The liver肝脏

快乐宝贝

The liver is located below the diaphragm and in the right rib-side. The liver "pertains to yin in entity and yang in function". This is the physiological characteristics of the liver. As one of the five zang-organs, the liver pertains to yin because it stores yin-blood. However in function the liver pertains to yang because yang-qi in the liver is very active and resolute, tending to disperse. That is why the liver is described as "a general-organ",
肝位于右肋下，横膈膜之下。肝脏为阴中之阳。这是肝脏的生理功能。作为五脏之一，肝脏属阴，因为它储存阴血。然而，从功能上来说它属阳，因为肝脏内的阳气很活跃，主疏散。所以，有“将军之官”之称。
The physiological functions of the liver
肝脏的生理功能
The liver possesses two physiological functions: to govern shu-xie (dredging and regulating) and to store blood.
肝脏包括2个生理功能：主输泻和主藏血。
To dredge and regulate
主输泻
Shu-xie in Chinese means to dredge and smooth the route of something. The liver governing shu-xie actually means that the liver dredges the routes and regulates the movement of qi so as to ensure smooth flow of qi in the body. The movement of qi is described as qi-ji (qi activity) in TCM. So to regulate the movement of qi means to regulate the activity of qi. The physiological activities of all the internal organs and tissues depend on the normal movement of qi. Since the liver can regulate the activity of qi, it plays an important role in regulating the physiological functions of all the internal organs and tissues. The function of the liver to regulate qi activity is demonstrated in the following aspects:
输泻的意思就是疏通路径。肝主输泻的意思就是疏通气的路径，以便气机通畅。气机指气的升降出入运动。条理气的升降出入运动意思就是条理气的活动范围。人体内所有的器官组织的活动都依赖于气的升降出入运动。因此，肝在条理气的活动方面起着非常重要的作用。肝主输泻的生理功能可以概括为以下几个方面：
To promote circulation of blood and metabolism of body fluid: Blood circulation and body fluid metabolism all depend on the propelling function of the visceral qi, the normal flow of which relies on the regulating and dredging function of the liver which are prerequisite to constant blood circulation and normal metabolism of body fluid. If the movement of qi is abnormal due to failure of the liver to dredge and regulate, it may affect blood circulation and body fluid metabolism, bringing on corresponding pathologic changes. For example, if the liver is weak in dredging and regulating, the activity of qi will be stagnated and blood circulation will be obstructed, leading to blood stasis; or if the liver is hyperactive in dredging and regulating,  blood will flow adversely with qi,  causing haematemesis; or if qi activity is obstructed, water passage will be stagnated, leading to phlegm, rheum and edema.
促进血液循环和调节水液代谢：血液循环和水液代谢都依赖于脏气的推动，而气的正常的运行要依靠肝脏的输泻功能，所以，说它可以促进血液循环和调节水液代谢。如果肝脏不能很好的起到输泻的作用，那么气就不能很好的运行，所以，会影响到血液循环和水液代谢，会引起一系列病理现象。例如：肝脏输泻功能过弱，气机的阻滞会导致淤血；而过强的话，血液会随着气向相反的方向流动，会导致吐血；或者气的运行收到阻碍，水路受到阻滞，会导致痰、感冒、水肿。
To assist the spleen and the stomach to digest food: The digestion and absorption of food are accomplished by the spleen and the stomach. However, the dredging and regulating functions of the liver play an important role in the process of digestion. Because the liver regulates the activity of spleen-qi and stomacha  with its dredging and regulating functions, ensuring a harmonious balance between the function of spleen-qi to elevate the lucid and the function of the stomach-qi to descend the turbid so as to guarantee a normal process of digestion.
协助脾胃消化吸收：食物的消化吸收是由脾胃来完成的。然而，肝脏的输泻功能在消化的过程中起到了非常重要的作用。因为，肝脏随着输泻功能能很好的调节脾气和胃气的活动，能很好的协助脾气的上升和胃气的下降，以至于能保证食物很好的消化。
Besides, the bile, accumulation of surplus liver-qi, comes from the liver and excretes into the small intestine to assist digestion. The normal secretion and excretion of the bile are closely related to the dredging and regulating functions of the liver. If the dredging and regulating functions of the liver are abnormal, the activity of spleen-qi, stomach-qi and gallbladder-qi will be affected, leading to disturbance in digesting and absorbing food.
此外，胆汁来源于肝，由肝之余气积聚输注于胆而成，胆汁经胆道排泄至小肠内，以助食物消化吸收。胆汁正常的分泌和排泄同肝脏的输泻功能有很大联系。如果肝脏的输泻功能不正常了，那么，脾气、胃气、胆囊气都会受到影响，影响食物的消化和吸收。
To regulate mental activity.
Mental activity refers to psychological activities such as joy, anger, anxiety and contemplation, etc. Mental activity, part of spiritual activity, is dominated by the heart and closely related to the dredging and regulating functions of the liver. The normal mental activity depends on sufficiency of blood and smooth activity of qi which can be promoted by the liver. With the normal functions of the heart and the liver, qi and blood will flow harmoniously and smoothly, making it better for people to regulate their mental activities and enjoy happiness and pleasure. If qi activity is in disorder due to failure of the liver to dredge and regulate, it will lead to abnormal changes of mental activities, such as heavy heart, melancholy, sentimentality, hiccup and sigh due to stagnation of liver-qi. If liver-qi flows adversely, qi will stagnate and transform into fire, bringing on symptoms of irascibility, susceptibility to rage, and headache due to hyperactivity of liver-qi.
调节精神情智
精神情智指心理活动，比如说，高兴、生气、忧虑、沉思等等。精神情智是精神活动的一部分，由心来主导，并密切与肝脏的输泻功能相关。正常的精神情智活动要依赖于血液的充足和气机通畅，而气机通畅又与肝脏的输泻功能相关。只有心脏和肝脏功能正常了，气血才能调和，才能调节人的精神情智，使人心情舒畅。如果肝脏的输泻功能紊乱，也会使气的活动紊乱，会导致精神情智不正常，例如：心脏病、忧郁症、多愁善感、打嗝、叹气。如果肝气反向流动，会导致脾气暴躁、易怒、头疼。
To regulate menstruation: The physiological characteristics of women, such as menstruation, pregnancy and delivery, are closely related to blood. The liver regulates the activity of qi to enable blood to flow downward into the uterus to meet the need for menstruation, pregnancy and delivery. That is why it was said in ancient times that "the congenital base for women is the liver". If the liver fails to dredge and regulate, it will clinically lead to various women diseases, such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and sterility.
调节月经：女性的一些生理特点，像月经、妊娠、分娩都与血有关系。肝脏调节气的活动能使血液向下运行来满足月经、妊娠、分娩的需要。所以，故有“女子以肝为先天”之说。如果肝不能很好的输泻，会引起很多女性疾病，例如：月经不调、痛经、闭经、不孕。
To store blood
藏血
The liver storing blood refers to the function of the liver to store blood and regulate the volume of blood.
肝的藏血功能指肝脏有储藏血液和调节血量的作用。

险峰

肝为血之府.

快乐宝贝

对，肝有两方面，一个是主疏泄，一个是藏血。只是今天没时间翻译藏血的了，大部分篇幅都只讲了疏泄。等有时间我再补上。