Natural Herb Library

TCM pattern · Heat and fire

Liver Yang Rising

肝阳上亢 Gan Yang Shang Kang Liver system

Liver and Kidney yin are too low to hold the Liver's yang down, so it rushes to the head. A pounding or throbbing headache, dizziness, a red face, ringing ears, a hot temper, and often high blood pressure, on top of a sore back and a dry mouth. Loud above, empty below.

A kite with a frayed string. The kite is the yang, the string is the yin. When the string wears thin the kite climbs and thrashes. You do not pull the kite down. You repair the string.

3 formulas Updated 2026-10-12 View API data

How to recognize Liver Yang Rising

The signs that point most strongly to this pattern:

  1. Throbbing headache at the temples or top of the head
  2. Dizziness, a feeling of pressure in the head
  3. Red face and eyes, a hot temper
  4. Ringing in the ears
  5. High blood pressure

Also common

  • Sore low back and weak knees
  • Dry mouth, insomnia
  • Numb or trembling limbs
  • Worse with anger, alcohol, or lack of sleep
Tongue
Red, especially the sides, with little coat.
Pulse
Wiry, thin, and rapid, stronger at the wrist than at the rear.

Formulas for Liver Yang Rising

Primary Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin 天麻钩藤饮 Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction When: Headache, dizziness, and high blood pressure from rising yang. Anchors and calms. Root Qi Ju Di Huang Wan 杞菊地黄丸 Lycium, Chrysanthemum and Rehmannia Pill When: To rebuild the Liver and Kidney yin once the rising has settled. With stress Jia Wei Xiao Yao San 加味逍遥散 Augmented Rambling Powder When: When anger and stress drive the rising more than deficiency.

Herbs that matter most for Liver Yang Rising

  • Tian Ma Tall Gastrodia Tuber Gastrodia calms Liver wind and dizziness.
  • Gou Teng Uncaria Stem with Hooks Uncaria settles rising yang and lowers pressure.
  • Ju Hua Chrysanthemum Flower Chrysanthemum cools the Liver and eyes.
  • Mu Li Oyster Shell Oyster shell anchors the yang.
  • Gui Ban Tortoise Plastron Tortoise plastron nourishes yin and anchors.
  • Niu Xi Niu Xi Root Achyranthes pulls the rising energy back down.

How Liver Yang Rising differs from its look-alikes

  • Liver Fire Liver fire is pure excess: a full forceful pulse, a thick yellow coat, no deficiency signs underneath. Yang rising has a sore back and a thin pulse at the rear, because the root is empty.
  • Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency The same root without the rising: dry eyes, dry mouth, sore back, but no pounding head and no red face.

What drains into Liver Yang Rising

  • Years of Liver and Kidney yin deficiency
  • Long anger and frustration
  • Alcohol and heating food
  • Late nights and overwork
  • Menopause

Food and habits that help Liver Yang Rising

  • Alcohol and anger are the two fastest ways to send the kite up.
  • Chrysanthemum tea in the afternoon.
  • Early nights; the string is repaired in sleep.
  • Walk, do not run. Keep the energy low in the body.

What should change as Liver Yang Rising improves

  • The headache and flushing ease within one to two weeks.
  • Blood pressure should be measured, not guessed, through the course.
  • Rebuild the yin for months after the rising settles, or it returns.

Conditions where Liver Yang Rising shows up

Liver Yang Rising Hypertension Headache Migraine Dizziness Tinnitus Insomnia

Sources

  • Maciocia, The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, 3rd edition Liver yang rising.
  • Bensky, Scheid, Ellis and Barolet, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, 2nd edition Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin.

Important Note

A pattern is a picture, not a diagnosis. Most people carry two patterns at once, and the signs here are the classic ones, not a checklist. Use this page to recognize yourself, read a formula label with understanding, and ask a qualified practitioner a sharper question.