Why do people with spleen deficiency experience excessive liver fire?

Generally, the causes of excessive liver fire in individuals with spleen deficiency include unhealthy lifestyle habits, emotional disharmony, disharmony between the liver and spleen, dampness arising from spleen deficiency, and blood stasis in the middle jiao. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits

Improper dietary habits can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth and bitterness, and dry, hard stools, thereby worsening spleen deficiency. Additionally, spicy foods can stimulate the liver and gallbladder, promoting the generation of liver fire. It is recommended to adjust the diet by reducing the intake of spicy and greasy foods and increasing consumption of bland, easily digestible foods.

2. Emotional Disharmony

Long-term mental stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional imbalances can directly affect the liver's function of free coursing, possibly accompanied by symptoms such as insomnia, vivid dreams, and irritability. It is recommended to regulate emotions through psychological counseling, yoga, meditation, and other methods to relieve mental stress and maintain a cheerful mood.

3. Liver-Spleen Disharmony

Spleen deficiency can impair the liver's normal function of free coursing, causing stagnation of liver qi that cannot be promptly dispersed. Over time, this stagnation generates heat and fire, leading to excessive liver fire, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, chest tightness, and flank pain. It is recommended to use medications such as Chai Hu Shu Gan San, Modified Free-and-Easy Wanderer Pills (Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan), and Gan Pi Kang Capsules under the guidance of a physician.

4. Dampness Arising from Spleen Deficiency

Spleen deficiency prevents the proper transformation and transportation of bodily fluids, resulting in the accumulation of dampness in the body, especially in the lower jiao region. This dampness can impair the liver and gallbladder's function of free coursing, leading to liver qi stagnation that eventually transforms into liver fire. Common accompanying symptoms include abdominal distension, loose stools, and poor appetite. Herbal medicines such as Poria (Fu Ling), Coix seed (Yi Yi Ren), and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) can be decocted and taken as directed by a physician.

5. Stagnation in the Middle Jiao

In patients with spleen deficiency, accumulation of heat pathogens in the spleen and stomach, food retention, and impaired digestive function can lead to stagnation in the middle jiao, disrupting the normal circulation of qi and blood and affecting liver function. Symptoms may include dry and bitter mouth, irritability with insomnia, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment options include Shen Ling Bai Zhu Granules, Long Dan Xie Gan Wan, and Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan, to be used as directed by a physician.

A comprehensive treatment approach involving medication, lifestyle adjustments, and dietary modifications can effectively alleviate symptoms of spleen deficiency accompanied by excessive liver fire. It is recommended to maintain dietary diversity and balance in daily meals, avoiding excessive intake of any single food or nutrient.