What is the difference between excessive liver fire and excessive stomach fire?
Aug 06, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the main differences between excessive liver fire and excessive stomach fire lie in clinical manifestations, causes, pathogenesis, accompanying symptoms, and treatment methods. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical consultation and treatment at a正规 hospital. In daily life, one should maintain a good mood, regular作息, balanced diet, and avoid consuming excessive spicy and stimulating foods.
Generally, the main differences between excessive liver fire and excessive stomach fire lie in clinical manifestations, causes, pathogenesis, accompanying symptoms, and treatment methods. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a formal hospital. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Clinical Manifestations
Excessive liver fire often presents with irritability and anger, dizziness and headache, flushed face and red eyes, increased yellow eye discharge, as well as possible tinnitus and bitter taste in the mouth. Excessive stomach fire primarily manifests as stomach discomfort, such as a burning sensation in the stomach, acid regurgitation, heartburn, increased appetite with frequent hunger, or symptoms like bad breath, swollen and painful gums, and constipation.
2. Causes
Excessive liver fire is often related to emotional factors. Prolonged mental stress, anxiety, depression, or sudden outbursts of anger can easily trigger it. Additionally, long-term late nights and irregular作息 (作息 translates to作息 habits or作息 patterns) may also lead to excessive liver fire. Stomach fire is commonly caused by improper diet, such as excessive consumption of spicy, greasy, or irritating foods, overeating, or excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to impaired spleen and stomach function and internal accumulation of heat.
3. Pathogenesis
The liver governs free flow and dispersion. If emotional imbalances lead to liver qi stagnation, it may transform into fire over time. This excessive liver fire ascends to disturb the head, eyes, and ears, causing various discomforts. The stomach governs intake and digestion. Dietary irregularities can cause food stagnation in the stomach, which transforms into heat when stagnated, leading to excessive stomach fire. This hyperactivity impairs the stomach's function of digesting food and causes heat to rise upward, resulting in symptoms like bad breath and gum problems.
4. Accompanying Symptoms
Excessive liver fire may be accompanied by poor sleep quality and vivid dreams. Women may also experience menstrual disorders and breast distension. Excessive stomach fire is often accompanied by dark yellow or reddish urine. If the heat impairs the stomach's yin, symptoms of yin deficiency such as dry mouth and tongue, and a red tongue with little moisture may appear.
5. Treatment Methods
Excessive liver fire should be treated by soothing the liver and clearing fire. Patients may take medications such as Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (Dragon胆泻肝丸) under a doctor's guidance, while also regulating emotions and maintaining a cheerful mood. For excessive stomach fire, clearing heat and purging fire, as well as promoting digestion and resolving food stagnation are required. Commonly used medications include Niu Huang Qing Wei Wan (Bezoar Pacifying the Stomach Pill). A light diet rich in heat-clearing and moistening foods such as mung beans and pears is recommended.
In daily life, maintaining a good mood, regular作息, and a balanced diet while avoiding excessive consumption of spicy and irritating foods is important. If related symptoms occur and persist without relief, timely medical consultation is necessary. Treatment should be administered under the guidance of a qualified physician through syndrome differentiation. Self-medication should be avoided to prevent disease progression or adverse reactions.
