Symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation
Disease description:
Recently, I have been experiencing chest tightness and irritability frequently. A friend mentioned that it might be liver qi stagnation. I would like to know if my condition could indeed be liver qi stagnation, and what symptoms are associated with it?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
The symptoms of liver qi stagnation generally include emotional disturbances, pain, poor sleep, menstrual irregularities, and digestive symptoms.
Patients often experience irritability, easily becoming angry, significant mood swings, and a tendency to become upset easily. They may also experience low mood and feelings of sadness. Liver qi stagnation commonly causes distending pain in the chest and rib regions, which may worsen or improve with emotional changes. Additionally, patients may sometimes feel abdominal distension and pain, especially in the upper abdomen.
Liver qi stagnation can affect sleep quality, leading to insomnia, vivid dreams, frequent awakenings during the night, and light sleep. It also can cause menstrual disorders, including breast distension before menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and abnormal menstrual flow. Treatment should focus on soothing the liver and regulating qi. Commonly used medications include Bupleurum (Chai Hu), Nutgrass Flatsedge Rhizome (Xiang Fu), and Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi). Psychological counseling, lifestyle improvements, maintaining a positive mood, and appropriate exercise are also helpful in alleviating symptoms.
Patients may also experience digestive symptoms such as poor appetite, hiccupping, vomiting, belching, abdominal bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, as well as a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. If physical discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital promptly and follow the doctor's instructions for appropriate management.
