Symptoms of liver fire in traditional Chinese medicine

Generally, symptoms of liver fire (liver heat) include irritability and anger, bitter taste and dry mouth, dry and gritty eyes, insomnia with vivid dreams, headache and dizziness. If symptoms persist or worsen, timely medical consultation and professional treatment are necessary. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Irritability and anger: The liver governs free coursing and regulates emotions. When liver fire is excessive, liver qi becomes hyperactive, directly affecting emotional stability, causing mood swings, and making one prone to anger and outbursts.

2. Bitter taste and dry mouth: Excess liver fire may invade the stomach, affecting gastric secretion, causing a bitter taste and dryness in the mouth, especially noticeable upon waking in the morning. Additionally, excessive liver fire can cause stomach fire to rise, leading to upward surges of heat that further worsen the bitter taste and dry mouth.

3. Dry and gritty eyes: The liver opens into the eyes. When liver fire rises, the eyes may feel dry, sore, and even develop redness. This occurs because liver fire affects blood circulation and fluid secretion in the eyes.

4. Insomnia with vivid dreams: Excessive liver fire can lead to insomnia and frequent dreams, typically due to rising heart fire disturbing the mind. Patients often find it difficult to fall asleep, and even when asleep, they experience vivid dreams, resulting in poor sleep quality.

5. Headache and dizziness: Excessive liver fire can cause upward movement of qi and blood, disturbing normal circulation in the head, leading to headache and dizziness. These symptoms are often closely related to emotional fluctuations, stress, and anxiety.

In daily life, individuals with excessive liver fire should regulate their emotions, maintain a healthy routine, avoid excessive fatigue, exercise appropriately, and strengthen their constitution. Additionally, diet should be light and balanced, with increased consumption of vegetables and fruits, and reduced intake of spicy, greasy, and irritating foods to reduce the liver's workload and lower internal heat.