Disharmony of Liver and Gall Bladder
The liver and is located in the right lower ribcage. It is believed to store and regulate blood, facilitate the smooth flow of qi (vital energy), and is associated with emotions, body movement, the eyes, and women’s menstruation. The gall bladder stores bile, participates in some cognitive activities, and is related to decision-making and courage. The eyes and nails are important areas for observing liver-related conditions.
The liver meridian is communicated with the gallbladder meridian, meaning they have an internal-external relationship and can affect each other when one is diseased. Common symptoms of liver-related issues include distension and discomfort in the rib sides, irritability, dizziness, headache, body or limbs shaking, muscle spasms, eye diseases, irregular menstruation of women and distending pain in the testicles of men. 
Below are common disharmonies of the liver and gall bladder:
Deficiency of liver yin and blood
Dizziness, ear ringing, dry eyes, blurred vision or night blindness, dull pain in ribcage sides where the liver meridian passes, pale face, brittle and pale nails, limb numbness, tendon and muscle spasms, and menstrual problems. On examination, the tongue is red with little coating, the pulse is taut and thready.
Western Medicine reference: Hypertension, neurasthenia and night blindness.
Stagnation of liver qi
A depressed mood, irritability, distending pain in the ribcage, chest tightness, frequent sighing, poor appetite, belching, distention in the gastric and abdominal regions, a lump feeling in the throat, menstrual disorders, menstrual pain, or breast tenderness before menstruation. On examination, the tongue coating is white and thin, the pulse is taut.
Western Medicine reference: Neurosis, gastroenteritis, and irregular menstruations.
Liver fire flaring up
Headache, dizziness, ear ringing, red face and eyes, irritability, burning pain in the ribcage, a bitter taste in the mouth, mouth dryness, insomnia or dream-disturbed sleep, constipation, and yellowish urine. In serious situations, there may even be nose bleeding, vomiting blood, and deafness. On examination, the tongue is red and covered with yellow or dry coating, the pulse is rapid and taut.
Western Medicine reference: Hypertension, and neurasthenia.
Damp-heat in liver and gall bladder
Distending pain or burning sensation in the ribcage, a bitter taste in the mouth, poor appetite, nausea, constipation, and scanty and yellowish urine. In addition, there may also be yellow tinted eyes and skin, alternating chills and fever, scrotum eczema, swelling and pain in the testicles, yellow foul leucorrhoea (sticky vaginal discharge) and itchy vulva. On examination, the tongue is red and covered by yellow and greasy coating, the pulse is taut and rapid.
Western Medicine reference: Acute hepatitis, and eczema in the private area.
Hyperactivity of liver yang
Dizziness, ear ringing or hearing loss, headache with a distending nature, distending pain or dryness in the eyes, bloodshot eyes, red face, irritability, palpitations, poor memory, insomnia or dream-disturbed sleep, soreness and weakness in knees and lower back region. On examination, the tongue is red and dry, the pulse is taut and forceful, or taut, thready and rapid.
Western Medicine reference: Hypertension, and neurasthenia.
Liver yang transforming into wind
Severe dizziness with balancing problem, headache, limb numbness or limb trembling. In severe cases, there may even have tongue stiffness, speech difficulty, abnormal gait, sudden loss of consciousness (syncope), convulsions, distorted mouth and eyes, and paralysis on one side of the body. On examination, the tongue is red with a white greasy coating, the pulse is taut, rapid and forceful.
Western Medicine reference: Blood pressure diseases or stroke.
Extreme heat in liver creating wind
High fever, limb spasms, upward turning of the eyes, tightly closed jaw, a stiff back and neck, delirium or coma. On examination, the tongue is deep red with a yellow coating, the pulse is taut and rapid and forceful.
Western Medicine reference: High fever convulsions.
Blood deficiency creating wind
Dizziness, ear ringing, blurred vision, sallow face, brittle and pale nails, limb numbness, muscular spasms or limb trembling, and joint dysfunction. On examination the tongue is pale, the pulse is taut and thready.
Western Medicine reference: Severe anemia.
Cold coagulating in liver meridian
Retracting pain in both sides of the lower abdomen, cold pain or heavy sensation in the scrotum, sensitive to low temperatures and cold limbs, that the symptoms are typically relieved by warmth. On examination, the tongue coating is white and glossy, the pulse is deep and taut, or slow.
Western Medicine reference: Hernia.
Qi stagnation of gall bladder with phlegm disturbance
Dizziness, vertigo, ear ringing, a bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, irritability, insomnia, easily startled and anxious, chest tightness, and frequent sighing. On examination, the tongue coating is yellow and greasy, the pulse is taut and rolling.
Western Medicine reference: Neurasthenia.
