian, and Honghua (Carthami Flos) 0.5 fen. The pain ceased after taking the medicine. This is because the previous bitter-cold medicines exacerbated dryness; whereas Gualou is soft and lubricating, does not oppose stagnation, and has sweet,緩 (soothing), and descending moistening properties, thus achieving quick results.

Hypochondriac pain caused by stagnant blood (stasis) occurs because traumatic injuries cause blood stasis to accumulate in the hypochondrium. Symptoms include mild pain during the day and severe pain at night, or afternoon fever, a short and choppy (Se) or forceful pulse, and wheezing/asthma. The Classics state: "If the Liver pulse is firm and long, but the complexion is not green, it indicates injury from falling or beating, because blood remains in the hypochondrium, causing wheezing and asthma."

Dongyuan's Fuyuan Huoxue Tang (Revive the Original Blood-Invigorating Decoction) Formula.
Ingredients: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) (0.5 liang), Gualougen (Trichosanthis Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (each 3 qian), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chuanshanjia (Manis Squama, processed) (each 2 qian), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, soaked in wine) (1.5 qian), Taoren (Persicae Semen) (skin and tips removed, ground into paste, 50 seeds).
Except for Taoren, chop the other ingredients to the size of hemp seeds. For each dose, take 0.5 liang, add 1.5 cups of water and 0.5 cup of wine. Simmer until 0.7 cup remains, strain, and drink warm. Continue until bowel movement is achieved.

Zhenjing (Needle Classic) states: If there is a fall or injury, evil blood remains inside. If accompanied by great anger, qi rises but does not descend, accumulating in the hypochondrium, the Liver is injured. The Liver and Gallbladder meridians both run through the hypochondrium, belonging to the Jueyin and Shaoyang channels respectively. Therefore, Chaihu should be used as the Sovereign herb to harmonize the blood vessels with Danggui. Pain implies urgency; Gancao soothes urgency and generates new blood, serving as the Minister herb. Chuanshanjia, Gualougen, Taoren, and Honghua break stasis and moisten blood, serving as Assistant herbs. Wine-processed Dahuang sweeps away ruined blood, serving as the Envoy herb. When flavors and effects harmonize, qi and blood find their proper residence, and pain naturally subsides.

Shaoyao San (Peony Powder) treats hypochondriac pain in women.
Ingredients: Baishaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (each 1 liang); Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) (2 liang, boiled dry with 1 sheng of vinegar and 0.5 liang of salt).
Grind into fine powder. Take 2 qian per dose, at any time, with plain warm water.