Annie Gardner
A cross-cultural study into the traditional medical understanding of the role of emotions in liver pathology
The aim of this research project was to evaluate the role of emotions in liver pathology within the realm of traditional medicine. Three specific traditional medical systems were chosen: Ayurvedic, Humoral and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The objective was to collect data relevant to this topic, categorise it according to any similar themes and then evaluate any similarities and contrasts found. A qualitative approach was chosen, based on a review of literature relevant to the subject. Information was sourced from books, Internet searches and journal articles.
Five research questions were posed which served as a structure, enabling the author to explore the following themes; the relationship between the emotions and disease, the functions of the liver in relation to the resulting disharmony, specific emotions associated with the liver and its pathology, the emotion’s effect on the liver and the subsequent pathological process and finally, the traditional treatment of liver pathologies with an emotional aetiology.
Two hypotheses put forward and were as follows: 1) Traditional medical systems recognise specific emotions as a cause of liver pathology. 2) Traditional medical systems recognise the same emotions as being a cause of liver pathology. The first hypothesis was proved to be correct. The second hypothesis was less straightforward, as although all three systems recognised anger as being the main emotion implicated in liver pathology, they also recognised other emotions in addition to this, which were different in all three systems.
The main results were as follows: all three systems consider the liver’s main function to be its role in the nourishment of the body. A direct link was found between the emotions and disease, primarily via their disruption of Qi/Prana/Pneuma in all three systems, resulting in a predisposition to disease.
In all three systems, anger is recognised as being the main emotion implicated in liver pathology. The liver is a hot organ and associated with Yang, the Pitta dosha and the Choleric temperament therefore it is most easily disturbed by hot emotions such as anger. Three liver pathologies (with an emotional aetiology) were compared and found to have similar clinical features in common. The herbal treatment for these conditions also appeared to have a similar approach.
